2014: State Annual Meeting Roundup

FORT WORTH (BP) -- Organizers of the 2014 Southern Baptists of Texas Convention's Bible Conference and Annual Meeting made clear from the outset that they desired for prayer and spiritual awakening to serve as the focus and priority. Throughout the three-day event, Nov. 9-11, that spirit of brokenness and desperate prayer appeared to wash over the gathering at MacGorman Chapel on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (BP) -- It was all about prayer. Messengers to the 108th annual meeting of the Illinois Baptist State Association Nov. 5-6 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield pled for spiritual awakening and revival, highlighted in a Concert of Prayer based on Isaiah 6.

TEXARKANA, Ark. (BP) -- An estimated 1,000-plus Arkansas Baptist messengers and guests converged on Trinity Baptist Church in Texarkana Oct. 27-29 to conduct business, worship and hear inspiring sermons and entity reports during the 161st annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Pastors' Conference and related meetings.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (BP) -- Sharing inspiring stories of their salvation in convention addresses and ministry reports, keynote speakers and ministry leaders encouraged their fellow Kentucky Baptists to "Tell Your Story."

LAKELAND, Fla. (BP) -- Florida Baptists said farewell to John Sullivan, the ninth executive director–treasurer of the state convention for the past 26 years, during the 153rd annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention, Nov. 10-11 at First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland. Sullivan, in his final sermon to the convention as the state exec, preached on "'An Attitude of Gratitude"' from Colossians 1:9-15. ...

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) -- Tennessee Baptists have elected the first African American president in the convention's history – Memphis pastor Michael C. Ellis. Ellis, pastor of Impact Baptist Church, ran unopposed and was elected unanimously by the 958 registered messengers during the TBC annual meeting, Nov. 11-12 at Brentwood Baptist Church. Ellis served as vice president of the state convention in 2012.

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (BP) -- The Colorado Baptist General Convention approved a budget that designates more than half of Cooperative Program receipts after shared expenses for Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries as messengers gathered around the theme "Be the Church" at the CBGC annual meeting in Centennial.

GREENWOOD, Ind. (BP) -- Indiana Baptists affirmed biblical marriage and increased their Cooperative Program giving to the largest percentage in the group's history at its 56th annual meeting Oct. 20 – 21 at Calvary Baptist Church in Greenwood, Ind.

NANUET, N.Y. (BP) -- The Baptist Convention of New York could soon have a new name and a new location for its offices, messengers learned at the convention's 45th annual meeting Sept. 29-30 at Grace Baptist Church in Nanuet.

OSAGE BEACH (BP) -- Messengers to the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting, Oct. 27-29, defended the biblical view of marriage and challenged Attorney General Chris Koster to fulfill his oath of office by defending Missouri's constitution.