The Grand Canyon will be just a short drive away, but Southern Baptists visiting Phoenix this June will be seeking something much more grand — God’s Kingdom.
The Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, June 17–18 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza, will feature the theme “Kingdom First,” drawn from Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
But the SBC’s first-ever “Kingdom Family Rally” the evening prior to the convention figures to set the week’s tone. On Monday evening, June 16, during the closing session of the SBC Pastors Conference, messages from family experts on how to strengthen families will culminate nearly three years of planning by the SBC Council of Family Life. The council will present a standard for all Christian families — described as the “Seven Pillars of a Kingdom Family.”
The SBC Council on Family Life, LifeWay Christian Resources of the SBC and the SBC Pastors Conference are sponsoring the rally.
“At the rally, Southern Baptists will be introduced to a strategy which can strengthen existing families and virtually divorce-proof the families of the future,” said Tom Elliff, head of the Council of Family Life. “Southern Baptists around the world will be encouraged to embrace with their hearts [the Seven Pillars of a Kingdom Family] as guiding principles for personal and family life.”
Southern Baptist President Jack Graham is expected to be nominated and elected to a second one-year term during the SBC’s Tuesday afternoon session June 17. He will deliver his presidential address that morning at 11:20.
“We are praying and planning toward a valuable time together including powerful Kingdom challenges from dynamic preachers, celebrative worship and the affirmation of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Kingdom work and missions around the world,” Graham said, summarizing the convention’s events. “In the context of a troubled world, Southern Baptists will deliver a message of hope as we exalt the King and expand His Kingdom. Together we will renew our vision and rekindle the fire of missions and evangelism.”
The Empowering Kingdom Growth movement and the “Kingdom First” theme will be a focus throughout the convention with four “Kingdom Challenge” sermons. Delivering the messages will be Adrian Rogers, pastor of the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.); Daniel Akin, dean of the school of theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Tuesday, 3 p.m.); Edwin Young, pastor of Second Baptist Church, Houston (Tuesday at 9:10 p.m.); and the executive director of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Jim Richards, (Wednesday, 10:40 a.m.).
Annuity Board President O.S. Hawkins will deliver the convention message at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday.
The Executive Committee will recommend funding redirection of $125,000 into global Empower Kingdom Growth initiates from the $425,000 allocated for Baptist World Alliance causes in recent years.
Variety of speakers
Author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar will speak Wednesday.
Jerry Colangelo, chairman and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball and Phoenix Suns basketball teams, will welcome messengers to the city Tuesday morning.
The week prior to the convention, hundreds of Southern Baptists will come together for “Crossover Arizona,” an evangelism-focused strategy that uses block parties, door-to-door visits and other efforts to spread the gospel in and around Phoenix.
Beginning this year proposed resolutions must be submitted at least 15 days prior to the annual meeting, giving the resolutions committee a two-week period in which to consider submissions. Detailed guidelines on submitting resolutions are available on the Internet at www.sbcannualmeeting.net
Also beginning this year, online registration will be available.
The traditional steps in years past — waiting at the counter as a registration volunteer types in various lines of information — is skipped with the online process. Churches can register their messengers online at www.sbc.net
The traditional registration method also will be available for those churches unable to use Internet access. For those using the traditional method, SBC officials emphasize that most state conventions do not automatically send messenger cards to churches. The churches must request the messenger cards from their state convention offices. (BP)
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