2008 Convention




The National Association of Free Will Baptists will meet in Charleston, West Virginia, July 20-23, 2008, for its 72nd annual session. The meeting will take place in the downtown Charleston Civic Center.

Convention Manager Keith Burden expects at least 6,000 delegates and visitors from across the nation to converge on the city for the meeting.

The National Association of Free Will Baptists is comprised of nearly 2,600 churches and more than 300,000 members. The denomination supports 96 missionaries in 20 international locations and 68 missionaries in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Convention delegates are expected to approve denominational budgets nearing $27 million. Over the course of the meeting, Moderator Tim York will guide delegates through the election of board members, general officers, and commission appointees. In addition, all national agencies and commissions will submit annual reports during convention business sessions.

Planners anticipate the arrival of more than 500 convention attendees who will come a day early to participate in IMPACT West Virginia, a one-day campaign to give something back to the community. Volunteers armed with Bibles, hammers, paintbrushes, and willing hearts will donate thousands of hours of services throughout the Greater Charleston area.

In reality, the convention is three conventions-in-one. Meeting simultaneously with the National Association is the 41st National Youth Conference and the 73rd meeting of Women Nationally Active for Christ.

The National Youth Conference, which expects more than 2,000 registrants, includes national competitive finals in Bible and fine arts, seminars, and worship services designed especially for youth. In addition, teens from across the nation participate in “Reach That Guy” work projects throughout the week, volunteering with local service organizations, daycares, schools, and shelters. On the final evening of the conference, the students will join the adults for a combined worship experience at Charleston Civic Center. Click here for more NYC details.

Women Nationally Active for Christ (an auxiliary organization of the National Association of Free Will Baptists) will meet July 21 and 22 for their annual business sessions. Click here for the WNAC website.

Housing details and preregistration forms are available. Click to print: Housing Details and Pre-Registration Form. This information is also printed in the February-March and April-May issues of ONE Magazine.

Hotel reservations will open Monday, April 7 (9:00 a.m. CST, 10:00 a.m. EST). (Hotels have been instructed not to accept reservations before this time.) Click here for housing details.

Online pre-registration: Click here.