ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. (BP)–The Baptist State Convention of Michigan celebrated its 40th anniversary during Nov. 4-6 annual meeting sessions at Lakeside Community Church, St. Clair Shores.
Each BSCM session was highlighted by an interview with two people with longtime service to Michigan Southern Baptists, who now number 37,000 members in 261 churches and 52 chapels. The theme of the convention, attended by 247 messengers, was “Bridging Generations To Christ.”
Ray Shelton, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, Lincoln Park, was re-elected president by acclamation, as were James Kennedy, pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Flint, first vice president, and George Fountain, bivocational pastor of Raisinville Baptist Church, Monroe, second vice president.
Messengers approved a 1998 budget of $2,910,205, up 2.69 percent over the current budget. Of an anticipated $1,353,265 in Cooperative Program giving from the state’s congregations, 25 percent, the same as this year, will be forwarded to Southern Baptist Convention national and international missions and ministries.
Resolutions passed during the convention included support of The Disney Company boycott and repeal of Proposal E, which allows casino gambling. The convention also called for prayer for those involved in gambling and the casino industry.
Interviewed in marking the convention’s 40th anniversary were:
— Bob Beddingfield: 30-plus-year pastor of First Baptist Church, South Lyon; BSCM past president who has served in various associational, state and SBC positions.
— Rochelle Davis: longtime pastor of Temple of Faith Baptist Church, Detroit; BSCM past president who currently is state coordinator for black church relations and has served in various associational, state and SBC positions.
— Peggie Dye: 47-year member of Lincoln Park Baptist Church, Flint, who served on the convention’s executive board when the first office building was purchased and has served as Michigan Baptist Foundation chairperson.
— August Peters: retired longtime pastor of Hillsdale (Mich.) Baptist Church who currently serves as an interim/supply pastor; BSCM past president.
— Wayne Parker: He grew up as a member of Merriman Road Baptist Church, Garden City, and after serving as a director of missions and church planter is now pastor of Merriman Road church.
— Roy Adams: 17-year BSCM services division director and pastor emeritus of Eastgate Baptist Church, Burton, who now serves as stewardship director and a Sunday school teacher at Eastgate; BSCM past president.
— Leon Fuller: retired 37-year manager of Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat and Conference Center who now does pulpit supply and revival preaching.
— Robert Wilson: retired after 24 years as BSCM executive director, he also served as a director of missions, church planter and pastor; now a mission pastor and coordinator of Michigan Baptists’ five-year “Growth Corridor” project to start 25 new churches in a suburban area of metro Detroit.
— Carlos Liese: 14-year pastor of First Spanish Baptist Church, Detroit, and instructor at William Tyndale College who has held various associational and state positions; interpreter for God’s Love In Action Crusades.
— Charles Wilkinson: longtime member of Columbia Avenue Baptist Church, Pontiac, and, in retirement, Evergreen Baptist, Cadillac, who has served in various associational and state positions.
Joe Ratliff, pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church, Houston, preached two sermons during the convention and delivered a doctrinal message on the Holy Spirit. Roberto Santos, pastor of Philippine International Baptist Church, Dearborn Heights, preached the annual sermon.
The 1998 annual meeting will be Nov. 3-5 at Thunder Bay Baptist Church, Alpena.
