LITTLE ROCK — The 166th annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) is Oct. 22-23 at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, 12400 Interstate 30, Little Rock.
The theme for this year’s annual meeting is Fulfill Your Call.
Business of the convention will be conducted, including receiving entity reports, election of convention officers, and a vote on the 2020 ABSC Cooperative Program (CP) budget of $21 million, which will implement the third year of a new five-year formula to increase the percentage going to Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) CP. Messengers to the 2016 ABSC Annual Meeting approved the new formula that will increase the amount Arkansas Baptists send to SBC CP incrementally from 43.77 percent in 2017 to 45.82 percent by 2022. The percentage to be sent to the SBC CP through the 2020 ABSC budget is 45.42 percent.
During the meeting, the ABSC Nominating Committee will present recommendations of people to serve on ABSC boards, committees and agencies. Miscellaneous business sessions are set for 10:25 a.m. and 2:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
Election of officers will be held Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 10:10 a.m. for president, 10:30 a.m. for first vice president, and 10:50 a.m. for second vice president. Resolutions will be presented at 10:35 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
As in past years, ABSC Executive Board ministry teams will share testimonies during meeting sessions.
A Celebration and Prayer Focus is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Convention President Greg Sykes, pastor of First Baptist Church, Russellville, will preside over the meeting.
Speakers during the meeting will include Sykes; Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO, Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention; J.D. “Sonny” Tucker, ABSC executive director, and Jamar Andrews, lead pastor, Word Baptist Church, Jonesboro, who will present the convention sermon.
Worship leaders during the meeting will include Robert Ramsey, First Baptist Church, Russellville; Jon Skelley, Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, Little Rock, and Ouachita Baptist University Worship.
Periods of focused prayer will be led by Tucker, Sykes and Don Moore, prayer ambassador, ABSC.
Related meetings
Prior to the annual meeting, several other meetings will take place at the church.
The ABSC Pastors’ Conference will be held 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21, in the worship center. The Ministers’ Wives Conference will be held 10 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21, in the Venue. The Young Leaders Lunch and Panel Discussion will be held at noon, Monday, Oct. 21, in Playroom A. The Church Planting Celebration Dinner will be held 5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21, in the Venue. An Associational Missionary Fellowship will be held 5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21, in Playroom A. A Missionary Parents Fellowship will be held 5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21, in room 218. A Hispanic Celebration will be held 1 -5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21, in the Student Game Room.
The Link—A Connection Event for Arkansas Baptists (Fellowship with Agency and Institution Leaders) will be held 8:30 – 9:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21, in the Foyer.
Other meetings to be held Tuesday, Oct. 22, include a Disaster Relief Lunch, 11:45 a.m., on the west side of church grounds; a Chaplains Lunch, 11:45 a.m., in room 218; Reaching Internationals in Arkansas, 11:45 a.m., in rooms 209 and 210; Arkansas Student Pastors Network, 4:15 p.m., in rooms 209 and 210; Preschool and Children’s Ministry Dinner and Roundtable, 4:15 p.m., in room 218; and a Women’s Ministry Network Dinner, 4:15 p.m., in room 206.
Seminary luncheons to be held at 11:45 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22, include New Orleans Seminary in room 206; Southwestern Seminary in room 204, and Mid-America Seminary in room 208.
At 7:15 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23, a Cooperative Program Breakfast will be held in the Venue.
Additionally, a block party will be held Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 21-23, on the west side of church grounds of Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, Little Rock.
For a complete listing of related meetings and other annual meeting information, see pages 9-11 in this edition.
Contact Margaret Colson at Margaret@arkansasbaptist.org.