ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Through Crossover, the Send Relief Serve Tour and a special Send Network event, the North American Mission Board (NAMB) will feature the impact that local churches can have through church planting, evangelism and compassion ministry.

“I’m eager for our great team to have the opportunity during the annual meeting to spotlight the Gospel impact our Southern Baptist family of churches have had and will continue to have in the years to come,” said NAMB president Kevin Ezell.

Crossover and Send Relief Serve Tour

NAMB will help Southern Baptists kick off their time in New Orleans through a concerted effort on June 9-10 to reach numerous communities in and around the city with evangelistic outreach and compassion ministry events.

For months, NAMB has been coordinating with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Southern Baptist seminaries, local associations and churches to help Southern Baptists engage communities with the Gospel through conversations and compassion ministry.

“It’s been exciting to serve alongside our Southern Baptist partners leading up to this special weekend,” said Tim Dowdy, NAMB’s vice president of evangelism. “We are praying for hearts to be open, for boldness in sharing the Gospel and for the Lord Jesus to save souls.”

Send Luncheon

Many who attend the SBC Annual Meeting have come to anticipate NAMB’s Send Luncheon that takes place Monday during the SBC Pastors Conference. This year, the free tickets were quickly snapped up, and more than 6,500 pastors and others have registered for the event. The June 12 program will offer attendees an opportunity for entertainment, inspiration and encouragement.

Send Network NEXT

Send Network NEXT will take place the afternoon of June 12, shortly after the Send Luncheon. The event is designed for pastors who want to lead their churches toward multiplication through church planting.

“This will be a milestone event during the annual meeting, and it’s all about mobilizing the church to seek the kingdom,” said Vance Pitman, president of Send Network. “I believe God is birthing churches in North America to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We’re going to talk very practically about what that could look like, about how your church could take its next step in God’s kingdom activity through church planting.”

More than 3,000 have registered, and space is still available for those who would like to sign up.

NAMB presentation and report

As part of the annual meeting on Tuesday, June 13, NAMB will highlight the way it serves pastors and churches in reaching North America with the Gospel. Following the presentation, NAMB president Kevin Ezell will share a report with messengers highlighting the progress and ongoing opportunities that churches and Southern Baptist ministry partners have to help spread the Gospel through evangelism, church planting and compassion ministry to a lost and dying world.

Send Relief breakfast

More than 1,200 people have registered for the Send Relief Breakfast that will take place Wednesday morning, June 14. The breakfast will focus on one of Send Relief’s primary ministry pillars – protecting children and families. The event will help ministry leaders learn how their church can join Send Relief’s global ministry to care for vulnerable children, come alongside fostering and adoptive families and invest in international orphan care.

Honoring chaplains

Before NAMB’s June 12 presentation, Southern Baptists will also recognize and honor their chaplains who serve in North America and around the world. There will also be a special off-site event for chaplains at the WWII Museum in New Orleans.

NAMB and Send Relief exhibit

Throughout the week, NAMB’s booth will be on display in the exhibit hall and will show how evangelism is key to all of NAMB’s ministry areas. This year’s exhibit will feature stories of individual missionaries and chaplains along with information about their efforts. NAMB missionaries and staff will be on hand to help ministry leaders in taking their next step in spreading the Gospel across North America.

Adjacent to NAMB’s exhibit, Send Relief’s exhibit will be hosted by NAMB and IMB missionaries. This year, Send Relief will focus primarily on helping churches learn more about how to protect children and families in North America and around the world.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board.)