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Iowa Baptists to focus on ‘Kingdom Growth Now’ theme

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WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (BP)–“Kingdom Growth Now” has been adopted by Iowa Baptists as the theme for the last three years of the convention’s five-year strategy plan, akin to the new Southern Baptist Convention emphasis on “Empowering Kingdom Growth.”

The seventh annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of Iowa, Nov. 1-2 at Grace West Church in West Des Moines, was attended by 69 messengers from 32 churches, along with 51 visitors.

Nominees for convention officers were unopposed and thus elected unanimously: president, David Miller, pastor of Northbrook Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids; first vice president, Bob Ray, pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Shenendoah; and second vice president, Dan Doolin, pastor of Solid Rock Baptist Church in Wapello. Terry Wilkinson, co-pastor of CrossPointe Church in West Des Moines, was re-elected recording secretary.

Messengers approved a 2003 budget calling for income and expenditures of $1,692,012, a 2 percent increase of over the current year. In Cooperative Program giving from the 95 churches in the convention, an anticipated $454,770 will continue in an 80-20 percent allocation between Iowa missions and ministries and Southern Baptist Convention national and international causes.

In other actions, the convention approved a set of re-stated articles of incorporation to be filed with the secretary of state to bring the convention’s charter into compliance with current laws for nonprofit corporations.

The resolutions committee brought two resolutions expressing appreciation for the local church’s hospitality and for Jimmy Barrentine, executive director of the convention, and other BCI staff members.

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Music for the convention worship sessions was provided by an ensemble from four churches: CrossPointe and Grace West churches; Crest Baptist Church in Creston; and Grand Avenue Baptist Church Ames. Joni Wilkinson from CrossPointe coordinated the worship team.

Four church planter faith stories were interspersed throughout the convention program, giving a highlight to this year’s convention theme of “Celebrate New Churches.”

Dan Doolin preached the annual sermon at the conclusion of the two-day convention.

Pre-convention meetings included the pastor’s conference and the minister’s wives luncheon.

The pastor’s conference was held at Grace West Church and featured Phil Roberts, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., and Woody Murray, a brand manager for corporate affairs at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn.

The minister’s wives luncheon featured Debbie Caywood of West Des Moines, wife of Chris Caywood, BCI business manager and bivocational pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Newton.

Other convention-related activities were the annual golf tournament the day prior to the convention and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary luncheon featuring David Penley, a theology professor at the Fort Worth, Texas, seminary.

The Baptist Convention of Iowa, organized in 1995, encompasses 10,539 members. Next year’s annual meeting will be Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at University Baptist Church/Friendship Baptist Church in Ames.
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EDITORS’ NOTE: Grace West Church and CrossPointe Church do not use Baptist in their name.