LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–Twenty-four hotels will have shuttle service for the Southern Baptist Convention beginning Sunday, June 21, according to final arrangements reported by convention manager R. Clark Logan Jr.
The confirmed shuttle routes for this year’s SBC annual meeting are posted at http://www.sbcannualmeeting.net/sbc09/page.asp?cat=house&subcat=shuttle.
However, seven hotels originally listed for shuttle service no longer will be shuttled due to low reservations: Brown Hotel; Seelbach Hotel; Residence Inn, Downtown; Best Western Envoy; Hyatt Place Louisville; Louisville Marriott East; and The Chariot Hotel.
(The following hotels have always been listed and still are listed as “no shuttle” locations: Best Western Airport East; Hawthorn Suites; Holiday Inn Lakeview (Clarkesville, Ind.); Holiday Inn South; LaQuinta Inn and Suites Airport/Expo; and Sleep Inn Airport/Expo.)
Shuttle service will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 21, and is complimentary from the hotels to the Kentucky Exposition Center on Sunday and Monday. Once at the center, shuttle passes can be purchased for $10 in the Shuttle Booth in the main lobby from 3-9 p.m. on Sunday, 8-5:30 p.m. on Monday and 8-noon on Tuesday.
Concerning parking at the exposition center, Logan noted that adequate parking is available in all lots surrounding the North and South Halls. Attendees also can use parking lot E-1 and the adjacent skywalk, which provide a short-cut directly to the main lobby area.
The cost per vehicle per visit to enter the exposition center’s parking lots is $6, but special parking passes with in/out privileges can be purchased in the exposition center lobby. Attendees will need to bring the receipt card received at the toll gate upon their initial entry to the grounds to the Parking Pass booth in the lobby, which will be open from 3-9 p.m. on Sunday, 8-5:30 p.m. on Monday and 8-noon on Tuesday.
The cost of the passes will be (if an attendee does not have a receipt card, add $6 to the rates): 4-day pass sold on Sunday $30 with receipt card; 3-day pass sold on Monday $21 with receipt card; 2-day pass sold on Tuesday $12 with receipt card.
Concerning food options during the SBC annual meeting, Logan noted that no restaurants are within walking distance of the exposition center and very few restaurants are within a short drive. Thus, arrangements have been made to have a variety of on-site food services and ample seating available each day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Online pre-registration for the June 23-24 SBC annual meeting will remain open throughout Saturday, June 20, via www.sbcannualmeeting.net. Thereafter, messengers from local churches will be directed through the traditional registration process at the exposition center. By registering online, the SBC website gives a church a messenger reference number form to be printed out and presented by each messenger at the SBC registration booth in exchange for a nametag and a set of ballots. The appropriate church-authorized representative must complete all online registrations.
For the traditional registration method, churches that are unable or opt not to access the online registration can obtain registration cards from state convention offices.
For additional details about parking, hotel shuttles and meals at the exposition center, go to http://bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=30459.
The annual meeting is being held in Louisville in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the founding of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. (For a list of SBTS sesquicentennial events, go to www.sbts.edu/about/sesquicentennial.) Numerous evangelistic events are slated for June 20 as part of the annual Crossover outreach involving Baptists locally as well as volunteers from across the country.
At Churchhill Downs, for example, Crossover volunteers will visit the racetrack, witness to the Hispanic horsemen and invite them to nightly revival services at 10 area Hispanic churches, including a new church plant located almost across the street from Churchill Downs, Iglesias Baptista Victoria (Victory Baptist Church). For more information about Crossover Louisville ’09, go to www.crossoverlouisville.com.
ERLC INTERVIEWS AT SBC — Richard Land and other Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission staff members will conduct live interviews and hold question-and-answer sessions at the ERLC booth in the exhibit area during the SBC in Louisville.
Barrett Duke, who serves Southern Baptists in the ERLC’s Washington, D.C., office will host an open dialogue on public policy issues June 22 at 1 p.m. Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, is scheduled to host a far-ranging question-and-answer session on the state of the culture June 23.
Tom Elliff, who was in the pastorate for 42 years and served two terms as SBC president, will visit with ERLC Executive Vice President Harold Harper June 22 in the ERLC booth to talk about issues related to the family, with an emphasis on the importance of guarding one’s heart against temptation. Elliff recently stepped down from his position as senior vice president of spiritual nurture and church relations for the SBC’s International Mission Board to pursue a ministry with his wife Jeannie focused on helping others better appreciate the importance of the intimacy of Christ.
Jeff Palmer, head of Baptist Global Response, will join Harper June 22 at 9:30 a.m. to review the work Southern Baptists are doing to alleviate hunger and malnutrition around the world. In a late morning session June 24, Harper will discuss the church’s need to ministry to those struggling with same-sex attraction with Bob Stith, gender issues specialist for the SBC. Updates to the ERLC presentation schedule will be posted at erlc.com/convention.
AUTHOR SIGNINGS AT SBC — The B&H Publishing Group will host 17 of its writers for signings in the LifeWay Christian Stores area of the exhibit hall during the SBC.
Monday’s schedule: 10-11 a.m., Ed Blum of the Holman Christian Standard Bible; noon-1 p.m., Mike Glenn, “In Real Time”; 1-2 p.m., Diana Davis, “Deacon Wives,” and Joyce Rogers, “Grace for the Widow”; 2-3 p.m., Brad Waggoner, “The Shape of Faith to Come,” and Ed Stetzer, “Lost and Found”; 3-4 p.m., Johnny Hunt, “Building Your Leadership Resume,” Allan Taylor, “Sunday School in HD,” and Danny Lovett, “Extreme Exploits.”
Tuesday: 9-10 a.m., Michael Catt, “The Power of Desperation”; noon-1 p.m., Jerry Rankin, “Spiritual Warfare”; and 1-2 p.m., Ken Hemphill, “You Are Gifted.”
Wednesday: 9-10 a.m., Stephen & Alex Kendrick, “Love Dare,” and Mike Harland, “Seven Words of Worship”; 10-11 a.m., Thom & Sam Rainer, “Essential Church.”
The B&H Publishing Group is the trade and academic books division of LifeWay Christian Resources.
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Compiled by Baptist Press editor Art Toalston.
