July 3, 2009
The last day of the CBF General Assembly in Houston was another meaningful time to learn about and become involved with the missional efforts of this organization. This morning at the business session, the budget was adopted and the new members of the coordinating council were approved. Dan Vestal gave an inspiring coordinator’s report. We are blessed to have such a gifted and faithful leader.
I attended the Baptist Joint Committee Religious Liberty luncheon with several Baptist Seminary of Kentucky personalities. We heard from several members and staff of the BJC, the J.M. Dawson Religious Liberty Award was awarded posthumously to Phil Strickland, and Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas spoke on the importance of religious freedom.
I helped host a workshop entitled “How a Small Loan Can Change A Life,” which informed us on how to invest in businesses started by low-income families and communities. And I should clarify that as a “host,” I simply handed out the evaluations and flyers. The workshop was led by other personalities who were informed and involved in the subject matter.
After dinner at the House of Blues and a little time wondering around an interesting event in the park across the street from the Hilton, we entered into our final time of worship with the CBFGA. Once again, the worship service was meaningful. In the same fashion as previous worship services, the content was eclectic in style, language, music, and litany.
The assembly fellowshipped together in the resource fair for the last official event of CBFGA 2009. Overall the CBF was a success (at least from my perspective). I am already looking forward to next year’s general assembly in Charlotte, North Carolina. I hope that more Kentuckians will be able to make it next year. If you have not been to a CBF General Assembly, next year would be a wonderful time to try it out. I’ll be there – I hope you will plan on being there, too.
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July 2, 2009
We have had a good first “official” day at the CBF General Assembly (CBFGA). We began the morning with a swift business session that included a few worship elements and several reports. Through this, we could see that the CBF is trying to stay focused on the most pressing needs of the organization. There were no motions given (Josh tells me there hasn’t been a motion since the Washington, D.C. CBFGA); this seems to be a very cooperative group (pun intended).
After some lunch at the Houston Center just down the street, I came back to help with the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky booth at the resource fair with BSK Alum Brandy Mullins and BSK Admissions Director Debbie Moody. The resource fair is full of great organizations and ministries. There are several less booths present this year, probably due to the CBFGA being so far out west along with the economic situation. Hanging around the resource fair hall provides a great opportunity to mingle with old friends and meet new ones.
Because I was helping at the BSK booth, I was unable to attend the 2 workshop times this afternoon. I hope to attend a couple tomorrow.
The state CBF organizations convened separately and us Kentucky folks shared about our first CBFGA experience and what it was like to become involved with CBF. We had a few who attended the first CBF meeting in Atlanta, many who became involved later on, and several who are here for the first time this year. It is encouraging to see the growing CBF family in Kentucky. We closed by spending some time meditating on scripture through lectio divina.
Several of us from Kentucky went over to Josephine’s Home Cooked Italian Restaurant (at that point it was 102 degrees). It was not the best Italian I had ever had, but certainly not the worst.
The worship service was an eclectic time of music, testimony, prayer, and devotion. I did not have my notebook with me so I did not take any notes, but I had a great worship experience. Many personalities were involved, the music was diverse, and the devotions gave us much to think about when considering how to love our neighbor.
People are now hanging out in the resource fair and trickling back to their rooms for the evening. It won’t be difficult for most of us to sleep tonight.
Until tomorrow…
Jeremy S.
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July 2, 2009
My name is Jeremy Shoulta and I have the wonderful opportunity to keep you up-to-date on some of the happenings here at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly (CBFGA). My wife and I arrived in Houston @ around 7:30 local time and took a cab with some friends to the Hilton Americas in downtown Houston. The hotel is directly connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center, and let me say that it is a perfect venue for the event.
I was able to participate in the first auxiliary event for the CBFGA which was a leadership seminar led by Gallup author Allen Winseman, who presented much of the information from his book Growing an Engaged Church. While I cannot go into too much detail about his presentation in this short entry, he spoke to us about the importance of actually engaging church members and learning how to truly be the church. PLEASE consider looking into Winseman’s book; his ideas would be of great benefit to a congregation looking to become more missional.
My wife and I were unable to make the CBF Field Personnel Commissioning Service as we were exhausted from being up since 3:00 am. But we are now well rested and ready to check out everything else that the CBFGA has in store! Check out some of the following links to keep up with what’s been going on:
CBF General Assembly Twitter
CBF Portal
The Big Daddy Weave
Baptist Life CBF Discussion
These are just a few sites that I regularly visit and happen to know that they are keeping up with the events of the CBFGA. If you know of any others be sure to add them to the comments section.
Have a great day!
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July 1, 2009
The 2009 CBF General Assembly is underway in Houston. The weather is what some might call “hot”, but thankfully we are in the fine air-conditioned facilities of the George R. Brown Convention Center and Hilton-America’s Hotel. This afternoon, Al Winseman of the Gallup Organization leads “Growing an Engaged Church: How to Stop “Doing Church” and Start Being the Church Again.” The Global Missions Field Personnel Commissioning Service will be held this evening at South Main Baptist Church.
Folks from all over the CBF world are gathering in Texas…we hope to have a great reunion over the next few days.
Follow along with CBF attendees through Twitter
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