The Mississippi Baptist Convention Board hosted a fellowship for Mississippians and friends June 14 at the Southern Baptist Convention in Anaheim, California. This was the first time in memory the Board had sponsored this type of event.
Byron Benson, pastor, East End Church, Columbus, commented on the convention.
“I feel like the Spirit is working,” he said. “I know some of the issues at hand are on a lot of the people’s minds. I know I could be at the house watching, but you can’t be at the house and cast your votes. My church gives money to the Cooperative Program, so we need to be represented with a vote. As pastor, I need to be here.”
“I’m pleased with the Convention so far,” said Brian Rushing, pastor, Poplar Springs Drive Church, Meridian. “Obviously there have been differences of opinion but it does seem that in each of the votes we’ve had through today that the messengers have said ‘this is what we’re united about. We’re united about missions, we’re united about church revitalization, and that’s what we’re focusing on.’ There are some secondary issues out there, some real concerns, and we need to know what those are. But we can have dialogue about those. We are still hearing people say, ‘let’s be more united.’ We are hearing that unity is what we want.”
