2009 National Meeting
A crowd of more than 500 met for a reception in the University Plaza Convention Center on Monday evening, June 22. The reception was hosted by the Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock, AR. Also meeting on Monday night was the Missionary Share Time, attended by over 600, and the ABA Schools Meeting.
Beginning Tuesday morning there were a number of pre-associational meetings, among which were the Baptist Sunday School Committee, Missionary Committee, the Music Leaders’ Workshop, History and Archives Committee, ABA Camp Workshop, MBSF Workshop, ABA Officers Luncheon, and the National Youth Meeting.
During the afternoon approximately 200 young people and adults took a trip to Discovery Center of Springfield.
The National Women’s Auxiliary met in the University Plaza Convention Center for a morning workshop attended by 600. The program was entitled MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC. At 1:30 p.m. the ladies began their 51st annual meeting with singing and prayer followed by the President’s Address by President Jennifer Petterec, (FL) During their annual meeting officers were elected with Betty Keeling, Sacramento, CA, as the new President.
The 84th messenger meeting of the churches of the American Baptist Association began Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Springfield Expo Center. The Presentation of Colors under the leadership of Sam Minor and Springfield VFW 963 followed by Steve Albritton. (KY) singing the National Anthem. The Pledge of Allegiance led by retired Chaplain John Saunders (AR) followed by prayer. Edgar Sutton, (AR) presented Charles Moore, (MO) Pastor of El Bethel M. Baptist Church of Belton MO and Danny L. Young, (MO) Pastor of Antioch M. Baptist Church of Carthage, Mo for welcome from the host Churches. June Lammers of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau gave words of welcome from the city of Springfield, MO.
President Roger Copeland (AR) called the 84th Session of the American Baptist Association to order. The messengers adopted the proposed agenda. Following special music by the 70 voice Adult Choir of County Avenue Baptist Church, Texarkana, AR. Gary Copeland (AR) presented his twin brother. Roger Copeland to give the President’s Address entitled Revive Us Again (Psalm 85:6).
Robert Myers, (MD) was introduced by his son, Alan, for the Annual Sermon, Gail Holt sang and the message title was The Amazing Providence of God taken from Romans 8:28
Edgar Sutton, (AR) presented the invitations for 2013. They were from Rogers, AR, Springfield, IL, and Dallas, TX.
The Wednesday morning session was called to order by Roger Copeland, (AR) who then called for Darrell Owens, (TX) to moderate the report of the Standing Missionary Committee.
Charles Murphy (TX) chairman of the Missionary Committee asked Randy Cloud (AR) to present the report of the Secretary-Treasurer of Missions. He reported 22,605 professions of faith and 5,062 baptisms by the missionaries last year. He presented Lorinda Harper with a plaque in memory of her husband, Wayne Harper, who was a member of the standing missionary committee and passed away last November. A standing vote of thanks was given to Bro. Randy Cloud, Sandra Cloud, and Julia Bull for 13 years of service in the Secretary-Treasurer of Missions Office. A total of 186 Interstate, Foreign, National Missionaries and Mission Helpers were recommended for salary and or designated funds. An additional $11,500.00 per month will be needed for missionary support.
Randy Cloud, (AR) was re-elected as Secretary Treasurer of Missions. Missionary Chairman Charles Murphy, (TX) and Clerk Billy Shepard (VA) resigned from their positions. New elected members of the Standing Missionary Committee are Larry Allbritton, (TX), Robert Myers, (MD), Eddie Addison, (AR) and Kirk Parnell, (MO). The new chairman of the committee is Paul Vance, (GA) and clerk is Roger Stewart, (AR) . A motion carried to grant the request that the World Missions Focus, hosted by Faith Baptist Church in North Little Rock, AR meeting on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 P.M. be included in the annual schedule of events. The host church will be responsible for any charges for the meeting room and the equipment used.
James Crain, (LA) was then recognized to moderate at this time. The report was given by Camp Trustees and Philip Pevehouse, (AR) was elected due to the resignation of Mike Raines. No other change was made to the committee. The Chaplaincy Committee report was adopted and no changes were made to the committee. The History & Archives Committee report was adopted and the committee was re-elected. The Law Enforcement Chaplains’ Report was adopted. The Enrollment and Finance Committee report was adopted.
Attendance was estimated to be 2500 with a total of 1094 churches represented by letter and messengers.
Wednesday evening services began with an Instrumental Prelude followed by special music presented by a choir made up of music directors.
Vote was taken on the 3 invitations for 2013 - Rogers, AR; Springfield, IL; and Dallas, TX. The Messengers selected the Sheraton Dallas Hotel in downtown Dallas as the meeting place for 2013. The final vote was 676 for Dallas and 458 for Rogers. A total of 1134 messengers voted.
A special missionary presentation, Go Tell Everyone, led by Paul Vance, (GA) allowed all missionaries and their families to fill the front of the stage. About 300 came forward for a special prayer. A record offering of $11,012.75 was collected for missions.
Mark Harris (AR) introduced Gerardo Carrion, (Mexico City), for the annual Missionary Sermon followed by Ashley Diggs and Jody Carrerio singing I Am Everyman. The sermon title was Give Me A Man, I Samuel 17. Livingstone Lambert (East Africa) was unable to get a visa to leave Africa.
Motion carried to print the President’s Address, Annual Sermon, Missionary Sermon and opening prayer in the yearbook.
Thursday morning, James Calhoun (AR) presided over the session. The report of the Baptist Sunday School Committee was given by M.D. Keeling (CA). Wayne Sewell, Business Manager, gave his report and was re-elected. Larry Clements gave the report of the Editor in Chief and was re-elected. A 5% price increase for literature was approved by the messengers along with a 5 cents increase across the board for repair on equipment. A 3% raise in salary ws approved for Editor in Chief and Business Manager. A 10% increase in salary was approved for writers. The present Sunday School Committee was re-elected with no changes.
The following reports were adopted: Memorials, Music Director’s. National Youth, National Women’s Auxiliary, New Missionary Committee Report, New Sunday School Committee.
Roger Copeland, (AR) then called for the election of speakers for next year. Terry Parrish, (AR) was elected to deliver the Annual Sermon. Barry Carter, (LA) was elected as the alternate. Alvin Dickerson, (Scotland) was elected to deliver the Mission Sermon. Eddie Williams, (AL) was elected as the alternate.
The following officers were elected:
President – Roger Copeland (AR)
Vice-President – James Calhoun (AR)
Vice-President – James A. Crain (LA)
Vice-President – Darrell Owens (TX)
Recording Secretaries – Terry Parrish (AR) & Lonnie Wiggins (CA)
Parliamentarian – David Robinson (AR)
Assistant Parliamentarian – David Butimore, Sr. (CA)
Music Directors – Bill Crouse, FL, Steve Albritton (KY), Mike Paulk (AR)
Director of Meeting Arrangements – Edgar N. (Eddie) Sutton (AR)
All the newly elected officers spoke words of appreciation for the privilege of serving God’s people in the American Baptist Association.
There were a record 153 exhibit booths this year.
This was truly one of the most outstanding sessions of the American Baptist
Association. Every event had record attendance.