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Tony Evans, CP Stage conversations on NAAF lineup

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[2]ANAHEIM, Calif. (BP) – Preaching from Tony Evans and kingdom conversations with diverse panelists are among activities the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention (NAAF) will host in conjunction with the SBC 2022 Annual Meeting in Anaheim.

The worship and conversations are designed to engage African American pastors and others in advance of the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting June 14-15 at the Anaheim Convention Center, NAAF President Frank Williams said.

“We’ve generated a lot of excitement among our churches, especially those who are local in California to gather and to really continue to encourage each other in the work that God has called us to do in our local communities,” Williams said, “but also the work that God has called us to do within our denomination, whether that’s on the local level, at your association, at your state convention and serving nationally on the boards and committees of the Southern Baptist Convention.”

Evans, a noted pastor, author and influencer, will preach June 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Friendship Baptist Church of Yorba Linda, Calif., headlining NAAF’s Sunday worship service.

The founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas has authored more than 100 books, including the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible and Commentary, the first such work by an African American.

New to NAAF’s lineup this year are two kingdom conversations on the Cooperative Program stage of the Annual Meeting Exhibit Hall. A group of panelists representing several ethnicities will discuss Biblical Christianity and Justice on June 14 at 9 a.m. The Fellowship of Native American Christians, the National Fellowship of Hispanic Southern Baptist Churches, NAAF, one of the many Asian fellowships in the SBC, and an Anglo Southern Baptist have all been invited to state how they see justice addressed in the Gospel and to hear each other’s views on how justice has impacted their communities.

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“Finishing Well,” the kingdom conversation set for June 14 at 10:10 a.m., will feature Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Senior Pastor Fred Luter of New Orleans, and former GuideStone President and CEO O.S. Hawkins.

NAAF is encouraging pastors to identify with and embrace the SBC through the work of their hands, said Williams, pastor of Bronx Baptist Church and Wake-Eden Community Baptist Church, both in Bronx, N.Y.

“We have been working behind the scenes encouraging pastors to be more involved in giving to the Cooperative Program and being present at their local, associational and state convention events,” Williams said. “We want our pastors to see that kind of work in their local area as a part of why we are connected with the Southern Baptist Convention, and to also see this convention as their convention. You’re not just an observer, you’re not a bystander, you are an active participant in your convention.”

NAAF will hold its annual business meeting June 13 at 4 p.m. in Room 304B of the convention center, followed by its annual George Liele Banquet in Rooms 304C-D. Williams will preach the banquet sermon. The Friendship Baptist Church Choir, the Wrecking Crew, will lead worship music. Banquet tickets, $55 each, are available at naaftogether.org [4].

NAAF will host two exhibits on the Exhibit Hall floor, including at the All Nations Booth and a separate NAAF booth designed to engage pastors more directly.

Kenneth C. Curry Jr. is host pastor of the Sunday worship service, which will feature a regional mass choir from multiple California churches.