NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The 2021 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting, set for June 15-16, is expected to draw thousands of registered messengers and guests from across the nation and globe.
The 163rd Annual Meeting of Southern Baptists will take place at the Music City Center in downtown Nashville and will feature times of preaching, music, convention business sessions, reports and more.
“The SBC Annual Meeting is a time for Southern Baptists to come together and celebrate how God is moving in and through our convention and churches,” said Ronnie Floyd, CEO and president of the SBC Executive Committee.
He added, “It will be a time for Southern Baptists to reconnect with one another after missing out on a gathering in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
With more than 100 ancillary meetings, events, and gatherings throughout the week, Southern Baptists will walk away encouraged, equipped and mobilized for Kingdom work. Hotel reservations must be made by May 17, in order to be guaranteed convention rate. Visit sbcannualmeeting.net to make a reservation.
Speakers for the 2021 Annual Meeting include current SBC President J.D. Greear, International Mission Board (IMB) President Paul Chitwood, Ronnie Floyd, Guidestone’s O.S. Hawkins, North American Mission Board (NAMB) President Kevin Ezell, among others.
Messengers to the annual meeting will hear reports from each of the SBC seminaries, various SBC entities, and conduct officer elections. On Wednesday, Willy Rice, senior pastor of Clearwater, Fla., Calvary will deliver the convention sermon.
Hance Dilbeck, executive director-treasurer for Oklahoma Baptists, urged pastors and others to pray for this year’s gathering of Southern Baptists.
“Pray for the Southern Baptist Convention meeting. We encourage you to attend and participate. Pray, pray, pray that God would give us unity and direction, wisdom and godliness, as we gather together in Nashville,” Dilbeck said.
Visit sbcannualmeeting.net to view SBC Annual Meeting schedule and other details including lodging availability.
Send Conference to bring Southern Baptists ‘Together on Mission’
The 2021 Send Conference, which happens immediately prior to the SBC Annual Meeting, also will take place June 13-14 at the Music City Center in Nashville.
The Send Conference is a new aspect to the annual meeting of Southern Baptists, as it represents a reformatting of Sunday and Monday from the typical SBC Pastors’ Conference to a Send Conference event hosted by the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board.
The theme is “Together on Mission,” and along with a primary message from nationally-known Bible teacher, author and pastor Tony Evans, the event will include worship led by recording artist Michael W. Smith, a concert featuring Crowder, NAMB’s Send Luncheon and IMB’s Sending Celebration.
Other speakers during the Send Conference include David Jeremiah, pastor of El Cajon, Calif., Shadow Mountain Community; Vance Pitman, pastor of Las Vegas, Nev., Hope; and Gregg Matte, pastor of Houston, Texas, First who will speak during Pastors Track of the conference. The Send Luncheon will feature Mark Richt, former University of Georgia and University of Miami football coach; Benjamin Watson, NFL football player; and Matthew West, Christian music artist.
The 2021 Send Conference is designed to help believers of all ages understand how to carry out the calling in their lives and equip pastors to help church members live out their calling wherever God has placed them.
“We (NAMB) are looking forward to working with Paul Chitwood and the IMB to celebrate all God is doing through Southern Baptist mission efforts,” NAMB President Kevin Ezell told Baptist Press. “It will also be a time of personal challenge to all of us to recommit our efforts to sharing Christ with our friends, family and neighbors in everyday life.”
Visit sendconference.com to view a more detailed schedule and more information about the Send Conference.