Texas Baptist annual meeting features new format

AMARILLO—The Baptist General Convention of Texas will unveil a new fast-paced format at its annual meeting, Oct. 24-26, designed to present cutting-edge ministry ideas to help Texas Baptists expand and improve their efforts to share the hope of Christ.

This year, the gathering moves from a two-day annual meeting to a three-day conference aimed at providing helpful ideas and examples from ministers and ministry practitioners from across the state, said Wayne Shuffield, who leads Texas Baptists' Evangelism/Missions Team.

Patterned after the Catalyst conferences, plenary Ignite Hope sessions will feature a series of speakers, and none will speak longer than 20 minutes.

Featured presenters include: Ron Hall, best-selling author of Same Kind of Different as Me who details encounters and friendship with a homeless man in a Fort Worth ministry; Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay research who has provided statistical insight to church leaders around the globe; Milfred Minatrea, founding director of the Missional Church Center; and Bob Roberts, pastor of Northwood Church in Keller, whose church seeks to have an impact locally and globally by sharing the hope of Christ.

Other presentations will focus on reaching Muslims for Christ, starting churches in apartment complexes, sharing the gospel effectively and clearly, ministering to unreached people groups, participating in mission work globally, having an effective restorative justice ministry, and using music and drama groups in evangelism.

Ron Hall

"Messengers and guests at this year's annual meeting will experience the impact and footprint Texas Baptists make globally in obedience to our Acts 1:8 mandate," Shuffield said.

"In addition, participants will hear and learn from multiple and various speakers fresh and practical ideas and insights to take home to their churches, neighborhoods, schools and businesses to implement in their Hope 1:8 strategies and goals."

The reworked annual meeting, which begins with registration Oct. 24, is the outgrowth of a convention study committee's recommendations designed to encourage more Texas Baptist churches to participate in the yearly gathering. The 2011 annual meeting will take place in the Amarillo Civic Center.

The committee recommended each annual meeting focus on a specific topic that would help Texas Baptists' efforts to spread the gospel.

The first topic—evangelism and missions—reflects the heart of God and the passion of Texas Baptists, Shuffield said.

"All Texas Baptists, at our core, are about reaching Texas for Christ, equipping each other in Christ, and as-sisting through partnership with one another in our Acts 1:8 mission with Christ," he said.

"This is evangelism and missions for Texas Baptists. We will gather in Amarillo this month to fellowship, celebrate, learn more and sharpen skills for all God is doing and wants to do through Texas Baptists in our world."

For more information about the meeting, visit www.texasbaptists.org/annnualmeeting.