2016 State Annual Meeting Roundup

SAVANNAH, Ga. (BP) -- Messengers to the 195th Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting approved an increased Cooperative Program budget of $41,000,000 -- 42 percent of which will be forwarded to Southern Baptist Convention causes. In addition, they re-elected Alpharetta pastor Thomas Hammond as president at the Nov. 14-15 gathering at Calvary Baptist Temple in Savannah. Of the remaining budget, 11.74 percent -- $4,812,500 -- will be allotted for ...

TOWSON, Md. (BP) -- The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware's 181st annual meeting focused on unity and prayer reflecting this year's theme, "United in Prayer, Seeking Christ's Spirit," at the Sheraton North in Towson, Md. Ironically, just a short distance from where hundreds of Towson University students were walking out of their classes in protest of President-elect Donald Trump, Maryland/Delaware Baptists were bowing in prayer to be one in Jesus. The Nov. 13-15 sessions, attended by 341 messengers and 79 guests ...

ROANOKE, Va. (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia celebrated the 20th anniversary of their convention's founding and eclipsed 700 cooperating churches during their annual meeting Nov. 13-15 at First Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va. Messengers also elected the convention's first Hispanic officer, voted to continue forwarding more than half of Cooperative Program receipts to Southern Baptist Convention causes and heard a report of 31 salvation decisions through a pre-annual meeting evangelistic blitz.

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention's annual meeting approved a new name for the Executive Board during "Summit: The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists," Nov. 13-17 at the Sevierville Convention Center. Unofficial registration tallied 1,211 registered messengers from 503 churches throughout the state. The numbers do not reflect the total number of people who attended various sessions. On Nov. 13, an estimated 2,000-plus people attended the worship service led by Steve Gaines, SBC president and pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, and a concurrent Hispanic worship service.

AUSTIN, Texas (BP) -- A three-day emphasis on the Holy Spirit concluded with a citywide prayer rally, music led by Christian recording artist Jeremy Camp and the conclusion of a six-part series through Romans 8 during the 2016 Bible Conference & Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. The Nov. 13-15 meeting, themed "The Holy Spirit," was hosted by Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin.

PELL CITY, Ala. (BP) -- Approving the relocation of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions' office and a flat $40 million Cooperative Program budget for 2017 topped business items addressed by messengers during their state convention annual meeting Nov. 15–16. Messengers also unanimously elected John Thweatt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pell City, as president and adopted five resolutions, four of them related to social and religious issues. The convention theme for the 194th annual meeting was "Sent … Here, There and Everywhere."

TRIDELPHIA, W.Va. (BP) -- Gathering around the theme "a new day," West Virginia Southern Baptists were introduced to three new convention strategists and presented with four-year goals for church planting and baptisms. Meeting Nov. 3-4 at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Wheeling Triadelphia at The Highlands in Triadelphia, W.Va., 155 messengers and 48 guests marked a 120 percent increase in total attendance over last year's West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists annual meeting.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (BP) -- Prayer and a legacy of faith were major themes as the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma held its 110th annual meeting Nov. 14-15 at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Southern Baptist Convention president Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., emphasized the importance of prayer in the believer's life. "A day without prayer is a wasted day," he said. "Why was Daniel filled with the Holy Spirit when nobody else was? Why did Daniel ...

FLORENCE, Ky. (BP) -- A report of increased giving through the Cooperative Program by Kentucky Baptist churches and a denunciation of human trafficking were among the highlights of the Kentucky Baptist Convention annual meeting Nov. 15 in Cincinnati-area Florence, Ky. Meeting at Florence Baptist Church, messengers also elected the pastor of the state's oldest Baptist church as convention president and advocated foster care and adoption.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (BP) -- Churches were urged to "launch out" and spread the Gospel as messengers gathered for the South Carolina Baptist Convention annual meeting Nov. 15–16 at Riverland Hills Baptist Church outside Columbia. "'Launch Out' is not a suggestion, it is a command from our Lord," 2016 convention President Tom Tucker told messengers at the outset of the SCBC's 196th annual meeting, taking his inspiration from Luke 5, where Jesus said to Peter, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a great catch." "We're sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time," Tucker said, invoking a popular song from the 1960s. "We're told to launch out and tell someone that Jesus loves them. If you are saved, you've got a story."