Mississippi Baptist Fellowship a highlight of SBC Annual Meeting

ORLANDO, Fla. — For the fifth year in a row, hundreds of Mississippi Baptists gathered together prior to the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting at a fellowship hosted by the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) in Orlando on June 8.

Participants enjoyed a time of food and conversation at the come-and-go event designed to promote fellowship among Mississippi Baptists. 

Shawn Parker, MBCB executive director-treasurer, began by remarking that this yearly gathering has become the highlight of the Southern Baptist Convention for him. He then called on Michael Barnett, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Gulfport, to pray for the Mississippi Baptist entity leaders present: Ben Burnett, president of William Carey University; Ronald Meeks, professor of Biblical Studies at Blue Mountain Christian University; and Kenny Digby, executive director-treasurer of the Christian Action Commission.

Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee (EC), then officially welcomed those present to the Annual Meeting. Iorg remarked on the extravagant hospitality he has been shown by Mississippi Baptists, noting that he has spent more time in Mississippi than almost any other state since he began with the EC. Andrew Chesteen, president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention then prayed for Iorg.

Evan Lenow, newly-elected president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), stopped by to greet his fellow Mississippians. He expressed his thanks to Mississippi Baptists and the MBCB for the investment that has been made in him over the past seven years since his family moved to the state. Matt Olson, second vice president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, then prayed for Lenow’s ministry with the ERLC.

“This fellowship with Mississippi Baptists is the highlight of convention for me and my family,” said Jacob Glasz, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Bogue Chitto. “It completed the whole trip to the SBC for me. The event itself was top-notch,and the food was incredible. It’s also encouraging to see new and younger faces when we all gather. It blessed my family to be here.”