GBC messengers to gather in Marietta for annual meeting

Artists Keith and Kristyn Getty will be the special music guests on the opening night of the GBC annual meeting. FACEBOOK/Photo

MARIETTA — Roswell Street Baptist Church will host the 194th annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention Nov. 9-10 in the Atlanta suburb.

Keith and Kristyn Getty of Nashville will reprise their role as special music guests for the opening session that begins at 6 p.m. on Monday night.

As in the past, an inspirational rally will precede the two-day event with a 6 p.m. service on Nov. 8 at the church. Glenn Sheppard, president of International Prayer Ministries in Missouri, will deliver the inspirational message. Special music will be provided by the church choir.

Guest speakers for the annual meeting will include SBC President Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church of Springdale, AR; GBC President Don Hattaway of Cartersville; First Baptist Church of Dallas, TX, Pastor Robert Jeffress; Claude King of LifeWay Christian Resources of Nashville; Sheppard; Barry Snapp, pastor of Victory Baptist Church of Rockmart; Brad Waters, pastor of First Baptist Church of Hazlehurst; and GBC Executive Director J. Robert White.

The theme will be Awaken 2015 and will continue Hattaway’s emphasis on prayer for spiritual renewal and revival. The hashtag for commenting online will be #Awaken2015.

A popular feature from last year’s meeting, called Coffee Shop Talk, will again allow informal time with program personalities throughout the event. Messengers are encouraged to meet the personality of their choosing around a table and dialogue in a small-group setting.

Gettys to perform on Monday night

The Gettys will be the special music guests for the opening session on Monday night, which begins at 6 p.m. It will be preceded with a Coffee Shop Talk with IMB missionary Edmund Brannen.

Informal gatherings over coffee were a popular addition to the GBC annual meeting last year and will reappear when Georgia Baptists gather Nov. 9-10 in Marietta. JOE WESTBURY/Index

Two pastors are expected to be nominated as GBC president to follow out-going President Hattaway. Thomas Hammond, who serves as pastor of First Baptist Church of Alpharetta, and Jerry Speer, pastor of Northside Baptist Church of Columbus, will allow their names to be placed in nomination.

Messengers will bring backpacks to the meeting to be delivered to ministry sites throughout Appalachia.

Last year Georgia Baptists provided a record 22,501 backpacks – 700 more than 2013 – with very little advance promotion and no set goal. This year, state missionary Frank Nuckolls said a goal of 25,000 will help even more children receive spiritual as well as material blessings in the impoverished region.

For more information and a schedule visit www.christianindex.org and look for the annual meeting schedule under the “news” drop down menu.