N.C. Baptists, I can’t believe it’s time to gather together once again for our annual meeting. I’m looking forward to seeing you in Greensboro, N.C., as we come together as a movement of churches on mission together.
“On Mission Together” is our meeting theme this year. That isn’t just a catchphrase or a slogan. Instead, it represents who we are as N.C. Baptists.
Over the past year, I have seen and heard testimonies of churches all across our state coming together for the sake of the gospel through various missions and ministry efforts. During our meeting in Greensboro, we want to highlight some of the ways God is on the move in our state.
We will have a special focus this year on stories from pastors and ministry leaders that demonstrate what it looks like to be on mission together. At the meeting, be sure to take part in the brand new “Story Walk” by visiting the interactive kiosks that will be placed throughout some of the common areas and in the exhibit hall at the convention center to see and hear some of the ways N.C. Baptists are on mission together.
You will also have the chance to meet and interact with several of the individuals who are featured in the stories at the kiosks at the “Hear Their Story” booth in the exhibit hall at various times throughout the event. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to tell us how you are on mission at the “Share Your Story” booth in the exhibit hall. N.C. Baptist staff will be there throughout the meeting to give pastors an opportunity to record a brief video that they can share on social media and take home to share with their congregation.
We also look forward to the times of worship through music, Scripture reading and prayer. This year we are blessed to have special guests Mac Brunson, senior pastor of Valleydale Church in Birmingham, Ala., and North Carolina’s own Derrick DeLain, lead pastor of Proclamation Church in Nashville, Tenn., to share with us from God’s Word.
Micheal Pardue, pastor of First Baptist Church of Icard in Connelly Springs, N.C., will also deliver the annual sermon address from the state convention president, and I look forward to bringing you greetings and sharing a report with you as your executive director-treasurer.
We’ll also hear reports from several of our statewide, national and global ministry partners. In addition, we will consider several important business items that guide our collective work as a group of independent, autonomous churches who willingly come together for the sake of God’s mission.
And don’t miss the lineup of breakout sessions that are scheduled at different times throughout the meeting. These sessions have been carefully and prayerfully planned to offer you practical training and equipping in a variety of aspects of ministry.
As I look forward to this year’s meeting, I’ve been meditating on and praying through Hebrews 10:23-25, which has been selected as our meeting’s theme passage. It reads, “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (ESV).
As we gather together in Greensboro, let’s apply the principles of this passage by holding fast to our confession, stir one another to love and good works, and encourage one another as a movement of churches on mission together.
