The Baptist Bible Fellowship held its annual meeting at Antioch Bible Baptist Church in the Kansas City metro September 20-22, 2021. Take Courage was the theme woven through each message, the worship, and the breakout sessions. Steve Doss, who was recently called as the new senior pastor, and Bob Baier, the former senior pastor, were gracious hosts. The church as a whole reflected the hospitality and kindness of both Doss and Baier. One pastor shared, “In 40 years of attending Fellowship Meetings, this probably ranks up there as my all-time favorite. I left so encouraged.”
Ample Opportunities for Fellowship
You can’t have a great “fellowship” meeting without great fellowship. After missing multiple in-person Fellowship Meetings in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was refreshing to be together again. The incredible facilities of Antioch Bible Baptist Church provided plenty of space for pastors, missionaries, church staff, and ministry leaders to meet, get reacquainted, catch up, and remember great times together. Many guests were caught going down the slide in the children’s ministry area. It was a common struggle for the service hosts to get started because so many were enjoying their time in the expansive lobby of the church.
At the conclusion of Monday night’s service, the church provided dinner for all in attendance. If you were a BBQ fan, you were in hog heaven with the best of KC BBQ. There was a large sampling of brisket, pulled pork, burnt ends, etc., from Gates BBQ, Q39 BBQ, and Jack Stack BBQ. Attendees enjoyed hours of fellowship in the crisp fall air. After Tuesday night’s service, the church provided a frozen custard dessert from a much-loved local shop called Sheridan’s Frozen Custard. Again, it allowed for many great conversations, great encouragement, and in some instances, men and women pouring their hearts out to one another in a way that can only happen between ministry leaders.
In addition to the planned events by the church, Kansas City is a great place to explore with ministry friends. Several visited the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Others visited the Auschwitz exhibit at Union Station, the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, or the Money Museum at the Federal Bank of Kansas City.
Encouraging and Challenging Preaching
As is typical for most BBFI National Meetings, the preaching was exceptional. Chris Highfill, pastor of Grace River Church in O’Fallon, MO, spoke from Matthew 14 on the topic of how to unleash courage with your life. Paul Blue, pastor of Family Fellowship Church in Greenville, TX, spoke from Acts 13 with a challenge that God can use broken people but not empty people. Derald Gautier, pastor of Belmar Church in Lakewood, CO, spoke from Numbers 13-14, highlighting Caleb having a “different spirit within him.” Keith Gandy, veteran BBFI missionary to Germany, spoke from Joshua 4 on History (His-story) generates courage. Each of these sermons can be viewed on the BBFI website (www.bbfi.org) and the BBFI YouTube Channel (click here).
Other Meetings
Tuesday morning featured a panel discussion and two breakout sessions. The panel discussion was hosted by BBFI Communication Director Randy Harp on the topic of pastoral transition and succession. On the panel were Steve Doss, current pastor of Antioch Bible Baptist Church, Bob Baier, previous pastor of Antioch Bible Baptist Church, Daniel Duke, current pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church of St. Ann, MO, and Keith Gillming, previous pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church. The two breakout sessions were focused on taking courage with culture and taking courage with soul care. John Mark Yeats, who serves as Vice President of Student Services at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, spoke on culture. Dale Johnson, who serves as the Director of Counseling Programs at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, spoke on soul care. Note: Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is only three miles from Antioch Bible Baptist Church. Each of these sessions can be viewed on the BBFI website (www.bbfi.org) and the BBFI YouTube Channel (click here).
Church Planters Recognized
On Monday night, the recently approved church planters were recognized. Those in attendance were Chase Hill, pastor of Gospel Life Church in Wichita, KS, Clint Highfill, pastor of Transformation Church in Hagerstown, MD, Kenneth Brock, pastor of Mercy Gate Church in Rapid City, SD, Andy Daniel, pastor of Mercy Gate Church in Box Elder, SD, Arthur Goncalves, pastor of Restoration Church in Sanford, FL, and Ulyses Longoria, pastor of Eben-Ezer Iglesia in Denton, TX. Other recently approved BBFI church planters include Lucas Campbell, pastor of Santa Fe Baptist Church in Santa Fe, TX, Tim Hughes, pastor of Family Fellowship Baptist Church in Arlington, TX, Steven Lucas, pastor of Grace Church in Norton, MA, Tyler Martin, pastor of Outfitter Church in Bar Nunn, WY, Ryan Michels, pastor of Cleburne Community Church in Cleburne, TX, Moises Molina, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Jerico in Brownsville, TX, Oscar Rios, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva in San Antonio, TX, Bobby Sharp, pastor of CrossPointe Baptist Church in McFarland, CA, and Jeff Williams, pastor of Portico Church in New Caney, TX.
BBFI’s Third Vice President, Terry Kizer, has issued a challenge for 100 BBFI churches to support church planting efforts at $1,000 per year. The BBFI Mission Office has a line-item designated for BBFI Church Planting if you would like to participate. You can find more information on these church planters, how you can be involved, and information on future assessments on the new BBFI APEX Churches website (www.apexchurches.com).
World Missions Was Highlighted
Wednesday morning was set aside as “missions morning.” For many, this is their favorite service not only of the week but of the year. A newly produced documentary on the life of BBFI missionary Marjorie Browning was shown. You can request a free digital copy of this documentary to show at your church by contacting the BBFI Mission Office. BBFI Mission Director, Jon Konnerup, gave an update on Project 938, sharing approximately 1,000 churches and missionaries have signed up to take part in the October 3 challenge based on Matthew 9:38 to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers. For more information on this challenge, visit www.project938.world.
New Missionaries Approved
Two new career missionary families and one new team missionary family were approved. The two career missionary families will both be serving in Creative Access Nations (CAN). One will be serving in Vietnam. They are being sent out of Hillside Baptist Church in Springfield, MO, where John Bingham is the pastor. The other will be serving in Mongolia. They are being sent out of Journey Church in Barrington, NH, where Robert Willis is the pastor. For more information on either of these missionaries, please contact their sending church or the BBFI Mission Office. Jonathan and Olivia Solomon were approved as missionaries to Chile. Jonathan grew up as a missionary kid in Chile. They are being sent out of Cherry Street Baptist Church in Springfield, MO, where Dennis Jennings is the pastor.
Veteran Missionaries Recognized
In addition to approving new missionaries, four veteran missionaries were recognized for their service. Les and Donna Garner, missionaries to Mexico, were recognized for 50 years of service. Those receiving 30 years of recognition were Dan and Meshelle Bowles, missionaries to Zambia, Bob and Dee Dodson, missionaries to Tanzania, and Joel and Wendy Solomon, missionaries to Chile.
Other Business
On Tuesday afternoon, the BBFI held its annual business meeting. BBFI president, Tim Adrian, shared many positive reports from across the Fellowship, including a trip that he and Randy Harp, BBFI Communication Director, went on this summer to visit many pastors and state fellowship leaders on the east coast. Included in that trip was the relaunching of the New Jersey State Fellowship with Ed Walls serving as the new State Representative. BBFI Third Vice-President Terry Kizer, Randy Harp, and other pastors also traveled to South Dakota and Wyoming to visit several church planters. (Read more about that trip by clicking here). Each entity leader gave reports that were overall encouraging and positive.
The Fellowship voted on two items. Each of these items has been discussed for the previous two years in various capacities.
Proposal #1: A Forth Vice President shall be added to the Executive Committee with the responsibility of promoting church growth, health, development, and revitalization. He hall work alongside the other members of the Executive Committee for the furtherance of the BBFI and its associated entities and purposes.
Proposal #2: Voting rights in the Baptist Bible Fellowship will be extended to BBFI approved career missionaries that are currently fulfilling the role of the lead pastor of a local church.
Proposal #1 passed with 94% approval. Proposal #2 passed with 98% approval. With the passing of Proposal #2, an edit will be required in the BBFI By-Laws. This will be presented to the Fellowship in an upcoming meeting.
Upcoming Meeting
February 2022
The BBFI Communication Office is hosting its third Virtual Conference. The date will be shared in the coming weeks.
May 2022
Baptist Bible College will be hosting its annual Fellowship Week May 3-6, 2022. There is a slight change this year with the meeting being held Tuesday through Thursday and graduation on Friday morning.
September 2022
BBFI National Meeting. The dates and location will be announced in the coming weeks.
Click here to read BBFI President Tim Adrian’s reflections on the 2021 BBFI Annual Fellowship Meeting.
Click here to read Host Pastor, Steve Doss’, reflections on the 2021 BBFI Annual Fellowship Meeting.
