annual meeting – MICHAEL CABELL

Hanging in our home are custom picture frames for each member of our family that tell when they were born and the meaning of their name. Guests who study the portraits can quickly become acquainted with “Free & Strong”, “Who is like God?”, “Gift of God” and …. “Helmet Head” (Sorry, Kennedy!).

While it may not be true about my family, the names given to many in the Bible are very important. Their names were often significant and indicated key attributes about the person.

As we approach the annual meeting, I pondered, “What does our name say about the Kentucky Baptist Convention?”

KENTUCKY: We are connected geographically.

Our churches share the common bond of being in Kentucky and being called to reach Kentucky. We are the largest religious group in our state, spanning the entire commonwealth from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Jackson Purchase in the west. Our geographical connection isn’t just about sharing a state. It means we understand the diverse needs, varied cultures, and unique challenges encountered across Kentucky. Our shared geographic identity enables us to coordinate efforts to reach every corner of our state with the gospel.

BAPTIST: We are connected theologically.

While there are many churches of various mindsets in our state, what differentiates us is our shared theological conviction. We are united by our core beliefs as expressed in the Baptist Faith and Message, including the authority of the Bible as the infallible Word of God, salvation through Christ alone, the autonomy of the local church, and believers’ baptism by immersion. This shared theological DNA ensures that as we work together, we are aligned in our understanding of God, salvation and the Great Commission. Having a consistent theological framework shapes how we do missions, evangelism and education throughout the state.

CONVENTION: We are connected cooperatively.

The term convention refers to the voluntary cooperation among Kentucky Baptist churches. Unlike hierarchical denominations, Kentucky Baptists are autonomous and not directed by any external authority. Rather, we freely associate with one another for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission. This is expressed most tangibly by giving to the Cooperative Program and working collaboratively to launch statewide initiatives, support missionaries, care for foster children, fund collegiate ministry and train future church leaders.

Summary

The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a collection of churches in Kentucky that share a similar Baptist theology and are committed to voluntarily cooperating in ministry through a Convention of churches. Names matter… and “Kentucky Baptist Convention” is one name I am proud of.

The blessing of attending this year’s SBC Annual Meeting was made even more special because I had the wonderful opportunity to attend with my wife and children. In the past, I have observed other pastors attending with their families and it encouraged us to involve our teenagers in this year’s gathering.

It was such a positive experience that I want to share four reasons why I think you should consider bringing your teens to future SBC Annual Meetings:

1. They Realize They are Not Alone. There is something about entering a convention hall with 10,000+ other Southern Baptists that helps a person realize the magnitude of being part of the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. Teenagers may at times wonder if there is anyone out there who believes like them but attending the SBC Annual Meeting helps remind them there are literally millions of Christians that support evangelical Christian values.

2. They Gain a Greater Understanding of the Cooperative Program. Hearing celebrations from missionaries, seminaries, church planters, and evangelism initiatives provides the opportunity to see how we are better together when we cooperatively fund ministries. Walking around the exhibition hall allowed my teens to converse with ministry representatives. An IMB missionary talked with my daughters for 20 minutes about future missionary opportunities. Sadly, every day we bury CP champions, and we need to do all we can to raise up a future generation of CP champions.

3. They Witness the Commissioning of International Missionaries. For me, the highlight of every SBC Annual Meeting is being involved in the commissioning of international missionaries. At this year’s meeting, 52 Christians were sent out by SBC churches through the IMB to help reach people in unreached people groups in some of the world’s most hostile places. Witnessing this moving service will hopefully leave an indelible mark on the lives of teenagers.

4. They Have an Opportunity to Participate. Southern Baptist polity gives each person an equal right to speak and vote on decisions of our convention. My teenager casting their ballot to vote carries the same power as that of a seminary president casting their ballot. While that may be scary for some, it is a beautiful picture that the Southern Baptist Convention is led by equal messengers and not a hierarchy of power.

*Bonus – this is not part of my list since my teens have not participated in it, but SBC offers Youth on Mission service opportunities for teens to help the local area. Hopefully, we will be able to check out those opportunities in the future. Next year’s convention is in New Orleans. I hope to see you— and your family— there!

Tag: annual meeting

We are the Kentucky. Baptist. Convention.

4 reasons to take your teens to the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting