This year’s annual meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina is scheduled for Nov. 6-7 at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. Here are 23 things to know about the 2023 annual meeting. The complete schedule and details are available at ncannualmeeting.org.

1. This year marks the 193rd annual meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. “On Mission Together” is the meeting theme for the third consecutive year.

2. The supporting Scripture passage for this year’s theme is Revelation 7:9-12, which reads: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out … ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’…’” (ESV)

3. The annual meeting will be held in Greensboro for the third consecutive year and 36th time overall. Greensboro has hosted more N.C. Baptist annual meetings than any other city in the state. Next year’s annual meeting is scheduled to be back in Greensboro on Nov. 4-5, 2024. Greensboro first hosted the annual meeting in 1888.

4. International Mission Board (IMB) President Paul Chitwood will deliver this year’s convention sermon as part of a special joint missions Sending Celebration between N.C. Baptists and the IMB on Monday evening, Nov. 6.

5. Be sure to check out the exhibits from N.C. Baptists and other ministries and vendors in both the Guilford and Imperial exhibit halls. Exhibit hall hours are from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

6. While you’re checking out the exhibits, be sure to grab a complimentary cup of coffee courtesy of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary outside of the main hallway entrance to the Guilford exhibit hall.

7. Stop by the “ServeNC” booth in the Guilford exhibit hall to pick up a free resource kit and sign your church up to serve your community next August as part of a statewide emphasis. Learn more at servenc.com.

8. Meet Harry Nelson, president-elect of Provision Financial Resources of N.C. Baptists (formerly the N.C. Baptist Foundation), and express your appreciation to outgoing president Clay Warf, who is retiring at the end of the year, during a special meet-and-greet ice cream social in the Guilford exhibit hall at the conclusion of Monday evening’s general session.

9. Quintell Hill, pastor of Multiply Community Church in Monroe, will deliver the president’s address to messengers on Tuesday, Nov. 7, during the morning session. Hill was elected state convention president last year. N.C. Baptist Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Unzicker will share his annual address with messengers later on Tuesday afternoon. 

10. Officer elections are scheduled for 9:55 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7 as part of a fixed order of business. All three current officers will be renominated for another term.

11. Messengers will consider a $31 million budget proposal for 2024 at 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, as part of a fixed order of business. The proposal calls for a 50/50 split of CP funds between the state and national conventions.

12. Messengers will consider a “Resolution on Equal Protection For The Preborn” during a business session on Tuesday morning, Nov. 7.

13. More than 30 breakout session offerings being led by pastors, ministry leaders, church practitioners, N.C. Baptist staff and others are scheduled for three different time slots over the course of the two-day meeting. Breakouts are scheduled for Monday, Nov. 6 at 3:30 p.m., and Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

14. If you’re a first-time messenger, be sure to attend the messenger orientation breakout session at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, in Auditorium 4. N.C. Baptist Director of Convention Relations Seth Brown will introduce new messengers to the ministries, entities and structure of N.C. Baptists and what the annual meeting looks like and how business is conducted.

15. Ministry reports and presentations from related entities of the state convention, which include the Biblical Recorder, Provision Financial Resources of N.C. Baptists (formerly the N.C. Baptist Foundation) and the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, are scheduled for Tuesday evening, Nov. 7.

16. Take a tour of Baptists on Mission’s mobile dental and health screening units, which will be parked and on display in front of the Koury Convention Center during the annual meeting. Tours are available Monday, Nov. 6, in the afternoon and most of the day on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

17. Bring a new or gently used coat to donate to the “Coats for the City” outreach event held each December in New York City. During the annual meeting, coats may be dropped off at Rolling Roads Baptist Church, 2800 Vanstory St., Greensboro, which is near the Koury Convention Center. Learn more at ncbaptist.org/coats.

18. Participate in the annual meeting scavenger hunt with the card included in your messenger bag. Complete tasks to win prizes.

19. Check out one of the many auxiliary events taking place during the annual meeting. With events that focus on pastors, ministers’ wives, women in ministry and more, these events offer something for everyone. Visit ncannualmeeting.org to learn more. Please note some of these events require pre-registration and registration fees.

20. Listen in on live N.C. Baptist podcast recordings throughout the annual meeting as ministry leaders share how they are on mission together to reach their community and the nations. Recordings will take place at the podcast stage in the Guilford exhibit hall.

21. Download the N.C. Baptist mobile app to stay up to date on the latest information and receive any late-breaking updates.

22. #OnMissionTogether is the official hashtag for this year’s annual meeting. Use it with your social media posts and photos to stay connected. Follow the Biblical Recorder on social media for live updates throughout the meeting.

23. If you can’t make it to the annual meeting, watch the livestream at ncannualmeeting.org/live.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – This article originally appeared in the November 2023 issue of the Biblical Recorder.)