Exactly 1,500 messengers and visitors from Baptist churches across North Carolina gathered at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro on Monday, Nov. 4 for the opening session of the 194th annual meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The theme of this year’s meeting is “On Mission Together” based on Matthew 20:26-28.

Monday recap

• As of 5 p.m. Monday, 473 pastors, 339 church staff and 432 laity registered for this year’s annual meeting for a total of 1,244 messengers. An additional 256 visitors registered for an opening-session total of 1,500 in attendance.
• Messengers approved a motion for next year’s annual meeting to be held Nov. 10-11, 2025, at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.
• Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered the convention sermon titled “A Baptist Vision for the 21st Century” from Jude 1-4 and 20-23.
• N.C. Baptists celebrated 18 missionaries with ties to churches from across North Carolina as part of a “Sending Celebration” that followed Akin’s sermon.

Tuesday highlights & reminders

• Download the N.C. Baptist mobile app for access to information, resources and details pertaining to the annual meeting.
• A listening session for the proposed 2025 Cooperative Program budget is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. in the Pinehurst Room.
• A listening session for the proposed changes to the state convention’s articles and bylaws is scheduled for 8 a.m. in the Turnberry Room.
• Registration is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• The exhibit halls are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Attendees will have the opportunity to attend a variety of breakout session offerings at 11 a.m. A complete list of breakout session titles and descriptions is available at ncannualmeeting.org/breakouts and on the N.C. Baptist mobile app.
• State convention President Allen Murray, pastor of Centerville Baptist Church in Kelly, N.C., will deliver the president’s address at 9:20 a.m.
• Election of 2025 state convention officers is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. as a fixed order of business.
• The first board of directors’ report is scheduled for 10:05 a.m. and will include the presentation of proposed changes to the state convention’s articles and bylaws for consideration.
• David Melber, CEO-elect of the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, will make his first public remarks to messengers at 10:15 a.m.
•  The time for miscellaneous business is scheduled for 10:20 a.m.
• Messengers will consider the $31 million Cooperative Program budget proposal for 2025 during the second board of directors’ report at 1:45 p.m., which is a fixed order of business.
• Messengers will consider the Committee on Nominations report at 2:05 p.m.
• Messengers will hear reports from N.C. Baptist institutions and agencies at 2:11 p.m. They include: Provision Financial Resources of N.C. Baptists, the Biblical Recorder, the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina and the N.C. Baptist Aging Ministry.
• Todd Unzicker will share the executive director-treasurer’s address at 3 p.m.
• Richard Brunson, executive director of N.C. Baptists on Mission, will share a report at 3:25 p.m., which will include an update and overview of N.C. Baptists’ response to Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
• Messengers can provide feedback on this year’s annual meeting through the N.C. Baptist mobile app or through an online evaluation form.
• Receive live updates about the annual meeting through the official N.C. Baptist social media channels by following @ncbaptist on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The official 2024 annual meeting hashtag is #OnMissionTogether.