Report from Convention
Praise the Lord!
I am truly blessed to be able to attend the Progressive National Baptist Convention in Memphis, Tn. last week. It was an awesome time of praising the Lord with lots of singing and beautiful programs dedicated to the service of many participants and awesome classes to enhance our prayer life and further the ministry of the kingdom! Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes as we had a blessed and safe trip there and back. My travel sister was a wonderful blessed woman of God and we travelled very well together.
Vice-President Harris opened the convention with prayer and song. This would be his last convention as vice president. Pastor Ricky Sykes gave the message, "Keeping the bread fresh!", from Luke 11:5. Are you serving up stale bread?
Sister Anice Price led us in song.
The planning session was led by Dr. and sister Ragland of the Lydia Group, with a screen presentation about how to organize and rate your work in the ministry. It was an exciting round of questions and answers.
Plenary Session: Rev. Waddell Smith resigned his post due to health issues. We were also asked to encourage more people to attend conventions both Southern Regional and National.
Departmental Session: Nursing/Health Ministry-
We learned about the program called "Search Your Heart" for churches. It is designed to encourage it's members to start taking care of their hearts. I have presented our pastor with a copy of the program. And we recieved information on the "Power ot end stroke", forms for "You're the Cure for Heart Disease and Stroke", and various information on "End of Life Planning and Advance Care Plans."
Class: Understanding Spiritual Gifts-
The couse was designed to aid us in understanding the nature of Spiritual gifts as related to us in the bible. We learned comprehensive and working knowledge of these gifts and their use for ministry in our local church.
Evening session: Missions. Held by Rev. Dr. Samuel Nixon. Dr. Nixon talked about the goal of the missions department. He emphasized:
-Gulf Coast Rebuilding
-Haiti requires more help with restoration
-More churches to fill out forms for the mission model
-The need for 2 reps from each region to share their mission ministry info with the board.
-Volunteers needed
-Youth- Getting them involved in helping others as missionaries
Everyone is a missionary!
The PNBC Missions Summit will be held in Washington, DC. on Nov. 30-Dec 2, 2008 at the Marriott- Waterman Park Hotel. All churches are requested to send atleast 1-2 reps.
The next convention will be held in Atlanta, Ga., on August 3-9, 2008 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel.
Thanks again and have a blessed day.
Evangelist Cookie Hunter