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WRAP-UP: Wyo. Baptists stress evangelism

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CASPER, Wyo. (BP)–Evangelism, undergirded by prayer, was the key emphasis during the 24th annual meeting of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention.

The Nov. 8-10 sessions, attended by 99 messengers and 43 guests, included three times of extended prayer for revival and spiritual awakening within the state convention. The convention theme was “Great things He has taught us … Great things he has done!”

Russ Daines, pastor of Hilltop Baptist Church in Green River, delivered the annual sermon about being humble before God in seeking revival, and Lynn Nikkel, executive director of the convention, underscored the need “for leaders to lead and people to follow God’s leadership toward pursuing God-sized ministry.” Quin Williams, the convention president and pastor of the host church, Boyd Avenue Baptist in Casper, preached on the importance of reaping and sowing and of not growing weary in doing the good work of God.

The praise team from Boyd Avenue led in worship.

In a resolution on evangelism, the convention observed: “Our nation continues to give us evidence of being in dire need of a revival and spiritual awakening…. It is the responsibility of God’s people to be salt and light in a world that is tasteless and dark as He gives us opportunity and boldness to witness…. There are many indications of a genuine moving of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of many throughout Wyoming…. We recognize the importance and necessity of prayer in all of our endeavors.”

In the resolution, the Wyoming convention committed to:

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— “rededicate ourselves and encourage our churches to rededicate themselves to the task of witnessing to the unsaved and unchurched in our neighborhoods….

— “encourage one another to prayerfully support and, as God is willing and provides, attend the Regional Prayer Event at the Casper Event Center in April 2008….

— “encourage our churches to pray for the China church and effective witnessing opportunities at the 2008 Olympics….”

Nikkel noted after the convention that many messengers “wondered if we could have another meeting as full of God’s presence and unity as the last couple of years. But these meetings … proved to be as good, or better….” Various attendees “praised God for a meeting where business was conducted as needed but that the focus was on worship and the unity of God’s people,” Nikkel said.

An overall budget of $1,474,576 for 2008 was approved, an increase of $112,481 over the current year. Anticipated Cooperative Program giving from Wyoming churches was set at $564,265, and messengers voted to increase giving to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries by .25 percent of CP gifts, to 32.5 percent.

Messengers elected Dave Stillie, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Rawlins, as president; Buddy Hanson, pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church in Casper, first vice president; and Max Janzen, pastor of Sunnyside Baptist Church in Cheyenne, second vice president.

Next year’s annual meeting will be Nov. 13-14 at Sunnyside Baptist Church in Cheyenne.
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Based on a report from the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention.