NEW ORLEANS (BP) — Various giveaways and opportunities to learn more about Southern Baptist entities will center around the Exhibit Hall at the New Orleans Convention Center during the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting June 11-14.

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will host two exhibits with visitors to be greeted by recently elected President David S. Dockery and Chancellor O.S. Hawkins.

At the SBC Pastors’ Conference on June 11-12, visitors to the seminary’s booth who provide a student referral will receive a free copy of “The Gospel Invitation” by Hawkins and Matt Queen, interim provost and vice president for academic administration and L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism.

Visitors to the seminary exhibit in the main exhibit hall who provide a student referral will receive a digital copy of “Philippians: Joyful Unity in the Gospel,” edited by Dockery. The first of a new Seminary Hill Press series, The Southwestern Pulpit, the book is a collection of sermons from faculty and invited guests who preached through the New Testament epistle during Southwestern’s spring 2023 chapel services.

Those who submit referrals from both booths will be entered to win one of two giveaways: a collection of 25 books authored by Dockery and Hawkins’ “Code Series” of nine books. Both giveaways include a leather bag from Saddleback Leather that features the Southwestern Seminary logo.

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Free books, giveaways and the chance to talk with representatives of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary will be part of the entity’s exhibit.

A Women’s Expo Booth will be available as well as the SEBTS hospitality room in room 253. On June 12 at 4:30 p.m., the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture at SEBTS will host the discussion “Re-Forming Gen Z: Technology, Sexuality and Human Formation” in room 225 with Jacob Shatzer of Union University, Jason Thacker of Boyce College and Rachel Gilson of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ).

The “Together We Go: Women’s Leadership” breakfast will take place June 14 at 7 a.m. in rooms 225-227.

Click here for more information and registration for all events.

Gateway Seminary

Gateway’s exhibit hall booth will feature some interactive elements and giveaways focused on Beyond Trips, the seminary’s short-term mission trip program.

Recently, Gateway received a financial gift that established the GoGrant Fund. This endowed fund will allow every qualified Gateway student to go on a short-term mission trip as part of his or her education program at essentially no cost to the student. At the booth, annual meeting attendees will be invited to join a Beyond team as an honorary member by committing to pray for students who will visit specific regions of the world.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

At The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Boyce College booth, Southern Baptists will have the opportunity to meet with faculty, connect with staff and check out this year’s giveaways. Plus, they can enter for a chance to win a Faculty Library.

President Albert Mohler’s three decades of leadership at Southern will be celebrated at the seminary’s Alumni and Friends Luncheon.

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

A different giveaway will be available each day at the NOBTS and Leavell College booth, along with other free items. Admissions personnel will be available to share about updated curriculum, degrees and delivery systems for all schedules. “Women Leading Well: Stewarding the Gift of Ministry Leadership,” the new book by Assistant Professor of Ministry to Women Emily Dean will be given away at the Women’s Expo exhibit. 

The dedication of the Fred Luter Jr. Student Center will be held June 14, 6-8:30 p.m. on the NOBTS campus at 3939 Gentilly Blvd. New Orleans food favorites will be available for purchase at the free event. Click here to register.

Celebrating what God has done and what God will do in the future, the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College Alumni and Friends Luncheon will be held June 14, noon-2 p.m., in the Grand Hall of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. 

Tickets to the Alumni and Friends Luncheon are $20 per person and can be purchased at this link.

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College will highlight the For The Church vision for theological education in a variety of ways at the annual meeting. The featured giveaway at the exhibit booth – For The Church Nalgenes – will be paired with two exclusive MBTS giveaways that will release on Monday and Tuesday.

Midwestern Seminary will also host its annual FTC New Orleans micro-conference at noon on June 13. This year’s conference, in partnership with SEND Network, is titled “Preparing Pastors and Planting Churches” and will feature speakers President Jason Allen, Send Relief President Vance Pitman and Matt Carter, vice president of Mobilization at the North American Mission Board.

The annual alumni luncheon will be held on June 14 at noon with the theme “Our Missional Moment” featuring Allen and Paul Chitwood, President of the International Mission Board. Worship for both events will be led by The Worship Initiative.

International Mission Board

In 2023, the International Mission Board hopes to alert Southern Baptists to this stark reality: Lostness is growing every day. In the IMB exhibit, attendees will discover what lostness looks like around the world and learn how to join in bringing missionary presence and gospel access to some of the least-reached people groups in the world.

From the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) until the Great Multitude (Revelation 7:9-10), we must unite in this Great Pursuit: To reach every nation — no matter the cost.

North American Mission Board

The North American Mission Board’s exhibit will center on its key ministry assignments of evangelism, church planting and compassion ministry. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about how to engage their local churches in the mission of reaching North America with the Gospel and how to become a bold witness in their own communities.

Send Relief

Send Relief will feature the work of protecting children and families, one of its key pillars of compassion ministry. Churches will have the opportunity to engage in the areas of international orphan care, foster care and adoption through Send Relief in a way that brings tangible help and share the eternal hope of salvation that is found only in Jesus.

Lifeway Christian Resources

Lifeway Christian Resources’ 10,000-square-foot exhibit will highlight the organization’s commitment to helping church leaders navigate ministry and offer a store containing a wide selection of books, Bibles, small-group studies, boxed cards, Spanish resources and other Christian products. Other features include an interactive kids station, onsite training on digital curriculum experiences, demonstrations of recent and upcoming enhancements at lifeway.com and live recordings of “The Glass House” podcast with Ben and Lynley Mandrell.

Lifeway staff will help messengers and guests plan and select appropriate materials for group Bible studies and offer information on Lifeway’s ongoing curriculum including Bible Studies for Life, The Gospel Project, Explore the Bible and You.

New to the exhibit is Hyfi, Lifeway’s new digital, ongoing curriculum for preschoolers, kids and students. Visitors can preview the curriculum and learn how Hyfi is designed to help churches reach the next generation with the Gospel. Through 12 simple biblical truths, Hyfi guides kids and students to learn who they are because of who Christ is.

Ministry leaders are invited to sign up at lifeway.com/sbc for 45-minute coaching sessions to discuss churchwide discipleship, disciple-making in groups and disciple-making with Gen Z. Lifeway’s Auxano team will be on-site to consult with church leaders about vision and mission. Visioneering Studios representatives will be available to talk with churches about intentional environments for ministry.

GuideStone Financial Resource

In an effort to optimize convention attendees’ time, GuideStone will debut a new both experienced designed to streamline the Wellness Booth experience while offering blood pressure and grip strength tests.

Each day will include giveaways of the popular GuideStone highlighters. Journals will be given out Monday morning and copies of “The Promise Code” and “The Apostles’ Code” by GuideStone President Emeritus O.S. Hawkins that afternoon. Hawkins plans to be on-hand to sign books from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on June 12.

Tuesday giveaways include iPhone fans in the morning and copies of “Start to Finish: The Pastor’s Guide to Leading a Resilient Life and Ministry,” by GuideStone Director of Pastoral Wellness Mark Dance, who will be on hand to sign copies from 11 a.m.-noon and 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, GuideStone will give out water bottles with sticker sheets.

GuideStone welcomes the opportunity to meet with members, ministry partners and others interested in learning more about GuideStone and Mission:Dignity. During the exhibit hall hours, team members will be on-hand to discuss members’ retirement and insurance questions and needs and to talk about the investment opportunities that may be available. Messengers can order materials for Mission:Dignity Sunday as well.

Southern Baptist Foundation

In recognizing the host city New Orleans’ reputation for June heat and humidity, the Southern Baptist Foundation will be giving away hands-free neck fans at its exhibit. Attendees will also have the opportunity to register for an autographed jersey of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards, completions and completion percentage.

Information on the Foundation’s resources towards providing for ministries and supporting your family will also be available. If unable to visit the booth, email [email protected].

Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) will give away resources to messengers who complete a brief survey that will help the ERLC understand how to best serve Southern Baptist churches, no matter the size or location.

The booth will include free resources on the four main policy areas that the ERLC prioritizes: religious liberty, marriage and family, life and human dignity.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Scott Barkley is national correspondent for Baptist Press.)