October 1, 2024
VALDEZ, Alaska – Randy Covington announced at the recent annual meeting of the Alaska Baptist Resource Network that he plans to retire as executive director at the 2025 annual meeting.
The 79th annual meeting of Southern Baptists in Alaska took place Sept. 24-25 at First Baptist Church of Valdez with a theme of “Reaching Forward,” based on Philippians 3:13-14.
“Alaska may be the Land of the Midnight Sun, but a quick glance around our state shows how little Gospel light there is amidst Alaskans,” President Robert Scott, pastor of Dillingham Bible Church, told messengers and guests. “We must reach forward and take the truth of who Christ is and what Christ has done to those throughout our state, and that requires firm footing.”
Worship for the annual meeting was led by Allan Covington, the executive director’s brother, and the multi-state Deep South Worship Team. Out of state speakers included Adam Groza, president of Gateway Seminary in Ontario, Calif.; and Charles Grant, SBC Executive Committee’s Associate Vice President for Convention Advancement and Relations.
Representatives from the International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, Alabama State Board of Missions, Guidestone Financial Services and California Baptist University brought greetings and information from their entities.
Adam Hailes, pastor of First Baptist Church in Valley Mills, Texas, preached during the Pastors’ Conference that preceded the annual meeting.
In all, 151 attendees – 123 messengers and 28 guests – from 38 of Alaska’s 109 churches, missions and preaching points registered for the annual meeting, pastors’ conference and WMU event.
This year’s business included approval of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation for three entities: the Alaska Baptist Resource Network (state convention,) Alaska Baptist Foundation, Inc.; and Alaska Baptist Family Services, Inc. doing business as Birchwood Behavioral Health. A motion to tighten membership requirements for affiliation with the state convention to a specific version of the Baptist Faith and Message failed to attain the 2/3 majority required for approval.
The only other business consisted of approving a 2025 budget and electing officers.
The $910,280 budget, decreased $14,332 from the 2024 budget, reflected the restructuring of the state convention’s offices. The budget included a 1.5 percent cost-of-living raise for employees.
The budget retains the 80/20 percentage split, with 20 percent leaving Alaska for Southern Baptist educational and global mission causes.
“The Cooperative Program allows us to extend our reach through church planting and revitalization efforts,” Covington said. “We are anxious to find ways to gain access to unreached communities where much of our native population lives. We must ramp up our efforts to these unreached peoples.”
Alaska’s new officers are President Bruce Rowell, pastor of First Baptist Church in Palmer; First Vice President Alan McElroy, pastor of White Cliff Church in Ketchikan; Second Vice President Kyle McGee, associate pastor of First Baptist Church in North Pole; and Recording Secretary Lorie Pierce, member of Montana Creek Baptist Church.
“The best part of every one of these meetings is reconnecting with each other,” Covington said. “Because of the size of our state and the distance between many of our churches, we don’t get to see each other very often, and we are family! While we may discuss business and administrative needs, this [annual meeting] is more like a family reunion. We fellowship, build new relationships, pray and worship together and hear great messages of inspiration to encourage us as we reach forward in the task of the Great Commission.”
The 80th annual meeting of the Alaska Baptist Resource Network is set for Sept. 23-24 at First Baptist Church of Palmer.
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This story first appeared in Baptist Press.
