The 2024 BBFI National Fellowship Meeting took place from September 16-18, 2024, at The Box Event Center in Box Elder, SD, marking a significant first for the Fellowship. This year’s event was hosted by two newly established church plants: Mercy Gate Church of Box Elder, led by Pastor Andy Daniel, and Connection Church of Sturgis, led by Pastor Matt Price. These young leaders showcased exceptional dedication and leadership throughout the entire process. From countless Zoom calls with the BBFI Central Office to the on-the-ground coordination, their hard work was evident in every detail.
The theme of the meeting, “One,” centered on unity and what binds the Fellowship together. Each day highlighted a different focus: “One Mission,” “One Family,” and “One Vision.” The majority of sessions were held in a new state-of-the-art event center conveniently located near the main accommodations, making the experience seamless for attendees. Mercy Gate Church played host to key gatherings, including the Executive Committee and State Representative meetings on Monday, followed by a relaxing Food Truck Fellowship after the evening service.
The meeting concluded with an unforgettable moment—the final service was held at the iconic Mount Rushmore amphitheater, creating a historic and inspiring ending to a powerful time of fellowship and unity.
General Sessions Were Both Challenging and Uplifting
The general sessions for the 2024 BBFI National Fellowship Meeting were held on Monday evening, Tuesday morning, Tuesday evening, and Wednesday evening, each packed with impactful worship, testimonies, and messages. MU Worship, the talented worship ministry team from Mission University, led worship with excellence throughout the event. Their professionalism—both on the stage and behind the scenes in the sound and video booths—was a testament to the high quality of students at Mission University.
The theme for Monday was “One Mission,” with John Stroup, founder and president of Freeway Ministries, delivering a powerful message from Matthew 9. He emphasized the importance of surrendering our lives to be used by God to reach the lost. You can watch John Stroup’s inspiring message by clicking here.
Tuesday focused on “One Family,” starting with a Marriage and Ministry Seminar led by Steve and Shelley Switzer, missionaries with MANNA Worldwide. Though the Switzers have led marriage seminars for decades, Steve noted that it’s rare for Fellowship Meetings to focus on couples and their marriages. You can watch their marriage seminar by clicking here. This session was followed by a Marriage and Ministry Panel Discussion hosted by Kevin Carson, featuring couples who have served as missionaries, church planters, and in church revitalization. Panelists included Terry and Kelly Thompson, Max and Jennifer Kennedy, Joe and Jeri Roberts, and Steve and Shelley Switzer. You can watch the panel discussion by clicking here.
Tuesday evening’s session continued with the “One Family” theme, this time with a focus on the Fellowship as a family. Max Kennedy, a BBFI missionary to Nicaragua, shared a deeply personal message from John 17, drawing on his family’s long history with the Fellowship. Following him, Linzy Slayden, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Owasso, OK, spoke from Acts 2 on the significance of “fellowship.” Both messages were a powerful reminder of the bonds that unite the Fellowship. You can watch Max Kennedy’s message here and Linzy Slayden’s message here.
The closing service on Wednesday evening was nothing short of unforgettable. A special permit was issued to the BBFI, allowing the final service to be held in the amphitheater at Mount Rushmore National Park. The weather was perfect, and the iconic monument served as a breathtaking backdrop for the evening. MU Worship led a stirring rendition of “Amazing Grace” (watch here), followed by prayers from Bob Stephenson for the service and the country, and Dustin Janney for BBFI pastors and missionaries. Gary Fuller read Scripture, and BBFI President Jon Haley delivered a visionary sermon from Acts 4, sharing his hopes for the future of the Fellowship. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you can watch Haley’s historic sermon by clicking here.
New Church Planters Approved
One of the key goals of the 2024 BBFI National Meeting in South Dakota was to highlight the exciting work of church planting within the BBFI. As mentioned earlier, the event was co-hosted by two recently approved BBFI church planters, Andy Daniel and Matt Price. Both shared their inspiring stories during the Church Planting Hour on Wednesday morning, offering a firsthand look at the vital work being done in their respective communities.
During this session, three new church planters were also introduced and officially approved:
- Ryan and Hannah Wade are launching Cahaba City Church in Trussville, AL, a suburb of Birmingham. The church is named after a nearby river. Their sending church is Cornerstone Church in Gadsden, AL, pastored by Daniel Woodcock.
- Dan and Bethany York are preparing to plant a new church in Gahanna, OH, a suburb of Columbus. Their sending church is Guide Church in Columbus, OH, pastored by Dan’s brother, Ben York.
- Joe and Jeri Roberts are planting Connection Church in Abilene, TX. Their sending church is North Side Baptist Church, led by Pastor Don Greenway.
Randy Abell, the BBFI’s 3rd Vice President, shared that there are currently 28 active church plants within the Fellowship—a testament to the ongoing commitment to expanding the reach of the gospel. To watch the full Church Planting Hour, click here.
New Missionaries Approved as Part of Missions Morning
The Wednesday morning session of the 2024 BBFI National Fellowship Meeting shifted focus to international missions, led by Jon Konnerup, BBFI Mission Director, and Brian Garrison, Associate Mission Director. Konnerup shared exciting updates on the ongoing development of the new mission office building, including updates on the event center, short-term housing, and long-term retirement homes for missionaries.
During the session, three new missionaries were officially approved for career missions. One new couple and a single missionary were approved as career missionaries. Kshitiz and Brenna Ghimire will be missionaries to Nepal. Their sending church is Riverdale Baptist Church in Flint, MI. The single missionary approved was Krista Moeller. Krista recently married BBFI missionary Rich Moeller. Together, they will be returning to Scottland. Additionally, previously retired BBFI missionary Christine Enoch was reinstated as a missionary to Kenya.
Other updates included Nolan and Janay LeTourneau, who are transitioning their ministry from Uganda to Kenya, and Bill and Therese Williams, who will be changing their field from Spain to Displaced People Groups in South Texas.
The morning also celebrated John and Marcia Riggs, who were honored for their 30 years of dedicated missionary service in Zambia.
BBFI missionary Eric Woodworth and David Klass, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Clancy, MT, both spoke and reminded everyone of the importance of being a Great Commission church.
The missions emphasis concluded with a powerful screening of the latest 938 Docuseries, focusing on the inspiring life and work of missionary Bob Hughes. You can watch the documentary by clicking here.
Additional Breakouts and Seminars
Tuesday’s agenda went beyond the general sessions to offer a wealth of practical knowledge through a series of breakout sessions and an afternoon seminar. Several vendors contributed valuable insights during the early morning breakout sessions, equipping attendees with strategies and solutions tailored to their ministry needs. The sessions included:
- Healthy Church Revitalization: Stuck, Status Quo, In Decline, Let’s Talk Strategy by Terry Thompson of Small Church USA. [Learn more about Small Church USA here.]
- How to Launch a Biblically Based Recovery Ministry by Josh Zuniga from Freeway Ministries Orlando. [Learn more about Freeway Ministries Orlando here.]
- Understanding Your Retirement Plan by Chloe Benson of Guidestone Financial. [Learn more about Guidestone Financial and their BBFI-specific plans here.]
- From Empty Seats to a Full House: The Digital Blueprint Behind One Church’s Incredible Comeback by Clint Rogers from PMF Creative. [Learn more about PMF Creative here.]
In the afternoon, Terry Thompson, founder and president of Small Church USA, led a deeply informative church revitalization seminar titled “Four Steps to Renewed Church Health.” This session provided actionable strategies for churches looking to restore growth, health, and vibrancy to their congregations.
BBFI Business
The September National Fellowship Meeting also served as the BBFI’s Annual Business Meeting, providing important updates and progress reports. While no items required a vote from the floor, much valuable information was shared. Each of the Fellowship’s vice presidents, along with current entity leaders, gave encouraging reports, highlighting positive developments. New missionaries and church planters were approved, and all Fellowship colleges reported increased enrollment for the fall semester. The Central Office continues to demonstrate its essential role within the Fellowship. BBFI President Jon Haley underscored this by recognizing Randy Harp’s pivotal role in making the 2024 National Fellowship Meeting possible. There was also a call for financial support to help cover the expenses of the event, which had been covered by the Central Office, the Executive Committee, and other fundraising efforts. [Click here to donate.]
Haley also announced that minor updates are needed to the BBFI By-laws for compliance purposes. For instance, while international missionaries are now allowed to vote in national elections, this change has not yet been reflected in the By-laws. The proposed revisions will be presented in May 2025, with a vote scheduled for September 2025.
At the conclusion of the business meeting, the newly elected officers assumed their leadership roles. Haley expressed gratitude to those who completed their terms on the Executive Committee, including John Theisen (1st Vice President), Jason Petermann (4th Vice President), and Gary Fuller (Treasurer). Fuller was also honored with a framed certificate, and September 15, 2024, was declared “Gary and Lynn Fuller Day” in the BBFI, marking Gary’s official retirement from Gentle Shepherd Baptist Church.
The newly elected BBFI Executive Committee is as follows:
- President: Jon Haley, Hallmark Church, Fort Worth, TX (second term)
- 1st Vice President: Tracy Roby, Overland Park Baptist Church, Overland Park, KS (first term)
- 2nd Vice President: Kevin Carson, Sonrise Baptist Church, Ozark, MO (second term)
- 3rd Vice President: Randy Abell, Heartland Baptist Church, Ames, IA (second term)
- 4th Vice President: Phil Housley, Park Crest Baptist Church, Springfield, MO (first term)
- Secretary: Bob Stephenson, Graceway Baptist Church, Springfield, MO (second term)
- Treasurer: Dean Hughes, Eastside Baptist Church, Topeka, KS (first term)
Special Events and Unique Opportunities
To help ease the fatigue from a long travel day, Monday evening’s service was intentionally shortened. Afterward, attendees enjoyed a Food Truck Fellowship hosted at Mercy Gate Church, just a short eight-minute drive from The Box Event Center. The evening featured street tacos from one food truck and freshly rolled ice cream from another, along with coffee and beverages provided by the church. It was the perfect opportunity for relaxed fellowship, where old friends reconnected, and new friendships were formed.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, special lunch gatherings were arranged for different ministry groups. Tuesday’s gatherings brought together youth pastors, worship pastors, and associate pastors at popular local restaurants. Wednesday, church planters, missionaries, and senior pastors enjoyed their meals at other local favorites.
Many attendees took full advantage of the Black Hills’ scenic location on Thursday, participating in various planned adventures. Some revisited Mount Rushmore, explored the Crazy Horse Memorial, and enjoyed the wildlife and scenery at Custer State Park. Others ventured through Badlands National Park and made a stop at the iconic Wall Drug Store in Wall, SD. Another popular excursion was to the historic western town of Deadwood, followed by a trip to Wyoming to see Devil’s Tower National Monument. For the more adventurous, a hike to Black Elk Peak—the highest point east of the Rockies in the continental U.S.—provided a challenging and rewarding experience.
Upcoming Meetings
- February 2025 – Regional Fellowship Meetings and Healthy Church Conference
- April 29 – May 2, 2025 – Fellowship Week at Mission University
- September 15-17, 2025 – Annual Fellowship Meeting at Central Baptist Church in Tyler, TX
Click here to download the Conference Workbook.
Click here to visit the BBFI 2024 National Fellowship Week YouTube playlist.
Click here to donate to help fund the meeting.
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