Preacher David's Corner

191st Annual Meeting of the Baptist State Convention of NC

Linda and I, along with our Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Debbie Miller and her husband our music leader Butch, were blessed to attend. Thank you Ashe Baptist Association for allowing us to attend. Revs Ken Jones and Steve LeaShomb were in attendance as well and there may have been others. One thousand three hundred fifty five folks were checked in and others did not check in I'm sure showing a good representation of folks of the Southern Baptist Churches of NC. Other denotations were present as well. The singing was great the preaching was powerful! Linda and I attended the Pastor Conference on Sunday and Monday as well. I met and talked to the new Executive Director Treasurer for the Baptist State Convention, Todd Unzicker. He preached in the General Session on Monday night. He is very exciting! I look forward to working with him. I also met and talked to Steve Harris, our Great Commission Catalyst for region 9 of which we are a member. He is to serve the local church and to be on mission together with us. He is our connecter if we need assistance from the Baptist State Convention. The theme this year is “On Mission Together”. We got to see and talk to David and Myra Phillips who used to be in Ashe County. Myra sang and David played in the NC Singers and Orchestra. So good to be with them! By laws were changed concerning procedure, all to the good, in my opinion. No problems in the business sessions. Break out sessions were offered, such as Church Fostering, Church Livestreaming Basics and Beyond, Every Child to be Connected with Christian Families, Go, Impact Youth and Future of Missions and the list goes on. Opportunity to grow and know more of the operations of the Baptist State Convention than ever as we work for the cause of Christ. Scripture and prayer was offered at every session by different folks. The President of the NC Baptist Convention, Michael Pardue from Taylorsville, gave the President’s Address. We heard reports from many of our institutions and colleges. We heard a great sermon by H. B. Charles, an Afro - American pastor from Florida. He started slow but when he cranked up, it was on!! He was preaching on the parable of the sower and it was powerful. God’s Holy Spirit was obviously in the entire meeting. NC Baptist reports addressed sexual abuse, celebrated being on mission and our President outlined a vision for NC. NC Baptist contributed $300,000 to the “every child initiative” which is being led by the Baptist Children’s Homes of NC. Their goal is to have a place for 16,000 children who need help. Many folks talked of the work in NC, United States and around the world. Baptist on Missions shared many areas that Baptist are helping to rebuild houses, sharing the gospel, doing medical missions and lots of other helpful resources. IMB shared that 3600 Foreign Missionaries at work around the world and 500 new missionaries even with COVID going on. 144,322 folks were saved and 18,320 new churches started. “One People, One Voice” was evident. We celebrated being on mission together, not causing trouble with our brothers and sisters in Christ but working together for the kingdoms cause as we are working toward unity fulfilling the Great Commission. Over 1,700 folks were baptized on September 12 in NC, the most ever recorded in NC for one day! Southern Baptist Denomination continue to move forward even with COVID going on. Folks are coming to Christ, being baptized, being discipled and then discipling others. New churches are being built and Jesus is being made know to all people groups. We are truly “On Mission Together”! I hope next year you will make every attempt to attend the Annual Meeting of the Baptist State Convention of NC. Together we can accomplish so much more than when we are alone. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

Your Servant, David