BBFI Fall Meeting Report
By Keith Bassham
Those who attended the Baptist Bible Fellowship meeting held September 14-16 at High Street Baptist Church in Springfield, MO, experienced elements of both the traditional and modern. The theme was Revitalize.
The tradition? As a meeting venue, High Street Baptist Church has been a lynchpin in Fellowship life from the beginning when its then pastor, W. E Dowell, was elected to be the Fellowship’s first president. And also when the church provided facilities for the newly established Baptist Bible College in the same year, 1950. And when the High Street church secretary’s desk was the de facto Mission Office for the developing Fellowship. And when the church hosted rallies and conferences for the BBF numerous times during our 65-year sojourn.
The preachers were there, of course. That is part of the tradition. Preachers took the platform (Dwayne Wright, Brian Moore, Gene Appel, Jerel Bland, and Anthony Milas) and these and several others led well-attended breakouts dealing with all aspects of church life. Friends met, and old friends reunited, and each evening groups gathered throughout the well-prepared and inviting facilities long after the last notes were played and the last amens were said, enjoying fellowship. That is the tradition.
Less traditional, of course, is the fact that a national meeting was held in a Springfield church. It does not happen often, largely because the Fellowship gathers in May on the campus of BBC each spring for the May Graduation Fellowship. A scheduling fluke made it possible for High Street’s pastor and BBFI president Eddie Lyons to host the meeting. And host it he did, with the aid of a church membership who were so very gracious and serving during the meeting. Everything, whether we are speaking of the welcoming physical facilities or the platform presentations, was done with excellence — and the High Street people made it look easy. I know it was not. Many thanks go to Eddie and Cindy Lyons, their family, and their church for providing this service to the BBFI.
The music was decidedly contemporary, with the High Street praise band and singers leading throughout the meeting. And the breakouts covered a raft of modern issues facing preachers and churches. Another nontraditional element was the presence of the students from BBC, who attended the morning sessions. Bringing students into the meetings helps them connect with the Fellowship, and it introduced the students to pastors, missionaries, and other leaders they need to know.
Along with the normal Fellowship activities, two events made the meeting historic. Tuesday evening, the Tribune editor (you will excuse my use of the third person here) received thanks and a bonus from the Fellowship in appreciation for his more than 20 years of work at the Baptist Bible Tribune. The new Tribune editor was introduced during the week. Randy Harp (see his column in this issue) begins work as the new editor and BBFI director of communications.
Missionaries are approved and honored in all national Fellowship meetings. New career missionaries approved this time are Brian and Jezel Cain (Philippines), Elmo and Kathryn Compton (Peru), Paul and Meagan Hopkins (Peru), and Ben and Raelene Walker (New Zealand).
Chad and Jennifer Braymer were approved to be TEAM missionaries to Costa Rica, Don and Cathy Mingo were reinstated, and CPT Cody Coolidge received BBFI authorization for chaplaincy in the U.S. Army National Guard.
Retired missionaries Frank and Finettie Howell received their 50-Year Globe award. Thirty-year pin recipients were Ron and Christine Enoch, Linda Fitzgerald, Greg and LuAnn Lyons, and Rose Yarnell. Missionaries Larry and Dawn Nelson, Larry and Nancy Quinlan, Ennis and Rebecca Pepper, Tom and Lisa Reesor, and Scott and Norma Edwards were awarded their 30-year pins but were not present at the meeting.