by Keith Bassham
Two years ago, I reported the May meeting with the aid of a couple of quotations from those who attended. More than once, I encountered the word momentum, and I even used that word as a theme for my coverage. Not everyone agreed, and some thought I was being over-enthusiastic (to put it politely). I preferred to think I was being hopeful. This year, those of us at the meeting began to experience the promise of that momentum from 2011.
I observed far more smiles than frowns; far more handshaking rather than headshaking. I believe we could have announced an extra day at the last moment, and a good number would have stayed around. Preaching was good — music, under the direction of Nate Harmon, was very good — but the fellowship itself, filled as it was with positive elements and dubbed a homecoming by Mark Milioni, helped remind us what it is like to share a vision of taking the gospel to the world alongside others in our spiritual family.
As a check on myself, I asked around. Had others sensed the same thing? Here is a representative comment from a pastor who drove a long way to get to the May Graduation Fellowship:
“Though we were road weary and a little bit punchy, we attended every minute of every meeting. The services were great and the breakout sessions were worth the trip. The energy on campus was infectious and it was a spiritual boost to be reminded of why we got into ministry in the first place … It was a joy to talk with the students. They are a sharp bunch. I got to know some of them and will be remembering them in my prayers.”
And here is another:
“The meetings and breakout sessions have been super. But some of the best times have been spending time with life-long friends, well, fellowshipping.”
This was the first major meeting hosted by BBC President Mark Milioni and his staff, and they tweaked the template enough to make it their own. General session preachers Linzy Slayden, Eddie Lyons, Thom Rainer, and Mark Milioni exhibited vision and challenge in the evenings. The breakout presenters and daytime preachers brought information on social media, stewardship, outreach, and church health.
Wednesday was Missions Day, and by noon, the Fellowship missionary family had expanded, adding Joshua and Ashley Bell to England, Corey and Jessica Kershner to Taiwan, Jeremiah and Tanya Rue to Chile, Luke and Kelly Lyons to the Philippines, and Jeremy and Karissa Lynn to Ethiopia as career missionaries. Also, TEAM Missionaries Brandon and Rachael Adams to Kenya and Christian and Shawna Hendrick to Congo were approved. Finally, David Sisco and James Updegraff were endorsed as U.S. military chaplains.
Speaking of missionary family, Bill and Barbara Neel of Japan received their 50-year globe recognizing their decades of ministry. Receiving 30-year pins were Don and Delores Swearingen (Mexico), Steve and Marilyn Trask (Brazil), David and Candyce Homer (Taiwan), and Larry and Dixie Quade (Wales).
Wednesday night was also slated as a “Homecoming” celebration featuring a BBC Alumni and Friends choir made up of present and former students, and recognition of Richard and Beverly Boland. The Bolands were selected to receive the Fellowship Faithfulness Award for their 40 years of service to Baptist Bible College in the Music Department.
The Alumni Luncheon, a meeting for Fellowship women hosted by Mrs. Barb Milioni, and Refuel, an annual get-together for youth ministry teams, helped to round out a packed three days of fellowship.
Thursday is graduation day at BBC and the capstone of the meeting. Pastor Phil Housley, BBC graduate and lead pastor of Park Crest Baptist Church in Springfield, was the speaker for the 63rd graduation exercise. The seminary awarded 11 degrees, including two M. Div. degrees, and the college awarded 48 degrees during the commencement.
The business matters were relatively light for the May meeting, consisting mostly of reports from the agencies and entities of the Fellowship. Both the Mission Office and the Tribune reported surpluses in their budgets for the fiscal year, and their 2013-2014 budgets were approved. The Baptist Bible College May Offering total was $250,000 as the Tribune goes to press.
The next meeting of the BBFI will be hosted by Ventura Baptist Church of Ventura, CA, September 16-18 this year. The February meeting is hosted by the Texas BBF and is to be held in Austin, TX, February 17-19, 2014.