SIMPLE TRUTH: 2025 Convention Recap

By Shawn Parker
Executive Director-Treasurer

The 189^th meeting of the Mississippi Baptist Convention (MBC) was outstanding by every standard. I’m thankful to Dr. Bill Hurt and the entire slate of officers and organizational committees for an excellent job of helping us take care of business with efficiency. As I’ve reflected on last week’s proceedings, I can’t help but celebrate several things that are positive takeaways.

First, the fellowship was palpable in the worship center, the exhibit hall, and the lobby area. The spirit of family reunion that normally characterizes our meeting was as strong this year as ever. I’m grateful that our convention is one where people care about each other and really look forward to being together to celebrate longstanding relationships and initiate new friendships with incoming brothers and sisters.

Second, we continue to enjoy stellar leaders stepping up to assume big responsibilities. Dr. Andrew Chesteen was elected to serve as the convention president for the upcoming year, and I am looking forward to his leadership. While Andrew has been vitally involved in the inner workings of the MBC the last several years, his election represents an extension of responsibility to the next generation of leaders. I hope you’ll join me in praying for Andrew, as well as the two vice presidents: Shane Freeman (First Vice President) and Matt Olson (Second Vice President). 

Third, though we introduced several new processes to this year’s meeting, everybody adapted and took the changes in stride. I’m fully aware that change always brings a bit of stress, and I appreciate the good spirit I saw on display last week from everyone involved.

Finally, we affirmed with clarity our commitment to the Cooperative Program (CP) as the mechanism for doing the work of the Mississippi Baptist Convention. The messenger response to the Executive Committee motion on Tuesday afternoon to affirm the CP as our primary tool of cooperative ministry and missions was overwhelmingly positive. This, of course, was in response to a motion in our 2024 meeting to consider an alternative to the traditional Cooperative Program channel. I’m thankful for the chance we had over the last year to evaluate this possibility through prayer and collective counsel, and I’m proud of the recommitment I sense in our conclusion.

While I recognize that the Mississippi Baptist Convention is far from perfect, I’m inclined to say that we enjoy a lot of favor from the Lord. I appreciate the strong spirit of cooperation and the focus on missions from so many of you, and I’m looking forward to another great year of lifting our Lord for the glory of His name.