Posted on Oct 15, 2009 | by Staff

NIKISKI, Alaska (BP)--The 64th annual meeting of the Alaska Baptist Convention at Lighthouse Community Church in Nikiski celebrated the theme "God's People Sharing in Alaska" with 118 messengers representing 51 of the convention's 107 congregations.

Alaska Baptists passed an overall 2010 budget of $2,126,314, which is a 3.8 percent increase over the previous year and includes an anticipated $770,301 in Cooperative Program giving from Alaska churches, down $10,264 from 2009. The budget maintains an allocation of 33 percent of Cooperative Program receipts to be sent to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries.

The 2010 budget reflects 36 percent of income from state convention Cooperative Program ministries (down 2 percent), 58 percent from SBC Cooperative Program ministries (up 1 percent), 3 percent from LifeWay Christian Resources and 3 percent from other sources (up 1 percent).

Messengers to the Sept. 29-30 meeting re-elected Ed Gregory, pastor of First Baptist Church in Anchorage, as president and Bryan Myers, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Fairbanks, first vice president. Tom Hoffman, pastor of Fairview Loop Baptist Church in Wasilla, was elected second vice president and Georgie Owen, a member of Sunset Hills Baptist Church in Anchorage, was elected recording secretary.

Alaska Baptists expressed appreciation by a standing ovation to a missions team from the Arkansas Baptist Convention who provided childcare during the meeting.

On the issue of sanctity of human life, messengers passed a resolution noting that parents have the God-given responsibility to raise their children to live lives of obedience to God and resolved to strongly encourage the Alaska legislature to place before the citizens a measure requiring a minimum of parental notification, with a preference for parental permission, pertaining to abortion.

Next year's annual meeting will be Sept. 27-28 at First Baptist Church in Wasilla.
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Based on a report by Debra Long of the Alaska Baptist Convention.