Inspirational Rally, Preaching Conference to precede annual Georgia Baptist Convention session

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Calvary Baptist Temple will serve as host church for the Georgia Baptist Convention's annual meeting on Nov. 13-15. JOE WESTBURY/Index Calvary Baptist Temple will serve as host church for the Georgia Baptist Convention's annual meeting on Nov. 14-15. JOE WESTBURY/Index

This is the tenth of a dozen stories highlighting the upcoming Nov. 14-15 annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Savannah. The stories are being published on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through Nov. 11 and include both Convention-related content and a look at how the Savannah Baptist Association is making a Kingdom impact in Coastal Georgia.

SAVANNAH — Two inspirational gatherings will precede this year’s Nov. 14-15 annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention. More than 1,200 messengers from Georgia Baptist churches are expected to gather at Calvary Baptist Temple for the 195th annual session of the state’s largest denomination.

But before those messengers roll into town, an inspirational rally will precede the two-day event with a 6 p.m. service on Nov. 13 at the church located at 4625 Waters Ave. Georgia Baptist Convention President Thomas Hammond – pastor of First Baptist Church of Alpharetta –  will welcome messengers and guests, followed by special music provided by the Savannah Area Choir.

ug-logo_400Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee in Nashville, TN, will deliver the first message. Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director J. Robert White will then deliver the Missions Inspiration Message. Special music by Charles Billingsley of Lynchburg, KY, will follow prior to the evening Inspirational Message by Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock.

The benediction will be delivered by Jeremy Morton, pastor of First Baptist Church of Cartersville.

The next afternoon, Nov. 14, the annual Preaching Conference will begin at 1 p.m. at the church with Beautifully Broken as the theme.

Stephen Fountain, pastor of First Baptist Church of Buford, said the theme will be interpreted through sound preaching and inspirational singing and based on Psalm 51:17: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (NASB)

“This meeting is an event to encourage and inspire pastors from across our state to continue the work of proclaiming the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Fountain said. “All of the speakers are devoted to the preaching of the Word.”

This year’s speakers include Anthony George, senior associate pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta; D.A. Horton, Bible expositor and artist; and Rob Wilton, pastor of Vintage Church in New Orleans. Worship will be led by Shelly Johnson who wrote the worship anthem “Power of the Cross”, which has been recorded by Natalie Grant and Steve Green.

“Georgia Baptist Convention President Thomas Hammond, pastor of First Baptist Church of Alpharetta, and Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director of Duluth, both from metro Atlanta, will also speak briefly.

“We believe God is going to accomplish great things through this year's theme, which embraces the fact that we are simply broken vessels that God is gracious enough to save and use for the purpose of ministry.

“Brokenness is not an end but a beginning,” he reaffirmed … “and many times the pain of brokenness is God beautifully molding us to be uniquely used by Him.”

The conference will end at 4 p.m., followed by the 6 p.m. opening meeting of the 195th annual  session of the Georgia Baptist Convention.

For more information on the Preaching Conference visit www.gapreachingconference.com.

Both meetings are free and open to the public.

2016 GBC annual meeting, inspirational rally, preaching