What’s Happening Around the Fellowship

As the summer is winding down, the Fellowship is as busy as any other time of the year. This summer, there have been great reports from across the country of successful youth camps, kid’s camps, Vacation Bible Schools, short-term mission trips, community projects, and a host of other events. Many churches are gearing up for an exciting fall season of mission conferences, church growth campaigns, back-to-school events, and other ways to reach more people with the Gospel. Today, all aspects of the Fellowship have exciting news to report. 

Missions

On July 17-20, 2023, the BBFI Mission Office hosted its annual Advanced Missionary Training (formerly Missionary Candidate School) with several newly approved, year two, WIN, and reinstated missionaries. Training was provided by the Mission Office staff, local pastors, and other special guests. 

The new BBFI Mission Office and Retirement Housing is moving forward. Mission Director Jon Konnerup recently shared that it is actually “ahead of schedule” in regard to building. Much work has been completed on the new office, and Konnerup reports, “Soon we hope to see walls going up on the retirement housing.” The new property purchased by the BBFI Mission Office is located on West Sunshine. 

Education

Move-In Day for Baptist Bible College was Thursday, August 3, 2023. Welcome Weekend includes many events for the students and their parents, including a presidential dinner, new student orientation, a welcome back party, and a worship night. The first day of classes is on Monday, August 7, 2023, with opening chapel on Tuesday, August 8. All indications are pointing toward a great enrollment for the Fall semester. 

Boston Baptist College will host “blitz” courses from September 5-15, with the traditional semester beginning on Monday, September 18, 2023. 

Church Planting

As a result of the growth of BBFI Church Planting, an additional APEX Church Planter Assessment will take place August 7-9, 2023. This new assessment will take place in Springfield, MO, and coincide with the opening week of classes. This is a great opportunity to highlight church planting to BBC students. The next APEX Church Planter Assessment will take place in Granbury, TX from October 2-4, 2023. If you are interested in learning more, click here. 

Central Office

The new BBFI Central Office continues to be active in supporting all aspects of the Fellowship. The BBFI Executive Committee has met monthly throughout the summer via Zoom, one time including State Reps. 

Much work has gone into preparing for the September National Fellowship Meeting in Clovis, CA, hosted by Sonrise Church and Pastor Otis Ledbetter. The church is working hard to prepare for a great meeting. Keynote speakers for this year’s meeting include Bruce Garner, Bob Stephenson, Tim Hawks, Steve Bender, Linzy Slayden, Eddie Lyons, Tim Adrian, and Jon Haley, along with Rob Lyons, Joel Byers, Dennis Mays, and Nate Harmon. Each Friday throughout the summer, the church has been giving away two FREE passes on a shuttle bus to Yosemite National Park for those who have preregistered for the meeting. If you have yet to preregister, you can do so by clicking here. 

Contracts were recently signed to reserve space in The Box Convention Center in Box Elder, SD, for the September 2024 National Fellowship Meeting, which will take place September 16-18, 2024. This will be a meeting you will not want to miss. 

The Central Office is also working with State Reps to organize Regional Fellowship Meetings to take place in early 2024, most likely in February. More information will be available at this year’s September meeting. 

The Central Office and Tribune Publishing have also been posting daily devotionals written by BBFI pastors and leaders. This 36-day devotional has been on the Sermon on the Mount. Click here to see a listing of the devotionals and begin to read through them. 

Continue to pray for the BBFI.