CARY, N.C. — A missionary sending celebration, a streamlined schedule and a continued emphasis on churches being “on mission together” are among the highlights of the 2024 N.C. Baptist annual meeting.

The two-day meeting is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 4-5, at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. 

This year’s meeting coincides with Election Day on Nov. 5, and event organizers and Baptist State Convention of North Carolina officials are encouraging attendees to take advantage of early voting opportunities that open across the state in October.

Event organizers have also adjusted the event schedule so that it does not include a Tuesday evening session, which has been customary for most annual meetings in recent memory. With the change, this year’s meeting is scheduled to adjourn at approximately 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Bob Lowman, chairman of the Committee on Convention Meetings which plans each year’s annual meeting, said this year’s committee made the change in light of Election Day.

“The committee discussed and debated making this year’s meeting shorter, and a primary reason for the decision to end earlier than usual is that Tuesday, Nov. 5, is a significant Election Day,” said Lowman, who serves as executive director of the Metrolina Baptist Association in Charlotte. “So while we encourage those attending the convention to vote early, the schedule will make it possible for many to return home before too late on Nov. 5. Next year’s committee may decide to return to the longer format, but for this year, we made this exception to shorten the convention meeting.”

The committee also selected “On Mission Together” as the theme for the meeting for the fourth consecutive year.

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing,” Lowman said. “Being on mission, doing the Great Commission and making disciples is the main thing Jesus commanded that we do, so repeating our ‘On Mission Together’ theme reminds N.C. Baptists that we have a united purpose as a convention of churches — to make disciples from home to the ends of the earth.”

Examples of how N.C. Baptists are on mission together will be prominently featured throughout the meeting. Monday night’s opening session will include a special sending celebration for missionaries who are being commissioned to take the gospel to the nations by N.C. Baptist churches.

In conjunction with the sending celebration, Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, will deliver this year’s convention sermon. Mobilizing students to go to the nations has been a major emphasis during Akin’s leadership at the school. Earlier this year, Akin celebrated his 20th year as Southeastern’s president.

“His successful efforts over the past 20 years to make Southeastern a Great Commission seminary will help underscore this responsibility we have together as N.C. Baptists,” Lowman said.

The annual meeting will also include times of worship through music, teaching, ministry reports, business sessions, breakout sessions, ancillary events and more. The annual meeting will be preceded by the annual N.C. Baptist Pastors’ Conference, which is scheduled for Sunday and Monday, Nov. 3-4.

Annual meeting registration for church messengers and guests opens on Monday, Sept.16. Attendees may also make room reservations at the convention hotel at a special rate of $119 per room, per night through Oct. 2.

Additional information about this year’s annual meeting, including registration details, hotel reservations, the event schedule and more, is available online at ncannualmeeting.org.

Information about the N.C. Baptist Pastors’ Conference is available at ncpastorsconference.org.