By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Messengers will be challenged with a theme of “Connect” during the 2024 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, to be hosted Nov 12 by Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport.
“This year we’ve adopted what will hopefully be an ongoing theme for us – ‘Connect,’” said Steve Horn, executive director for Louisiana Baptists. “During our time together, our is we will connect with God, with one another, and with support for our cooperation missions and ministries.”
LBC President David Goza echoed the thought, urging Louisiana Baptists to attend.
“We are looking forward to our annual convention and renewing our commitment to win our state to Christ through our cooperative ministries,” he said. “When Louisiana Baptists stand together, we glorify the name of our Lord. I pray that God will bless our time together in Shreveport and that the Lord will unite us like never before.”
BUDGET PROPOSAL
As part of the business of the annual meeting, the Cooperative Program budget will be presented to messengers to consider for adoption.
The 2025 financial plan is based on Cooperative Program contributions of $17,380,808, a decrease of $699,761, or 3.87 percent. Cooperative Program projections are based on actual receipts from August 2023 through July 2024. The allocation formula for distributing CP gifts between the Southern Baptist Convention and Louisiana Baptist causes remains unchanged, 62.87 percent to support ministries in the state and 37.13 percent forwarded to fund national entities.
OTHER BUSINESS
Other highlights of the meeting will include messages by Horn, Goza, and Matthew James, vice president of enrollment, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Additional items on the agenda include a Bible study led by Hance Dilbeck, president and Chief Executive Officer with GuideStone Financial Resources; reports by the Convention’s entities; other updates on state missions; consideration of motions and resolutions; and election of officers.
At press time, candidates whose names have been placed in nomination for offices of the LBC are David Goza, pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, president; and Craig James, associational missions strategist with North Central Baptist Association, second vice president.
NOTABLES
Gatherings for Nov. 11 include:
— discipleship collaborative, 12 p.m., middle school space
— ladies fellowship luncheon, 12 p.m., high school space
— African-American fellowship, 4 p.m., high school space
— young pastors network dinner, 4:30 p.m., middle school space
— NOBTS alumni dinner, 5 p.m., dining room
Gatherings for Nov. 12 include:
— Next Generation Roundtable/Youth and Children’s Ministers lunch, 12:15 p.m., middle school space
— retiree/bi-vocational luncheon, 12:15 p.m., high school space
— Send Network Louisiana lunch, 12:15 p.m., dining room
