SBC missionary to Iraq to speak at MBC’s annual meeting in Oct.
By Allen Palmeri
Staff Writer
July 6, 2004
INDIANAPOLIS – Carrie “Nikki” McDonnall, the Southern Baptist missionary who was seriously injured in a March 15 shooting in Iraq that claimed the life of her missionary husband, will speak to the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Oct. 26, according to Roy Spannagel, MBC associate director.
McDonnall will be a featured speaker on the missions night of the annual meeting, set for First Baptist Church, Raytown, Oct. 25-27.
“I know that Missouri Baptists will want to rally around her,” Spannagel said.
McDonnall and her late husband, David, were becoming the primary missionary contacts for short-term Missouri Baptist volunteers going into Iraq. Spannagel said that their work in northern Iraq was not in vain. McDonnall’s speaking engagement is a symbol of how Missouri Baptists remain in partnership with the International Mission Board (IMB) as a new strategy for reaching Iraq is being developed.
“We’re praying about opening up work with the Kurdish people,” Spannagel said. “We ask Missouri Baptists to pray about wisdom about working with the Kurds in the future.”
Spannagel and his wife, Weida, enjoyed dinner with McDonnall at a downtown Indianapolis restaurant during the week of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) annual meeting (June 15-16). Jerry Rankin, IMB president, also shared in the meal and fellowship with a missionary who came away from her experience more determined than ever that the Gospel needs to penetrate dark nations like Iraq.
“Nikki is a very strong young lady,” Spannagel said. “She just knows that she’s going to miss David, but she also knows that the Lord is in control and that He has something special for her life.”
A keynote speaker for MBC annual meeting will be David Barton, founder and president of Wallbuilders, a national pro-family organization which distributes historic, legal and statistical information that points citizens to America’s strength—its constitutional, moral and religious foundation. His address will be on Wednesday morning, Oct. 27.
Another keynote speaker for the convention will be Rick White, pastor, The People’s Church, Franklin, Tenn. White will speak on global missions.
The MBC Pastors’ Conference will precede the annual meeting Oct. 24-25 and will feature Bobby Welch, pastor, First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, Fla., and newly elected president of the SBC.