[1]INDIANAPOLIS (BP)–Frank Page is coming to dinner.
The Southern Baptist Convention’s president will be the guest speaker at a Woman’s Missionary Union dinner kicking off its June 8-9 Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting preceding the SBC’s annual meeting in Indianapolis.
Page, pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., will share insights from his new book, “The Nehemiah Factor: 16 Characteristics of a Missional Leader,” to be released by New Hope Publishers, a WMU subsidiary, in June.
New Hope publisher Andrea Mullins said Page’s latest book highlights the characteristics of a missional leader as authenticated in the Book of Nehemiah and challenges today’s leaders to refine their leadership skills to match those found in the Scriptures.
Page voiced a prayer that his address at the Sunday evening dinner “will be not only an encouragement, but an inspiration to encourage God’s people in doing the work which He commanded to us. To be a partner in such an endeavor is an honor.”
The theme for Monday’s WMU sessions, “For God So Loved …,” is drawn from John 3:16. For a complete schedule of events, go here [2].
[3]The keynote speaker Monday evening will be Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research and coauthor with Philip Nation of the 2008 WMU emphasis book, “Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living.” Stetzer has planted churches in New York, Pennsylvania and Georgia, transitioned declining churches in Indiana and Georgia, trained pastors and church planters on five continents and has taught at 16 different seminaries. Formerly the missiologist and research director at the North American Mission Board, Stetzer holds two master’s degrees, two doctorates and has written numerous books and articles.
Other featured speakers include:
— missions field personnel with the International Mission Board, Jeff and Kim Cruse, serving in student evangelism in the Philippines; Charlie and Angie Lechner, assigned to general evangelism in Mozambique; Rebekah Naylor, a surgeon in Bangalore, India; and Lorri SeGraves, ministering to university students in Venezuela.
— representatives from NAMB, Jon and Mindy Jamison, directors for the Friendship Baptist Center in Des Moines, Iowa, and Brad Lartigue, resort/leisure missionary in Big Sky, Mont., and Yellowstone National Park.
— Wanda S. Lee, executive director-treasurer for national WMU, and Kaye Miller, president.
Tracy Newland, worship leader at Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis, will lead in worship along with her praise band, 5&2.
General sessions June 9 are scheduled at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. One-hour breakout sessions, scheduled for 1:30, 2:45 and 4 p.m., will explore such topics as developing and using leadership skills, how to grow as a Christ follower, how to ignite a passion for missions in your church and how domestic violence affects today’s families.
A WMU bookstore with missions-related resources and books will be open during the day, along with a WorldCrafts Village featuring handcrafts from impoverished artisans around the world.
Reservations to attend the June 8 dinner with Frank Page must be made by May 19. Tickets are $30 each and space is limited. To reserve a ticket, visit www.wmu.com or call 1-888-968-0322. WMU’s Monday sessions are free, with no preregistration required.
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Julie Walters is a communications specialist with Woman’s Missionary Union. For more information about the WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting, visit www.wmu.com for more information.