Approximately a quarter of Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) members gathered at Falls Creek Conference Center Jan. 18. They will remain through noon Thursday with God’s business being the only kind receiving their attention, EC Chairman Rolland Slade said.

“About a month ago I sent out an invitation for us to join together to draw close to the Lord and hear from Him,” Slade said. “We have some major decisions in February and want to hear from God and follow His will.”

No business discussions will take place regarding those decisions, he asserted. It will be a time for prayer, reading scripture and for members to talk with each other. EC members have big decisions ahead of them in their next regularly scheduled meeting Feb. 21-22, including the selection of an interim president for the SBC EC.

Author and speaker Claude King, who has facilitated numerous gatherings on prayer and seeking God’s will, will lead the group. Author Bill Elliff was set to join him but had to cancel due to a medical issue.

Slade, senior pastor of Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon, Calif., asked EC members at the time of the invitation not to publicize the event and for those medically capable to fast in preparation.

In addition, Slade also asked those attending to commit to arriving by noon and not leave before noon Thursday. To limit distractions, cell phones were taken up before sessions, he told Baptist Press.