More than 1,500 messengers from N.C. Baptist churches gathered at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 4-5, for the 194th Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s annual meeting. The theme of the meeting was “On Mission Together” based on Matthew 20:26-28.

Following are highlights from Tuesday, Nov. 5. Day one highlights are available here.

• At the close of registration, 550 pastors, 409 church staff and 560 laity had registered for this year’s annual meeting for a total of 1,519 messengers. An additional 386 visitors registered for a grand total of 1,905 in attendance. The total was the highest attendance since 2010.
• During his executive director-treasurer’s (EDT) address, Todd Unzicker shared ministry highlights from throughout the year from across North Carolina that included a special recognition of those in western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene.
• During his report to messengers, Richard Brunson, executive director-treasurer of N.C. Baptists on Mission, shared about N.C. Baptists’ ongoing response to Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina as well as long-term ministry plans.
• The meeting concluded with messengers gathering around individuals from western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene for a special time of prayer.
• Messengers approved a 2025 Cooperative Program (CP) budget totaling $31 million, the same overall total as 2024. The budget also keeps CP receipts allocated at an equal 50/50 split between the state convention and global missions.
• Messengers approved a motion stipulating that undesignated CP receipts in excess of the $31 million budget in 2025 be allocated at 50% to global missions partners and 50% to the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina.
• Messengers adopted a $2.6 million goal for the 2025 North Carolina Missions Offering, which keeps the goal and percentage allocations unchanged from 2024 with 62% going to Baptists on Mission ministries, 28% to church planting and 10% to associational missions projects.
• Messengers approved a series of changes to the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s articles and bylaws that addressed providing greater specificity to the EDT search process, removing an N.C. residency requirement for individuals to serve in various state convention positions and updating references to Provision Financial Resources of N.C. Baptists following the organization’s name change last year.
• Allen Murray, pastor of Centerville Baptist Church in Kelly, N.C., was elected as president of the state convention. Steven Wade, lead pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Youngsville, N.C., was elected first vice president. Matt Capps, lead pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, N.C., was elected second vice president. All three officers ran unopposed.
• During his president’s address, Allen Murray preached on “Characteristics of On Mission Together People” from Luke 24:44-49.
• Messengers heard reports from N.C. Baptist institutions and agencies, including Provision Financial Resources of N.C. Baptists, the Biblical Recorder, the Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) of North Carolina and the N.C. Baptist Aging Ministry (NCBAM).
• Next year’s annual meeting will be held Nov. 10-11, 2025, at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, N.C. Shane Pruitt, next-gen director for the North American Mission Board, will deliver the convention sermon.