By Staff
JEFFERSON CITY – “Do the Work of an Evangelist” based on 2 Tim. 4:5 will be the theme when messengers gather at the Springfield Expo Center Oct. 25-27 for the 176th annual session of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC).
MBC President Bruce McCoy, pastor, Canaan Baptist Church, St. Louis, will gavel the meeting into order at 6:45 p.m., starting three days of preaching, singing, praying and conducting the business of the MBC. Gary Payne, director of missions, Linn-Livingston Baptist Association, Meadville, serves as this year’s chairman of the Committee on Order of Business, which is responsible for the program. John Francis, MBC worship specialist, is the music coordinator for the meeting.
The Oct. 25 evening session will include the executive director’s address delivered by MBC Executive Director David Tolliver and the president’s address by McCoy. The session’s singing will be led by Mike Wright, minister of music, Canaan Baptist Church.
All three sessions on Oct. 26 will feature Southern Gospel recording artists The Martins. The MBC Executive Board’s recommendations, election of a new president and the convention sermon delivered by Randy Johnson, pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Republic, are during the morning session. The afternoon features guest speaker Mac Brunson, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla. The evening will be devoted exclusively to reports by the various ministries of the MBC staff. The final session on the morning of Oct. 27 will include elections for first vice president, second vice president and recording secretary, as well as featured speaker David Uth, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla.
Throughout all three days messengers will hear theme interpretations from a variety of speakers and reports from the MBC’s standing committees and Southwest Baptist University, The Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, Hannibal-LaGrange College, the Missouri Baptist Historical Commission and the MBC Christian Life Commission.
“At the 2010 Missouri Baptist Convention we will celebrate the theme: ‘Do the Work of an Evangelist’ (2 Tim. 4:5),” McCoy said. “I love evangelists; but, the fact is that most churches no longer schedule evangelists. Whatever you may think of that, God’s people are commanded to ‘… do the work of an evangelist.’ Our upcoming annual meeting will feature several equipping options a local church may choose to fulfill the Biblical mandate given to us from the Apostle Paul under the leading of the Holy Spirit.
“Evangelistic mobilization methods include GPS, F.A.I.T.H., E.E., C.W.T., Harvest Unlimited, Passing Hearts DVD, and The Way of the Master, to name a few,” he said. “There are several innovative methods a church could effectuate to mobilize a local body of Christ to evangelistic obedience. Once I was asked, ‘Which method do you think is the best [method/program]?’ I replied, ‘The one you will use.’ At this annual meeting, you will be encouraged and equipped to go back to your ministry assignment and utilize the evangelistic method you think best fits your local church and region.
“I hope you will come. Then, I hope you will go – and ‘do the work of an evangelist!’”
The Springfield Exposition Center provides more than 112,000 square feet of convention space including a 45,000-square-foot Expo Hall. The annual meeting ends at noon Oct. 27.
