By Staff
UNION—Franklin Baptist Association will be hosting a “Building Kingdom Churches” conference and training time Nov. 6-7 at First Baptist Church here with the intent of reaching out beyond the association to the region and even the state for a larger audience.
The gathering will begin at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6 and finish around 12:30 p.m. Nov. 7. Its three main speakers are: David Tolliver, executive director, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC); John Marshall, pastor, Second Baptist Church, Springfield, and first vice president, MBC; and Sammy Gilbreath, evangelism director, Alabama Baptist Convention.
“This conference has been in the planning stages for over a year,” said Jim Plymale, director of missions, Franklin Baptist Association. “The concept began as an idea of our association discipleship director, Pat Panapinto, who had suggested the possibility of a major conference sponsored by Franklin Baptist Association that would provide high-quality inspiration and training for leaders in several areas of church ministry, all in one location. We could put more funds and emphasis in one larger event rather than several smaller ones, and not require as many calendar dates on already busy church schedules.
“This concept has grown and evolved as we met to pray and plan for the event. We see it now not only as an association event, but as a regional conference … helping churches grow in kingdom-centered ministry.”
A mass association choir will participate in the weekend as Plymale strives to bring an “evangelism conference” type of emphasis to the conference.
He also plans on presenting a series of breakout training conferences Nov. 7 that will expand on such topics as evangelism, discipleship, worship, leadership, Sunday School, and prayer. Staffers from the MBC such as Mike Cooper, Mark Donnell, and Bob Loggins will be at work during this time along with other top facilitators.
Each breakout session will last 50-55 minutes, with separate starting times of 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. to give participants options.
Gilbreath will give the final message in an 11 a.m. session that will be marked by another comprehensive worship time.
For more information, call Plymale at (636) 583-2639 or email him at the associational office at fcbamo@aol.com.
