SBC 2009: Wrap-Up

The 2009 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention is history. Just prior to the convention, I predicted that we would see no fireworks, and my prediction proved true. We had some good news to report:.
* More young people attended the convention. Younger ministers are connecting with Baptist life and seizing opportunities to serve and be involved in missions.
* The spirit of the Pastors Conference was high with powerful preaching and singing.
* Former Arkansas Governor and one-time Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee spoke to the Pastors Conference and correctly stated that a moral America would be able to deal with our problems as a country.
* The SBC again elected a conservative slate of officers: Johnny Hunt won re-election as President, with no opposition; John Mark Toby of Kentucky won First Vice President by a margin of almost 2-1 (and my personal vote); Stephen Rammage of Florida was elected Second Vice President without opposition.
* Meeting old friends at the Convention is a wonderful experience. I enjoyed talking with Dr.Jerry Vines, retired Pastor of First Baptist Church. This man is absolutely my favorite living preacher. The photo above is this writer with Dr. Vines. I always enjoy seeing Tom Mooty, known as the Medicare Minister from East Tennessee. Tom is an old college classmate who operates the press room each year at the convention.
* The Kingfish Restaurant on the Indiana side of Louisville (Jeffersonville,to be exact) is THE PLACE to eat in the Louisville area--excellent seafood,the absolute best hushpuppies anywhere, and a view overlooking the Ohio River We enjoyed supper one night with Mike and Marlene Jones from Patriot, Indiana, an old classmate of mine who is now a County Councilman in Switzerland County, Indiana and is Pastor of a local Baptist Church. This couple is so delightful and happy that they made our evening joyful.
* The Louisville Bats, AAA baseball team, have a tremendous stadium. Attending a Bats game is exciting. One interesting sight was a woman from Uganda who sold treats from a basket that she carried on her head, African-style. The Bats are currently leading their division in the International League. The Bats are the AAA team in the Cincinnati Reds organization. While the Bats will never equal the Birmingham Barons in my mind, I will be cheering on the Bats as they seek to win the International League pennant this year. Bats pitcher Homer Bailey is certainly a major league prospect worth watching in the Reds organization.