by Keith Bassham
I have attended national meetings since 1972, often three meetings per year, and this was the first time I felt I had attended three meetings all at one time. I will explain a little further down.
President David Melton of Boston Baptist College, our hosts for the Fall Baptist Bible Fellowship Meeting, told us early on the get-together would be about making history. He was right in so many ways. The college and city combined to create an ideal venue for a unique experience for the 350-400 registered guests.
Beforehand, I had thought of the hundreds of things that could go wrong when you try to move hundreds of people across an unfamiliar metropolis through public transit systems according to meeting schedules as well as those of the transits. But with planning, thinking, and the help of Boston students strategically placed to guide the out-of-towners, we somehow made it to three different destinations placed on narrow curved streets, on time and in good shape. And what destinations they were — Faneuil Hall, the Old South Meeting House, and the Old North Church — each offering its own unique character and reinforcing Baptist values of liberty, conscience, reverence, and just enough revolution to keep people on their toes.
Our Fellowship heard new voices during the week. The keynote for Monday evening at Faneuil Hall was given by Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Patterson noted the historic nature of his presence among independent Baptists, even thanking the Fellowship for “holding our feet to the fire” during the days before the so-called Conservative Resurgence among the Southern Baptists. California pastor Bruce Garner spoke Tuesday evening at the Old South Meeting House, gave a vision of the glory and supremacy of Jesus Christ in the Revelation, reminding us that the story of the Bible ends where it began, with God and man as co-regents over Creation. And while BBFI President Linzy Slayden is not a new voice, his sermon Wednesday evening at Old North Church did what a good leader’s address should do — make us want to be better, to work harder, to concentrate on the important. Other speakers, both in the downtown historic buildings and on the Boston campus, were uniformly good and encouraging — Tim Downs, Lyall Armstrong, Dan Weaver, Bob Butler, Michael Woodward, Leonard Smith, George Dimakos, and others.
The college and area musicians provided the music for the services, with variety and styles befitting the surroundings. The college ensemble under the direction of Grace Snavely ministered several times, and the crowds responded enthusiastically at each performance. A string quartet gave a classic air to the Old South Meeting House evening, and the pipe organ at Old North Church was perfection in that venerable house of worship. The buildings were designed for human voices, and hymns such as “In Christ Alone” never sounded so good in my ears.
Speaking of the college ensemble, Boston Baptist College students and staff seemed to be everywhere, serving with smiles and a genuine sense of hospitality. In addition to the college people, President Melton also was grateful to Steve Ayres, Vicar of Old North Church, for his hospitality and help in securing the building for the Fellowship’s meeting, and to Scott and DeAnn Salee for volunteering their services during the week.
No national elections or amendments were part of the annual business meeting, but the pastors did discuss several items. The BBFI Mission Office submitted an annual audit and report and presented a policy suggestion that will allow approval of missionary couples in which one is not a U.S. citizen. Current policy allows approval only for U.S. citizens. BBFI First Vice President Mike Frazier noted a need for increased Mission Office support due to the economic downturn and subsequent support decreases. The Projects Offering raised was almost $266,000 at the close of the meeting with several states still needing to report their commitments.
Trustees for Baptist Bible College ratified were Tim Adrian, Fred Young, Keith Gandy, Randy Harp, and Fred Gurule. Trustees for Boston Baptist College ratified were David Brown, Kurt Wiedenroth, Duke Hergatt, and Tim Robertson.
Approved career missionaries are Matt and Ericka Moeller (Scotland), Dustin and Carla Reinhardt (Chile), Stan and Jackie Sherwood (Panama), and Sam and Megan Beard (South Korea). Approved TEAM (short-term) missionaries are Elmo and Kathryn Compton (Peru) and Jaron and Nicki Rogers (Nicaragua). Complete information on the newly approved missionaries will appear in the December Tribune.
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Future Meeting Schedule
February 20-22, 2012
Canyon Creek Baptist Church, Richardson, TX
May 14-17, 2012
Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO
September 17-19, 2012
Canton Baptist Temple, Canton, OH
February 18-20, 2013
Shiloh Hills Baptist Church, Kennesaw, GA
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One sad note from the meeting. Pastor James David Jones of Minot, ND, suffered a heart attack during the Boston meeting, and he died shortly after. You can read his obituary in this issue, and more information about ministering to his family is in Wayne Guinn’s NCPO column as well.