California Baptists ‘Together for His Glory’
By Sarah Graham, CSBC
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (BP) — More than 700 messengers and guests gathered at Magnolia Church in Riverside for California’s 83rd annual meeting, under the convention theme “Together for His Glory.”
California Southern Baptist Convention (CSBC) Executive Director Pete Ramirez opened the first session by preaching from the meeting’s theme verse, Romans 15:5-6.
Ramirez called attendees to learn from the early church’s struggles with division over Gentile believers and “gray areas,” emphasizing that it remains our obligation as believers to build each other up. Above all, we must strive to live, united in mind and voice. He also unveiled an updated Mission Statement for the CSBC:
“Bringing together and resourcing California’s culturally diverse, Great Commission churches to reach and engage every community through the transforming power of God’s Word.”
With full unanimity, Rolland Slade, pastor of Meridian Southern Baptist Church in El Cajon, and Victor Solórzano, pastor of Iglesia Vida en Victoria, Bell Gardens, were both reelected as CSBC president and vice president, respectively.
Adam Groza, newly installed president of Gateway Seminary in Ontario, Calif., delivered his inaugural report to messengers, first expressing gratitude for California Baptists’ support of Gateway Seminary through Cooperative Program giving, sending students and offering prayer support.
“Our marching orders have not changed, and the job is not done … but we are really excited for the future,” Groza said, highlighting a 9% increase in enrollment this fall, the offering of national and global classes and expanded mission trip opportunities.
Regarding the budget, messengers adopted the following motion:
“It is recommended that the 2025 CSBC Cooperative Program (CP) Budget be $3,850,000 with a CP gifts objective of $5,000,000. The allocation of total CP receipts to California Baptist University (CBU) will be 2%, and the allocation to the Baptist Foundation of California (BFC) will be 1%. Every dollar of CP received greater than the combination of CSBC, CBU, and BFC will go directly to the SBC Executive Committee.”
This is a decrease from last year’s $6 million budget, which allocated 35% to national and international Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) missions and ministry.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Baptist Press is planning a comprehensive report looking at trends in the CP allocation budgets of the 41 state and regional Baptist conventions.)
The 2024 annual meeting saw a notable increase in attendance and engagement, with 715 messengers and guests registered – up from 589 in 2023, representing a 21.4% increase in just one year.
Those in attendance heard a convention sermon from Pastor Mark Lee of VantagePoint Church in Eastvale, who preached from Genesis 11:1-9. “Unity is only good if it revolves around good,” Lee preached. “God doesn’t want us to be married to a method; God wants us to be married to a mission. … The mission never changes, but the methods always change.”
They also heard nearly 150 students from California Baptist University’s choir and orchestra lead in worship.
Twenty-one churches across the Inland Empire participated in Crossover California, experiencing overwhelming success as they reached their communities through various outreach events. These efforts included a coffee house/local art showcase, food and clothing distribution, hygiene pack distribution at a homeless encampment, block parties and more. Much of this outreach was made possible through CSBC Evangelism grants, helping these churches extend the gospel to 1,954 people, with 125 individuals making decisions for Christ.
“We left the 83rd annual meeting with a renewed vision and passion to reach California, and the understanding that we are all in this together,” Ramirez said following the meeting.
Indiana sets five-year Platinum Challenge
By Karen L. Willoughby
GREENWOOD, Ind. — A “Platinum Challenge” laid before the 121 messengers and 68 guests to the 65th annual summit of the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana (SCBI) generated excitement and enthusiasm, Executive Director Ryan Strother told Baptist Press.
They had gathered Oct. 24-25 at Calvary Baptist Church in Greenwood with “Hope” as the Summit’s theme. As evidence of that “Hope,” SCBI messengers approved a budget including a 1 percentage point increase in Cooperative Program dollars being sent from Indiana for gospel advance worldwide.
“The challenges are significant, but you are not alone,” Strother told messengers in his welcome to them. “I hope this Annual Summit reminds you of the great community you have around you. Enjoy your time at the Summit as we continue connecting for Kingdom advancement!”
Strother, now starting his fourth year at the helm of Indiana Baptists, watched what God was doing among Indiana Southern Baptists and came to envision a state convention where churches help churches, connecting for Kingdom advancement.
“For the last three years we’ve redeveloped how our state convention is going to operate,” Strother said. “We’ve rebuilt the foundation. Now, with the Platinum Challenge, we’re putting up some framework.”
Previously the state convention majored on programs. Now it’s focusing on relationships, the executive director said.
The Platinum Challenge is a list of nine goals for the state convention to be completed by Dec. 31, 2028, the year of the state convention’s 70th anniversary. They include adding about 75 churches, for a total of 500; helping 50 churches succeed in church revitalization; involving 90% of Indiana’s Southern Baptist churches in allocating a portion of their giving to missions through the Cooperative Program; and seeing the Highland Lakes Baptist Camp endowment grow to $1.5 million.
There’s more: Baptize at least 10,000 people; have at least 50 IMB missionary units; start at least two churches in Chinese, Haitian, Korean, Burmese and Slavik language groups; graduate at least 75 church leaders with a Next Step certificate in conjunction with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and coach at least 100 pastors through the Next Step process.
“There’s a lot of excitement about it,” the executive director said. “The Platinum Challenge provides clarity about what we’re doing. With every one of these goals we’re advancing further into what the Lord is already doing.”
Guest speakers for Indiana’s 2024 annual Summit included Hre Mang, Pastor of Falam Christian Church in Indianapolis, and executive director of the Myanmar Southern Baptist Fellowship; JJ Washington, NAMB’s national director of Personal Evangelism; SCBI President Greg Byman, pastor of St Joe Community Church in Fort Wayne; and John Avant, president of Life Action.
New officers elected include: President Larry Lewis, pastor of Vann Avenue Baptist Church in Evansville; re-elected first vice president Steve Davidson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Sellersburg; second vice president Rick Hillard, pastor of Parkside Baptist Church in Columbus; and re-elected recording secretary Steve Taylor, pastor of Northeast Park Baptist Church in Evansville.
Messengers approved a $3,083,800 budget for 2025, down $7,220 from the 2024 budget, with $2,303,285 anticipated in Cooperative Program giving from churches statewide. This budget includes a 37%/63%split in allocation of Cooperative Program dollars, up 1 percentage point over last year, for the first increase to global missions since 2021. Up to $120,000 in the budget from NAMB was made available for evangelism.
In addition to reports from several SBC entities, reports from state convention staff gave glimpses of the growth of SCBI ministries.
To show the connection for Kingdom advancement. Scooter Kellum, team leader for church and leader mobilization, led an “I am an Indiana Baptist” segment. He had about 15 people from different churches give a brief testimony of what they’ve been able to do in partnership with SCBI.
“It was such a powerful segment,” Strother said. “You saw these church leaders from across the state. It showed what we’re doing is practical and meaningful.”
Two hundred new Disaster Relief volunteers brought the total of Indiana’s trained volunteers to 345. At least three teams have been to Florida and Georgia for Hurricane Helene recovery.
Ten new missionary units (married couples and singles) from Indiana this year have been approved by the International Mission Board (IMB).
“We’ve really put focus on getting more Indiana folks on mission field,” Strother said. “Our partnership with IMB — our IMB Advocates — has been explosive for us. We’re trying to partner with every candidate, walking through the process with them. … We’ve tried to develop connections with those God has called to leave Indiana for service overseas.”
The state convention sets up an annual virtual meeting with its IMB personnel. All of them were on the computer monitor display at the same time so those overseas could develop relationships, connections from the Zoom interaction.
In yet another aspect of SCBI’s focus on international missions, a team of eight from Indiana plans to go on a short-term mission trip to Tokyo in November in what Strother sees as the first of a long-term partnership.
“So, the vision came together,” Strother said. “The SCBI is connecting for Kingdom advancement through church and pastor health, multiplication, and mobilization. Pastors are serving pastors, and churches are serving churches. What a blessing!
“In 2024, we expanded the connecting for Kingdom advancement summarized vision to focus on three major categories where SCBI initializes support for churches: health, multiplication, and mobilization,” the executive director continued. “We’re strengthening the connections between the churches — who are the SCBI — and providing valuable initiatives and partnerships to create a convention that will significantly impact Indiana and the nations.”
The next annual Summit for Indiana churches is set for Oct. 27-28, 2025, at Highland Lakes Camp in Martinsville.
