October 23, 2024
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Southern Baptists who descended on Orange County for an annual meeting at the Anaheim Convention Center have had a dramatic spiritual impact, leading 547 people to faith in Christ.
The North American Mission Board announced the number of salvation decisions Monday morning.
Hundreds of Southern Baptists from across the country joined local churches in community outreaches, which included door-knocking campaigns, block parties, car shows, and camps for young athletes to learn more about basketball, soccer, volleyball, even surfing.
Some 8,000 messengers from Southern Baptist churches across the nation traveled to Anaheim for the annual meeting, which has been overshadowed by scandal involving the SBC Executive Committee’s handling of sexual abuse complaints.
Even so, those messengers found lots to celebrate, including a sending service for 52 new international missionaries who are being deployed around the world, including to some of the most dangerous places in the world.
“The world’s greatest problem is lostness,” said International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood. “The solution is the gospel.”
A Georgia woman, Morgan Wright, was among the new missionaries. She’s heading to Nairobi, Kenya.
Most of the new missionaries took the stage to introduce themselves to the messengers. Some stood behind screens, only their silhouettes showing, to hide their identities because of security concerns. Two who are going into "the heart of Islam" didn't even stand behind the screen, nor did they speak for fear their identities might be discovered and their mission jeopardized.
Chitwood said the Southern Baptist Convention is bent on reaching the the nations with the gospel.
"This is why we came together," Chitwood said. "And this is why we must stage together."
