The old home week feel of seminary classmate reunions and ministers catching up with peers seeped through the America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo., as Southern Baptists gathered for their annual meeting June 11–12.
More than 250 Alabama Baptists were among the nearly 4,500 Southern Baptists registered at press time.
Along with hugs and photos of children and grandchildren, other activities connected with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) were also well under way at press time.
Hundreds of volunteers participated in Crossover St. Louis June 7–9 including 24 members of Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville.
Dick Thomassian, pastor of missions at Whitesburg, led the team of volunteers who performed its well rehearsed and well known block party script. Whitesburg led five of the approximately 45 block parties around St. Louis.
While the final numbers of Crossover were not turned in at press time, 1,200 professions of faith had been recorded from the various events taking place.
Other Crossover events included community surveys, inner-city evangelism, street evangelism, encounters on college campuses, giveaways of water in Christ’s name, prayer journeys and a number of similar efforts.
Another way Southern Baptists are reaching St. Louis is through an American Red Cross blood drive. Blood supplies in St. Louis are critically low and in some cases less than a one-day supply exists, according to the Red Cross.
Other preconvention activities kicked off June 9 including the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) annual meeting and the Pastors Conference.
Both meetings were held in the America’s Center in downtown St. Louis and continued through the end of the day June 10.
Headline speakers for WMU were Henry Blackaby, author and founder of Henry Blackaby Ministries; and Debbie Morris, author of “Forgiving the Dead Man Walking.” Wanda Lee, executive director of WMU, got food poisoning before WMU’s annual meeting began and had to miss the June 9 sessions, but she was able to return June 10. Janet Hoffman, president of WMU, stepped in and led the first two sessions in Lee’s absence.
During the various sessions of the WMU meeting, the program focused on God’s plan around the world, across the nation, throughout the state, in the association and as an individual. Highlighting each of the WMU sessions was Native PRAISE, a 120-voice choir made up of Native American women. The women from various tribes sang praise songs from their culture.
Hartselle evangelist Junior Hill closed the Monday afternoon session of the Pastors Conference. Other speakers well known to Alabama Baptists included Alabama native Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla.; Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga.; Robert Pitman, pastor of Kirby Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn.; Adrian Rogers, senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn.; and Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, La. Also preaching were current SBC president James Merritt, pastor of First Baptist Church, Snellville, Ga;, presidential nominee Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas; and Lt. Col. Oliver North.
While preaching and worship is the focus of the Pastors Conference, many Southern Baptists also found a local church or worship service to visit while in St. Louis Sunday morning. One worship service offered at the America’s Center featured Birmingham evangelist Leon Westerhouse, member of Huffman Baptist Church, as worship leader. Also in full swing at the convention was the exhibit hall and bookstore. Alabama Baptist colleges set up booths along with numerous other Baptist colleges, universities and seminaries. The International Mission Board, North American Mission Board and Annuity Board, as well as many others, also displayed traditional entertaining booths. LifeWay Christian Resources hosted its traditional bookstore setting. Collecting the free goodies kept many Baptists busy and excited as they wandered through the sea of people stopping to read literature, check out new programs and select the tastiest candy. And, as everyone attending the convention eventually learns, the exhibit hall is where most visiting happens and the place to find old friends.
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