SBC annual meeting set for June 11–12 in Houston

SBC annual meeting set for June 11–12 in Houston

 

A Tuesday evening revival service with worship led by Charles Billingsley and a sermon by Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Fred Luter will be among the highlights of the SBC annual meeting June 11–12 in Houston.

Messengers will convene with the theme “Revive Us That We May Be One,” based on John 13:34–35, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. 

Luter chose the theme because he believes the brotherly love that distinguishes God’s disciples is the only way the convention will experience the revival it so desires. The theme passage commands Christians to love one another because such love is how the world will know that believers follow the Lord.

“We’re not going to do it by just our preaching or by our singing or just by our giving, we’ve got to prove it through our actions that we truly love one another,” Luter said. “And the way we do that is by being the disciples that God has called us to be.

“And if we ever get in one accord, I believe something can happen like (what) happened in Acts chapter 2,” Luter said. “When the New Testament church was in one accord, God did great things through the church. And that’s my prayer for this convention.”

The SBC would be more Christlike in fulfilling its mission if the convention were to experience greater unity, Luter said.

Reports showing the level of success of the 1 percent Cooperative Program (CP) challenge, aimed at increasing CP funding by $100 million within a year and extending the work of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the International Mission Board (IMB), also will highlight the annual meeting, Luter said.

A greater turnout and more ethnic diversity among messengers also are among Luter’s hopes for the meeting, and he looks forward to worship being led by Billingsley, this year’s convention music director and worship pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va.

Messengers to the annual meeting this year can stay up to date with an SBC annual meeting smartphone app, which will include more than a dozen features, including maps, alerts, the Book of Reports and the Daily Bulletin. 

The free app is available for iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry users and can be downloaded by visiting http://m.core-apps.com/sbc2013am from a smartphone or by typing in “SBC Annual Meeting 2013” in the smartphone’s app store.

Pastors Conference: By strengthening the pastor and his family, Southern Baptist Pastors Conference President Gregg Matte wants to create a movement that could become the spark God uses to bring revival. Thus the theme of this year’s Pastors Conference: “Launch: Taking Our Hearts, Homes and Ministries to a Higher Place,” June 9–10 at the convention center.

Hispanic pastors: Before the Pastors Conference, Hispanic pastors and church leaders are invited to “Avance Hispano” June 9. The conference will celebrate SBC Hispanic ministries and is co-sponsored by NAMB, GuideStone Financial Resources, LifeWay Christian Resources and the IMB. 

Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU): WMU will kick off a yearlong celebration of its 125th anniversary June 9–10 at the WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting. With the theme “The Story Lives On,” participants will get a glimpse into 125 years of missions history through theme interpretations and interactive exhibits.

(BP)