by the Tribune
Anyone who has participated in the Baptist Bible Fellowship knows the reputation of Pastor Herb Gilbert and Beacon Baptist Church in Taylor, MI. The church has hosted the Fellowship several times, and each visit to Taylor provides us with a boost in our spirits and a good example of a servant-based ministry experience.
Situated south of metro Detroit, the church’s location is ideal for a fall meeting. The facilities are large and comfortable, the Beacon membership is ready to serve their visitors with joy, and the program planned by pastors Herb Gilbert and John Reilly was balanced with a good emphasis on worship, practical subjects, fellowship, and activities away from the church campus.
This year’s fall meeting of the BBFI took place September 22-24, though several guests came early and attended Sunday services at Beacon, while some also stayed through Thursday for a golf tournament. Between those days, pastors, their wives, and their church staff members attended services with uplifting music and preaching, breakout sessions for instruction, fellowship opportunities, and business sessions.
Keynote speakers were BBFI President Linzy Slayden (his term ended during the week), BBC President Mark Milioni, and BBFI President Eddie Lyons, whose term began Tuesday after the annual business meeting. On each of the evenings, Filipino preachers Dimver Andales (Monday), Gilbert Toquero (Tuesday), and Jun Lumabagas (Wednesday) also addressed the Fellowship.
Preachers during the daytime sessions were Baptist Bible Tribune Editor Keith Bassham, Boston Baptist College President David Melton, Missionary Paul Byars, and BBFI Mission Director Jon Konnerup.
New missionaries approved Wednesday during the fall meeting were Son and Stephanie Chau (Singapore) and Justin Rhoades (England). Two missionary couples were reinstated: John and Tammy Cooley (Burkina Faso) and Phil and Vala Long (Madagascar). One TEAM missionary for a Restricted Access Nation was also approved (name withheld).
Women who attended the Taylor meeting were treated to a full day of activities. Cindy Lyons presented a website to help connect women in ministry. Their morning worship session was led by Jenell Bender. Afterward, the ladies were escorted by Dwight and Jeannie Billingsley to the Arab American Friendship Center in nearby Dearborn where the Billingsleys are currently ministering. They met with Arabic women and discussed their respective customs, and afterward enjoyed a lunch in a Lebanese restaurant.
Most of Monday was taken up with meetings among the officers and leaders of Fellowship ministries. During the morning, the Executive Committee met alongside newly elected officers who will occupy those spots the next two years. This was a practice initiated several years ago so that new
officers would be better prepared for their stewardships. In the afternoon, the same Committee met with the National Directors where they monitored reports from the Mission Office, the Tribune, the colleges, and NCPO. Mission Director Jon Konnerup and Tribune Editor Keith Bassham reported the results of audits from their two agencies (the Mission Office noted a slight operational surplus in their annual report while the Tribune reported an operational deficit). The editor reported he needed an additional $35,000 in annual revenue to maintain the Tribune’s current status.
The Mission Office and Vice President of Church Planting Dan Lamb reported the organizational changes taking place in the National Church Planting Office. The Office will no longer approve or issue loans and will limit its activity to recruitment, training, and equipping church planters. The Directors also ratified new college trustees and heard reports from the college presidents.
At the annual business meeting held Tuesday, this information was conveyed to the pastors. At the close of the business meeting, the presidency and other national offices were handed to those who had been elected during the summer. New president Eddie Lyons again spoke of his intention to encourage grassroots participation and a commitment to unity among the pastors and churches. See President Lyons’ inaugural message to the BBFI published in this issue of the Tribune on pages 14-18. Audio versions of the messages preached in the Taylor meeting are on the church’s website at http://thebeaconbaptist.com/bbfiaudio.php.
The next meeting of the BBFI will be hosted by Orlando Baptist Church and Pastor David Janney in Orlando, FL, February 16-18, 2015 (see www.bbfi.org and page 19 in this issue of the Tribune for more details). The May meeting will take place on the campus of Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO, May 4-7, 2015.
To view all the published photos of the Fellowship meeting, click here..