In Focus: Plan now to attend BGCT in Amarillo

Steve Vernon

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Sooner than you may think, it will be time to gather in Amarillo to help shape the future of Texas Baptists, our missions and our ministries.

This year's Texas Baptist annual meeting is a little earlier than normal and runs Oct. 24-26. A special outreach event—Panhandle Reach—will begin on Friday night, Oct. 21. Sunday-night rallies will be held before the meeting begins. Traditionally, Hispanic and African-American rallies have been held, but this year, we are hoping to add others as we gather from across the state to celebrate what God is doing through Texas Baptists, our lives and our ministries as we ignite hope. This year, the meeting will carry all the way through Wednesday morning.

Steve Vernon

"Igniting Hope" is the theme of this year's annual meeting. Everything we discuss, learn and share will focus on spreading the hope that Christ offers our world.

Monday will feature a new pastors' retreat and the typical time for registration. The opening session of the annual meeting will be on Monday afternoon and will be a time of worship and praise as we celebrate our hope. The first business session will follow that afternoon.The evening will begin the new conference format—like a TED conference `—featuring a variety of speakers with ideas and ministries worth sharing and implementing in your Jerusalem. The session will be the first of three sessions themed "Igniting Hope."

Tuesday morning is set aside as a time for local missions projects as we ignite hope in the community. In the afternoon, there is time for coffee and conversations—in lieu of breakout sessions—with some of the day's presenters. The second business session will follow.

The Tuesday evening session, "Igniting Hope 2," again will be devoted to engaging and inspiring churches to share the hope of Christ here, near here, far from here and to the ends of the world.

Wednesday morning will feature a breakfast time, followed by the final "Igniting Hope" session. Built in to the entire schedule are times of fellowship and networking, times of enrichment in a fast-paced approach to help your church, times to explore exhibits to enhance your ministry, and times for conducting the business of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Let me urge you not to miss the annual meeting in Amarillo this year. It will be new and different. It will be educational, inspirational and exciting. Be on the lookout for your messenger packets as well as hotel information and the full-event schedule. (Hint: It'll look like a giant matchbook.)

Come and plan to be in Amarillo for the whole time, Sunday night through Wednesday morning. Don't be one of those people who in November says to a friend, "You know, I should have been there."


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Steve Vernon is associate executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board.

 


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