[1]PHOENIX (BP)–Housing registration opened Oct. 1 for the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 17-18, 2003, annual meeting in Phoenix and the June 16 Kingdom Family Rally.
Hotel reservations can be made in several ways:
— via the Internet at www.sbc.net [2]; select the “2003 Annual Meeting” link.
— downloading the housing reservations form at the 2003 Annual Meeting link. Select “PDF version of housing brochure” and mail completed form to SBC Housing Bureau, c/o Greater Phoenix CVB, 400 E. Van Buren, Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85004, or fax it to (602) 256-5292.
— using the housing form in the September and October editions of SBC Life, journal of the SBC Executive Committee.
— obtaining a housing form from state Baptist convention offices.
[3]The official housing deadline is May 5, 2003.
Enhancing the June 16 Kingdom Family Rally is the fact that hotel rates in Phoenix will be “very reasonable as compared to previous years,” SBC convention manager Jack Wilkerson noted. A number of the better hotels are in the $60-80 price range. Hotel-by-hotel rates are accessible via the Internet registration and printed on the housing registration form.
The Monday evening family rally is open to pastors, church staff and church members. It will be held in conjunction with the June 15-16 Pastors’ Conference held each year prior to the SBC annual meeting.
Expanded care for preschool children as well as activities for middle schoolers will be announced at a later date and posted to the website.
Other housing registration details include:
— Reservation requests for 25 or more rooms should be made in writing to the SBC Housing Coordinator at the SBC Executive Committee, 901 Commerce St., Nashville, TN 37203, or by e-mail to [email protected] [4].
— Disabled persons or those with special needs in reserving a room may contact the SBC housing coordinator at (615) 782-8612 or [email protected] [4].
— Deposit and cancellation information may be reviewed at the www.sbc.net [2] 2003 Annual Meeting link.
The Kingdom Family Rally, part of Southern Baptists’ emphasis to undergird families, will feature such nationally known family advocates as James and Shirley Dobson of Focus on the Family, FamilyLife’s Dennis and Barbara Rainey and author and conference leader Gary Chapman.
The rally will “encourage our pastors and laity to develop disciples among their own children and grow strong, healthy marriages and to model for the culture the family as God has planned it and designed it,” said SBC President Jack Graham, pastor of the Dallas-area Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.
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