SBTC Annual meeting briefs

Bible Conference offering will benefit SBC adoption effort
The offering taken during the SBTC Bible Conference Nov. 14-15 in Corpus Christi will further a cause championed lately by a growing chorus of Southern Baptists: adoption.

Bart Barber, SBTC Bible Conference second-vice president and Farmersville pastor, told the TEXAN that after expenses are met, 100 percent of the offering will go toward helping Southern Baptists adopt children through a new SBC adoption fund initiative begun through Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky.
A similar offering was given during the SBC Pastors’ Conference in Orlando this year.

“All three of our officers were really inspired by [the Pastors’ Conference offering], and we decided that we ought to do the same thing here in Texas,” Barber explained. “Here’s a chance for us to pool together our resources and to help children in need. And if we can place at-risk babies in loving Christian homes, we greatly increase those babies’ exposure to the gospel and we change people’s lives forever.

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The Bible Conference speakers include Texans and those nationally recognized. Patrick Payton, pastor of Stonegate Fellowship in Midland, will preach the first sermon at the Bible Conference on Sunday night and Jonathan Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., will close the conference on Monday night. In between, attendees will hear from preachers such as Russell Moore, theology dean at Southern Seminary in Louisville and a teaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church.

Day of Prayer & Fasting
A day of prayer and fasting for the SBTC Bible Conference & Annual Meeting is planned on Oct. 27. Churches and individual Southern Baptists are asked to set aside that day or part of the day for concentrated prayer for the annual meeting.

Ezell, Page to address SBTC
Newly elected leaders Kevin Ezell of the North American Mission Board and Frank Page of the SBC Executive Committee will among the speakers during the annual meeting at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.

Ezell, the NAMB president, will be the featured speaker for the NAMB missionary commissioning celebration at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16 during the annual meeting. Churches are encouraged to bring groups for the commissioning service.

Page, the EC president, is scheduled to bring a report from the Executive Committee at 2:55 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16.

Online registration
SBTC churches should be receiving a letter in early October explaining the registration process for the 2010 SBTC annual meeting in Corpus Christi, said Facilitating Ministries Director Tom Campbell. Churches will register messengers online and will not need a messenger card, expediting the registration process, Campbell said. For more information, contact the facilitating ministries department toll-free at 877-953-7282 (SBTC).

Crossover focuses on inner city
Crossover this year is focused on the inner city of Corpus Christi. Area churches gave away 5,000 backpacks to inner city kids at the beginning of school. Included were school supplies and a free ticket to see the Team Impact strength team on Saturday night, Nov. 13.

In the week prior, Team Impact will be in Corpus Christi schools (starting with the inner city schools) doing PBS (Positive Behavior Strategy) assemblies. Free tickets will be distributed to the Team Impact presentation.
Decision guides will be available for those who make decisions. Later, Corpus Christi churches will follow-up on all those who make decisions.

Resolutions deadline Nov. 5
Those wishing to submit a resolution for consideration by the Resolutions Committee must submit it by Nov. 5. Resolutions should be typed and legible and may be e-mailed to Lane Rice at lrice@sbtexas.com or mailed to the SBTC Communications office, attn: Lane Rice, at 4500 SH 360, Grapevine, TX 76051.

Luncheons planned
Luncheons during the Bible Conference and Annual Meeting include a Women’s Luncheon on Monday, Nov. 15 featuring Dorothy Patterson, professor of theology in women’s studies at Southwestern Seminary. Also, two “Ministry Cafes” are also offered on Monday at lunch, one on marriage and family needs in ministry, and another on pastoral ministry.

On Tuesday, the annual President’s Luncheon will feature IMB Vice President Gordon Fort.

To register for these, visit sbtexas.com/am10.