SBC leaders set for MBC annual meeting
By Don Hinkle
Editor
KANSAS CITY – One of the architects of the effort to save the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) from liberalism, a movement that has become known as “The Conservative Resurgence,” will be among the featured speakers when Missouri Southern Baptists gather at First Baptist Church, Raytown, Oct. 26-28, for the 175th annual meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC).
Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, will be making his first appearance before the MBC since conservatives gained control of both the SBC and MBC. Patterson is a world-renowned speaker and author who has held a variety of denominational leadership posts as part of a ministry that spans four decades.
Other noted speakers for the annual meeting, with the theme “Everlasting to Everlasting” based on Psalm 90:1-2, include Geoff Hammond, president of the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, Ga., and Chuck Kelly, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Also scheduled to speak are: MBC President Bruce McCoy, pastor, Canaan Baptist Church, St. Louis; MBC Executive Director David Tolliver and Micah Fries, pastor, Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church, St. Joseph, who is scheduled to preach the convention sermon.
Among those leading the annual meeting in worship will be Travis Cottrell, best known for serving as worship leader for the popular author and speaker Beth Moore.
“Travis takes traditional music and turns it into great, passionate contemporary music that brings people of all ages together in worship,” said MBC Worship Specialist John Francis, who is serving as the annual meeting’s music coordinator.
Other musical guests include the Southwest Baptist University Chorale from Bolivar including a small group from the chorale that will lead in worship during one of the morning sessions. Also featured will be the Canaan Baptist Church choir from St. Louis under the direction of Mike Wright, Canaan’s minister of music.
