ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–“A Gathering for Missional Leaders” is slated June 11 before the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in San Antonio.
The North American Mission Board’s Missional Network staff hopes to draw missional church leaders from across the SBC in America and Canada to two special events.
“We are hoping for as many as 500 missional Southern Baptist leaders to participate in our two events on Monday, June 11,” said Mike Cogland, a director in NAMB’s Center for Missional Research and developer of the center’s Missional Network.
Missional leaders and churches are defined as those that think like missionaries ñ- understanding the culture of the people they are trying to reach and creating a church environment that connects with that culture for communicating the Gospel.
Cogland said the first event — a dinner limited to 150 — is sold out. It is slated for San Antonio’s Aldacos Mexican Restaurant at 4:45 p.m. on Monday. Seats are still available for a free session (limited to 500) at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center at 9:30 p.m. A complimentary trolley car will run between Aldacos and the convention center.
The purpose of the events is to enable missional leaders to connect with their counterparts, discuss issues of church and culture and learn innovative ways to reach people with the Gospel, Cogland said.
The session at the convention center will feature Bob Roberts, founder of Glocalnet and senior pastor of NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas; Ed Stetzer, new director of LifeWay Research and former senior director of NAMBís Center for Missional Research; and Todd Fields, worship leader, singer and songwriter from Alpharetta, Ga.
“We not only hope to attract missional church leaders but also those who may be somewhat disconnected from denominational life, or maybe just innovative, younger leaders. We want to give them a place and a way they can connect with the convention,” Cogland said, “and to let them know there are others like themselves.”
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To register for the 9:30 p.m. Missional Network “Gathering” on June 11, click on www.missionalnetworkweb.com.
