GARDEN CITY, Kan. (BP)–Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptists were challenged to “sow down” the two states with the gospel during the 53rd annual meeting of the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists Oct 19-20 at First Southern Baptist Church, Garden City, Kan.
KNCSB President Don Lacy challenged the crowd to look ahead to the new millenium and start 210 new churches by the year 2010. The challenge goal will be 310 new works and the “glory hallelujah” goal will be 410, Lacy said.
Opportunities are ripe for church planting in Kansas-Nebraska. Approximately half of the counties in the two states have no Southern Baptist witness. Some have no evangelical churches or, in some cases, no churches of any kind.
Approximately 300 people gathered for the southwest Kansas meeting that was marked by harmony and fellowship. A total of 231 people registered as messengers along with 44 visitors.
Messengers approved the 1999 KNCSB budget of $4,395,480, a 4.8 percent increase over 1998. Cooperative Program receipts from Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptist churches are expected to total $2,415,000. Giving to the national Cooperative Program was increased by .25 to 31.25 percent.
All officers were elected by acclamation. The one new officer is vice president Randy Caddell, pastor of the host church.
The outgoing vice president, Tom Wenig of Kearney, Neb., asked not to be nominated for a second term. Wenig is retired director of missions in the former Western Nebraska Baptist Association. The association dissolved at the end of 1994, making way for new associations to form.
Otherwise, Lacy, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Valley Center, Kan., was re-elected president; Bryan Jones, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Junction City, Kan., recording secretary; assistant recording secretary, Mari Jaquith, a land developer who is a member of Seaman Baptist Church, Topeka, Kan.; and historian, Tony Mattia, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, Wamego, Kan.
Messengers approved five resolutions on the following topics:
— a call for Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptist churches to participate in the KNCSB evangelism emphasis, “Celebrate Jesus: Touching Every Home in the Heartland.”
— support for crisis pregnancy centers and their volunteers.
— godly families.
— the moral crisis in government and a call to prayer for elected officials.
— appreciation to the host church.
The 1999 KNCSB annual meeting will be held Oct. 18-19 at Nall Avenue Baptist Church in Prairie Village, Kan., a Kansas City suburb.
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