MBCB Executive Committee approves camp renovations, announces Evangelism Task Force members

By Megan Young
Associate Editor

The Executive Committee of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) met Dec. 2 at Central Hills Baptist Retreat. 

Camp Renovations

Barri A. Shirley, MBCB Chief Operating Officer, presented camp renovation updates for Garaywa Camp & Conference Center and Central Hills Baptist Retreat. He recommended the Executive Committee and Board authorize up to $3,400,000 from the existing Conference Ministry account to fund the proposed projects.

The recommendation was approved. 

Evangelism Task Force

Dr. Andrew Chesteen, president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, announced the members of a new Evangelism Task Force created in response to a motion made during the 189th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Baptist Convention in October, 2025. 

That motion, made by Rev. Jason Reed, Senior Pastor, First Church, Boonville, stated that the newly elected president be authorized to appoint a task force to study the current state of evangelism and baptisms among Mississippi Baptist churches, and that the task force be instructed to report its findings and any recommendation to the convention at its next annual meeting.

Evangelism Task Force members:

• Dr. Bo Rice, chair, Senior Pastor, First Church, Brandon
• Dr. Judy Lyons, member, Twin Lakes Church, Madison
• Dr. David Haynes, Senior Pastor, First Church, Senatobia
• Rev. David Williams, Associational Missions Strategist, Lincoln Baptist Association
• Rev. Caleb Lewis, Senior Pastor, Faithview Church, Saucier
• Dr. Lloyd Sweatt, Senior Pastor, Meadowood Church, Amory
• Rev. Collin Montgomery, Senior Pastor, First Church, Greenwood

Ex officio members:

• Dr. Andrew Chesteen, convention president
• Dr. Jon Martin, chief strategy officer, MBCB
• Rev. Don Lum, director, Evangelism, MBCB