By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
COVINGTON, La. (LBM) – During the upcoming state Evangelism Conference, Jan. 27-28, hosted by First Baptist Church, Covington, speakers will urge Louisiana Baptists to reach their friends and family for Christ and to create a culture of evangelism within their congregations.
“When you come to ECON with a group of church members, you will be encouraged and equipped to return home with a renewed sense of urgency to reach your friends and family for Christ,” Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Team Director Keith Manuel told the Baptist Message. “It is powerful when a group attends and then goes home with a unified purpose.”
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
The first session will begin at 1:30 pm on Monday and will feature messages by Leroy Fountain, church health strategist with New Orleans Baptist Association and church planter consultant with Louisiana Baptists, and by Mike Courtney, itinerant evangelist in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and the surrounding areas. Bill Blackmon, president and chaplain with Truckstop Ministries, will share a testimony about his ministry.
After a break for supper, the conference will continue at 6 p.m. with a message by Waylon Bailey, senior pastor with FBC Covington, and special music by the FBC Covington choir.
The second day of the program will begin at 9 a.m. with messages by Carl Bradford, dean with Texas Baptist College and assistant professor of evangelism with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and by Tim Dowdy, vice president of evangelism with the North American Mission Board. Martha Bailey, wife of Waylon Bailey and women’s community outreach Bible study leader with FBC Covington, will share how God has used her ministry to impact others for Christ.
The conference’s final session will begin at 1:30 p.m. with messages by John Sullivan, minister to mature adults with Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, and by Jeff Iorg, president and CEO with the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Also, weRcalled will lead in musical worship throughout the two-day program, with Selah providing special music during the final session.
“This year, we are experimenting with some changes,” Manuel said. “One change is the breakouts are attached to meals instead of in the afternoon session on Tuesday. That way, you don’t have to fight traffic to get a good meal, and you’ll go home with some ideas you can implement to create a culture of evangelism. The second change is we will conclude after the Tuesday afternoon session.”
ECON-RELATED EVENTS
ECON also will feature a senior adult fellowship as well as breakout sessions that include meals.
Monday:
— Discipleship Collaborative breakout session, 4:30 p.m.
— Top 10 Evangelistic Practices for Today’s Church breakout session, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday:
— Free men’s ministry breakfast, 6:30 a.m., courtesy of FBC Covington (no registration required)
— Senior Adult Luncheon, 11:45 a.m.
— Creating a Culture of Evangelism breakout session, 11:45 a.m.
ECON is free to attend. However, tickets are needed for the Adult Luncheon ($15). Also, meals for the three breakout sessions are $5 (reduced because of the generosity of sponsors). Register for each at LouisianaBaptists.org/ECON.
