SPRINGFIELD – Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) messengers pressed forward during their 181st annual meeting with the restructuring of the convention’s staff and with the defense of religious liberty.
A total of 1,022 messengers and 236 guests from 440 churches gathered, Oct. 26-28, at Springfield’s University Plaza and Expo Center, where MBC Executive Director John Yeats highlighted the need for the convention to return to its original mission to “make disciples, multiply churches, and develop leaders.” In days to come, Yeats said, MBC missionary staff will center their efforts to serve Missouri Baptist churches around this mission and around the MBC’s vision to transform “lives and communities with the gospel.”
“The return to our historic mission requires us to think and act differently,” Yeats said. “Together, for this moment in Kingdom history, we can labor together to accomplish the purpose for which God has called all Missouri Baptists.”
In one of five resolutions, messengers also defended religious liberty and called on Missouri legislators “to pass a Religious Liberty Protection Act … that explicitly secures the religious liberty and freedom of conscience for pastors, churches, businesses, schools, student groups, colleges and institutions.” In other resolutions, Missouri Baptists spoke in favor of the Cooperative Program, defended the lives of unborn children and showed their support for the nation of Israel.
During the annual meeting, MBC president Neil Franks, pastor of First Baptist, Branson, emphasized the theme of the 2015 annual meeting, “Forward,” urging Missouri Baptists to move forward in a backward world by reaching people for the gospel. Likewise, convention preacher Robert Shelton, pastor of First Baptist, Plattsburg, urged Missouri Baptists to “preach Jesus” to people in their churches and communities. The International Mission Board’s Nik Ripken, author of The Insanity of God, also opened a window on the realities facing persecuted believers around the world. Additionally, Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd called Missouri Baptists to join together in prayer that God would send spiritual awakening throughout the nation.
MBC messengers approved a 2016 Executive Board budget of more than $14.8 million – an increase from the 2014 and 2015 budgets, which were both set at $14.5 million. Accordingly, 5 percent of the 2016 Cooperative Program goal of $14.8 million is set aside in a “shared expenses” category, which is allocated for annuity protections and The Pathway. This has been part of the allocation since 2012. From the remaining CP funds, 42.5 percent goes to Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) ministries, 41.5 percent is allocated to MBC missions and ministries, and 16 percent is allocated to MBC institutions, including the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, Hannibal-LaGrange University and Southwest Baptist University. This involves a 2 percent change from 2015 allocations, according to which 40.5 percent of CP funds went to the SBC and 59.5 percent went to the work in Missouri.
Missouri Baptists also approved the Executive Board’s recommendation that the Rheubin L. South Missouri Mission Offering goal be set at $710,000 – a $10,000 increase from the previous year – and that the MBC take a special offering on Oct. 27 to benefit the Disaster Relief Summer Missionary Program. They gave $4,077.89 to this special offering.
Additionally, messengers supported an Executive Board recommendation “to enter into a four year partnership with our IMB and Great Commission Partners in Italy,” which begins Jan. 1, 2016.
By convention ballot, messengers also re-elected three of its officers, as well as one new officer: Neil Franks, pastor of First Baptist, Branson, as president; Ken Parker, pastor of First Baptist, Kearney, as first vice president; Jeremy Muniz, pastor of First Baptist, De Soto, as recording secretary; and Josh Hall, pastor of Selmore Baptist, Ozark, as second vice president. Doug Richey, pastor of Pisgah Baptist, Excelsior Springs, stepped down from office as second vice president after one term, but he emphasized his continuing support of the MBC and expressed his honor at nominating Hall to take his place.
Missouri Baptists also approved a recommendation by the Committee on Convention Preacher that Ron Ratliff, pastor of Tenth Street Baptist, Trenton, preach the convention sermon during the 2016 annual meeting in St. Charles, Mo. Messengers also voted to hold the 2017 annual meeting at First Baptist Church, Raytown, Mo.