Dear Pastor and Auxiliary Leaders:
Peace and Grace be unto you. I am in continual prayer for you and your church community as we traverse this uncharted territory. Admittedly, these are challenging times for all of us and I am thankful that you have entrusted me as your servant leader. To God be the glory!
Our administration is currently planning the GMBSC 2021 Fall Session. The first session under our administration will look somewhat different from our prior format. This letter is to provide information regarding the plans to date. We have scheduled an in-person Pastor’s All-Call Fall Session. During this pastor’s only session, we are calling all GMBSC pastors together to meet us in-person for one and one half days, November 15, and 16, 2021, at the West Point Baptist Church, located at 184 Hartfield Road, Hattiesburg, MS 39402. We are inviting pastors of GMBSC to make a special effort to register and be in attendance of this Pastor’s All-Call session as we look to share pertinent information with you and make recommendations regarding initiatives to strengthen our convention’s missions through a robust plan for financial stewardship.
We are also excited to announce that Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III of the Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, TX will serve as the lecturer/preacher of the Pastors and Ministers Conference on Monday of the Pastor’s All-Call. Dr. Haynes will lecture on Monday morning at 10:00 on the topic “Transformational Ministry in Transitioning Moments.” At 7:00 pm, we will hear the dynamic preaching of Dr. Haynes during the evening worship service which will be open to the public and available to the virtual viewing audience. Congress Classes and Auxiliary Reports will be virtual on Monday and will run concurrently during the Pastors and Ministers conference. On Tuesday, there will be a joint business session of in-person Pastors and the on-line viewing audience at 10:00am. The session will then conclude with a closing mid-morning worship service.
Included with this letter is a listing of blocked rooms at five (5) different hotels in Hattiesburg with room rates included. You may use this list to make your room reservations for the Fall Session. If you encounter problems, please contact us immediately at 769.233.8089.
We will provide the information about the Congress classes, registration for those classes, and the link to access the classes and Auxiliary Reports in the next letter. All updates will be posted on the newly improved GMBSC website at www.gmbsc.org. You may now register completely online or you may send your church registration and other fees to the convention headquarters at 3160 J. R. Lynch Street.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge and thank you for your support of our urgent call to assist those in need in Louisiana by contributing to the GMBSC disaster relief effort. Because of you, we are making real impact in the lives of people who need hope and help after Hurricane Ida. Thank you!
I look forward with great anticipation to be with you at the Fall Session.
In His Service and Yours,
Rev. Reginald M. Buckley
President, GMBSC of MS, Inc.