ANAHEIM, Calif. (BP) – Several groups closely connected with the Southern Baptist Convention plan gatherings adjacent to the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting June 14-15 in Orange County, southeast of Los Angeles.
The Southern Baptist Evangelists have a special event planned. The Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL) will meet for a day and a half. The SBC Senders Network has merged with Missions Metro and will not be formally meeting in Anaheim.
The Messianic Fellowship also will gather, but not the Fellowship of Native American Christians.
Evangelists
Southern Baptist Evangelists (formerly known as COSBE, the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists) will host the Southwest Supper Sing-A-Long, a free special event, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, June 13, at the Hilton Anaheim, Ballroom A, Level 2.
All Southern Baptists and guests are welcome, Amy Stockwell, the group’s secretary, told Baptist Press.
“This will be a great opportunity to get to know our Southern Baptist vocational evangelists and enjoy visiting and singing together as the SBC music evangelists lead in worship,” Stockwell said. “SBC Evangelists will also be available for visiting and discussions at their booth, #670, in the Exhibit Hall throughout the duration of all convention events.”
There will not be a Sunday morning worship service hosted by the Southern Baptist Evangelists in Anaheim. A casual dinner and business meeting for members is slated for Tuesday at a local restaurant.
SBCAL
The Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL) is to meet June 12-13 at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Anaheim for a gathering centered around “Pursuing Love and Good Works,” based on Hebrews 10:24.
The annual event starts at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 12. Ben Mandrell, president of LifeWay Christian Resources is to be the guest speaker. Rick Curtis, assistant to the president at the North American Mission Board, is to speak at the meal that begins at 11:15 a.m. Hance Dilbeck, president of GuideStone Financial Resources, is to speak during the 5:55 p.m. banquet dinner.
Ministry fairs, networking and plenary sessions are to take place between meals Sunday and on Monday from 8:30-11:15 a.m.
The SBCAL “is a great way to connect with like-minded AMSs (association mission strategists) across America, to sharpen your skills, and to learn from your peers,” SBCAL president Ray Gentry wrote on the group’s website, sbcal.org.
Messianic Fellowship
The 2022 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship is set for Sunday, June 12, at The Disciple Center, 505 Villa Real #108 in Anaheim Hills.
A nearly two-hour worship service is to start at 10 a.m. followed by a church-provided pot luck luncheon. The business meeting, set for 1:30 p.m. is to also be streamed via Zoom.
President Bruce Stokes is to bring the morning message. Other than that, “this is a time for the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship members to experience one of our congregations rather than having a special program,” said Stokes, a professor at California Baptist University.
“If people are interested in the Jewish foundations of the Christian faith or are interested in sharing their faith with Jewish friends in an effective manner they would be benefited by attending this conference,” Stokes told Baptist Press. “If they are wanting to assist in alleviating the problems of anti-Semitism and Replacement Theology among Christians they would benefit from being part of the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship.
“We are very interested in connecting with Jewish members of Southern Baptist Churches and congregations with a desire to understand the Jewish foundation and underpinning of our faith in Yeshua Jesus.”
Native Americans
FoNAC, the Fellowship of Native American Christians, will not gather in Anaheim. Instead, regional gatherings are planned, starting with one in October in Oklahoma.
“FoNAC intends to continue having a physical presence at the SBC, while taking a more regional approach of going to locations with larger Native populations,” Executive Director Gary Hawkins told Baptist Press. “We will join the All Nations Booth in the Exhibit Hall with [FoNAC president] Jordan Kanuho, [Pawnee Pastor] Warren ‘Jr’ Pratt, and [SBC Native American statesman] Emerson Falls.
“Our challenge is to develop a stronger, longer-reaching network working corporately to see God’s people reaching the nations for Christ,” Hawkins continued. “I thank God for FoNAC’s executive board. They are younger and have brought some fresh ideas and approaches to Native ministry.”
Global ministries
A breakfast at 8 a.m. Monday, June 13, in the California Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Anaheim has been set by the Fellowship of Baptist World Ministries (FBWM.) NAMB will cover the cost of the first 150 to register at fbwministries.org. Registration on fbwministries.org is required.
Guest speakers include Charles Clark, IMB; Johnny Hunt, NAMB; and Efraim Tendero, World Evangelical Alliance.
Phil Roberts is FBWM’s new president. Anthony George, pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, recently was elected the group’s pastor/advisor.
FBWM, founded in 1985 with now 15 member organizations, “offers fellowship, coordination and collaboration with other like-minded ministries as well as connectedness with our IMB,” Roberts said.
World missions organizations, evangelistic associations, churches, associations, Baptist state conventions, Baptist seminaries and elected lay leaders who are in good standing in local Southern Baptist churches all are welcome in the group and at the breakfast.
