[1]
North American Mission Board
The North American Mission Board will host an Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday to honor the top SBC churches in giving to the annual North American missions offering in 2008, both in overall dollar amount and per capita giving. The luncheon, at 11:40 a.m., will be held in Room South B104-105 of the Kentucky Exposition Center.
NAMB Chaplains
The NAMB Chaplains Luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Monday in Room South C205 at the Exposition Center. The luncheon is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and typically is attended by some 150 SBC chaplains. This year's featured speaker will be Gary Chapman, noted author (The Five Love Languages) and family life minister at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Army's Chief of Chaplains, Maj. Gen. Douglas Carver, also is slated to attend, along with SBC President Johnny Hunt and former presidents Bobby Welch and Frank Page. NAMB president Geoff Hammond also will speak.
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
[2]Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary's president, Jeff Iorg, will be the featured speaker at the seminary's annual Alumni and Friends Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room South C202 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The president's report will include an overview of plans for the seminary through 2010. In addition, the Golden Gate's Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented. Tickets, at $10 per person, are available by calling 1-888-442-8709 or can be purchased at the seminary's Exhibit Hall booth.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will host its annual Alumni & Friends Luncheon at noon Wednesday at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Room South C203. MBTS alumnus Michael Catt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, will be the featured speaker. The films Fireproof and Facing the Giants were produced through the church. MBTS President R. Philip Roberts will also provide an update on the seminary's ministry. To add your name to the seating list, contact Midwestern's institutional advancement at 816-414-3720 or [email protected]. Include complete names of all attendees and your contact information. Reservations are required by Friday, June 19. Reserved tickets can be picked up at Midwestern's Exhibit Hall booth on Tuesday, June 23.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
A Reunion Luncheon for Alumni and Friends of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary follows the Wednesday morning session of the SBC in Rooms South B102-103 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Reservations are $17.50 per person ($35 per couple) if made by June 15, $20 per person thereafter. The menu includes "A Taste of Kentucky" buffet of barbeque pulled pork, fried chicken, ham, salad, sweet corn, beans, fruit cobbler, coffee, and iced tea. NOBTS President Chuck Kelley will report on seminary activities over the past year and on new initiatives for the coming year. The seminary's distinguished alumni for 2009 will be recognized. To purchase a ticket before the SBC, make a check payable to NOBTS and mail to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Attention Alumni Relations, 3939 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70126. Tickets may be picked up at the seminary's Exhibit Hall booth and can be purchased there.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt, a Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary alumnus, will headline the seminary's 2009 National Alumni and Friends Luncheon, along with SEBTS President Daniel Akin. Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board, also is scheduled to speak. All of them will speak about Southeastern's commitment to a Great Commission Resurgence in partnering with other Southern Baptists to take the Gospel of Christ around the world. "It is an honor to have Drs. Hunt and Rankin speaking alongside Dr. Akin at this year's luncheon," said Albie Brice, director of alumni development at SEBTS. "We know that all of our alumni will be challenged as they listen to these leaders describe what God is doing and how we can all work together to further the Great Commission." The luncheon will begin at noon Wednesday in Rooms South C204-205 of the Kentucky Exposition Center. The cost per guest is $20; reservations can be made by visiting sebts.edu or calling 919-761-2203.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary will host its Alumni & Friends Luncheon on its campus to be followed by an open house and campus tours. The luncheon will be at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Southern's Heritage Hall and main gymnasium. Southern Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. will be the keynote speaker at 2 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Chapel immediately following the luncheon. From 3-5 p.m., guests may tour Southern's campus. Tours will begin in the new Sesquicentennial Pavilion, a welcome pavilion that features a seminary video and houses the institution's admissions offices. Luncheon tickets are $18 and may be purchased by calling 502-714-6500 or e-mailing [email protected]. Shuttle service will be provided from the convention center to Southern's campus.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's National Alumni Luncheon will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Rooms South B104-105 of the Kentucky Exposition Center. Southwestern President Paige Patterson will present the seminary's annual report and the 2009 distinguished alumnus award. Tickets, at $10 per person before June 1, may be purchased online at www.swbts.edu/sbclunch or by calling toll-free 1-877-GO SWBTS (467-9287). Tickets after June 1 will be $15 per person and will be available online or at Southwestern's Exhibit Hall booth.
9Marks Ministry
9Marks at 9 will be meeting Monday and Tuesday evenings at 9:00 each evening in Room South B101-102. Sponsored by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, the gathering will be an opportunity to explore the 9Marks ministry, originated by Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC, and hear from key pastors whose churches have benefited from the resources. For more information, stop by the 9Marks booth, sponsored by SEBTS, in the exhibit hall.
Black Southern Baptist Servants Network Honoring Sid Smith
by Karen L. Willoughby
The Black Southern Baptist Denominational Servants Network will honor the late Sid Smith during its 13th annual meeting Sunday, June 21, at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.
Smith, executive director of the Black Servants Network, died April 8 in his sleep at his home in Jacksonville, Florida.
"Dr. Smith was a powerful and strong mentor of many in African American life who are serving in denominational ministries for the Southern Baptist Convention," said Ken Ellis, president of the network and leader of the North American Mission Board's people group/interfaith team.
"He was a courageous leader …. Dr. Smith taught us a strong sense of identity and to believe God called us to serve for such a time as this," Ellis said.
A luncheon hosted by St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church will precede the 2 p.m. meeting.
"I'm extremely excited about the Black Servants Network coming to St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church June 21 for several reasons," said Lincoln Bingham, pastor of the church and recipient in 2008 of the network's Kennedy-Boyce Award for his work over a span of fifty years in racial reconciliation.
"I was in the origin of the Black Servant's Network," Bingham said. "I'm happy we're a part of the Southern Baptist Convention and are able to make a servant leader's contribution to the convention. Our church will be a very welcoming host …. We hope to lay out the red carpet."
The Black Southern Baptist Denominational Servants Network is a fellowship for individuals who work in associational, state convention, and denominational entities, numbering about 250 in 2008, up from about 90 in 1996, the year the group was formed.
Karen L. Willoughby is a member of Kingsville Baptist Church in Pineville, Louisiana, and is managing editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message.