SBC 2014 - Monday Morning, June 9, Day 2

I registered this morning for the Southern Baptist Convention and was shocked at what looks like an extremely small set up for the Convention. It seems the Baltimore Convention Center is arranged to seat no more than 4,000. A far cry from the 45,000, 35,000, 25,000 and such of yesteryear.

Really enjoyed worship being led by Matt Redman in the Pastor's Conference this morning. Matt is a songwriter (Heart of Worship), as well as a worship leader in England. Biltmore Baptist Church is responsible for the Pastor's Conference, setting the theme as "The Glory of God." Truthfully, many of us spend as much time in the Exhibit Hall as we do the Convention Hall. I was able to reconnect with Marty Duren (NAMB), Jim Wideman (Executive Director, New England), and a host of pastors from around the nation I have not seen in a while.

One of the great new things I've seen at the Convention is "The Prayer Walk" which is established by the Maryland Baptist Convention. The world and national maps with pins representing missionaries and churches were very well done. We've been looking for such a map that we can display at Emmanuel Enid, helping our people focus on remembering our missionaries we've sent around the world. I think we've found the perfect map and Doug from Maryland has committed to help us get one. It was created and built for the SBC 2014, so Doug's unique creation might have long term benefits for Emmanuel Enid.

I'm about to leave the Convention for lunch. At 2:00 pm the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention will meet to discuss whether or not they will bring their motion to the floor of the SBC, the motion I've written about previously. 

I will be there.