Phoenix set to host SBC meeting

“Pray! For Such a Time as This” is the theme for the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 13-14 at the Phoenix Convention Center, SBC President Steve Gaines has announced. The theme is based on Esther 4:14 and Luke 11:1.

“The Southern Baptist Convention needs to be a people of prayer,” Gaines said. “Only then will God send the power we need to fulfill the Great Commission.”

Gaines has urged Southern Baptists to attend the annual meeting.

“Just like we want people to attend our church meetings, we should want to attend the gathering of the SBC,” Gaines said. “We come together to learn what God is doing through the various SBC entities, but we also gather to pray for our nation and be encouraged.”

Registration for messengers and guests opened Feb. 1 at www.SBCAnnualMeeting.net.

Through online messenger registration, each messenger will receive an eight-digit registration code to present at the annual meeting’s Express Registration lane in Phoenix. The code will be entered into a computer at the SBC registration area and a nametag will be printed. The appropriate church-authorized representative must complete all online messenger registrations.

Each cooperating church that contributed to convention causes during the preceding fiscal year of the annual meeting qualifies for two messengers. Additionally, the convention will recognize up to 10 additional messengers from a cooperating church under one of the following options:

— One additional messenger for each full percent of the church’s undesignated receipts which the church contributed during the fiscal year preceding through the Cooperative Program, and/or through the convention’s Executive Committee for convention causes, and/or to any convention entity.

— One additional messenger for each $6,000 the church contributed in the preceding year through the normative combination of the Cooperative Program, designated gifts through the Executive Committee for convention causes or to any SBC entity.

Hotel registration has been available since October and continues through May
17, online at SBCAnnualMeeting.net. While online housing reservations are preferred, housing may also be reserved by phone from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday at 1-800-967-8852.

Registration opened Feb. 1 for preschool child care, Giant Cow Children’s Ministries and Youth on Mission in conjunction with the annual meeting.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief child care volunteers will care for preschoolers; while Giant Cow Children’s Ministries will lead the 5- to 12-year-olds, and Woman’s Missionary Union will guide the Youth on Mission curricula and activities.

All activities for children and youth will be housed at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Pre-registration is required, with a deadline of May 5 for most programs, or whenever the space limitation of 120 children is reached. Registration will not be taken on site. Click on the “children/youth” tab at SBCAnnualMeeting.net for pre-registration, cost and program details.

Other meetings will be held in conjunction with the SBC annual meeting.

For information about the SBC Pastors’ Conference, go to http://sbcpc.net.

To learn about the Harvest America event June 11 at University of Phoenix Stadium, go to www.HarvestAmerica.com

For information about the need for volunteers and for links to other events, go to http://azsbc.org/sbcannualmeeting/.

–Complied from Baptist Press