Convention Theme and Speakers

The 2009 convention speakers will address passages centered on the convention theme, “Great and Precious Promises.” Each passage, taken from 2 Peter 3, will focus on a different aspect of God’s promises to mankind: The promise of eternal life; the promise of God’s faithfulness; the promise of sufficient grace; the promise of His coming; and the promise of His power.

Speakers (pictured above, from left to right)

• Sunday School - Bob Bouts (OH)

• Sunday Morning - Mark Price (OH)

• Sunday Evening - Jeff Sloan (OK)

• Monday - Paul Harrison (TN)

• Tuesday - Henry Horne (NC)

• Wednesday - Fred Warner (AR)

• Preaching Conference - Steve Berry (FL) and Ken Simpson (MO)

Convention Highlights

Impact Cincinnati. Make plans to arrive a day early and participate in Impact Cincinnati. The one-day outreach event will be held Saturday, July 18, throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. According to Chairman Roland Luthy, “We just don’t want to meet in a city, do our business, spend our money, and go home. We want to help local FWB churches through evangelism, service projects, construction and more. This is our opportunity to leave a spiritual impact—not just a financial impact—on our target area.”

Volunteers should contact Roland Luthy: (home) 513-797-4859; (church) 513-752-4882; or (cell) 513-238-2009. Email: luthyjd@fuse.net

Preaching Conference. Each year, convention-goers are encouraged to attend the conference for pastors and laymen on Tuesday. The word conference may be a bit misleading since each service features great music and high-impact preaching. One attendee at last year’s conference said, “I like the wide variety of preachers and revival atmosphere. You never know what to expect.”

This year’s conference features Steve Berry (FL) and Ken Simpson (MO). Berry graduated from Southeastern FWB College in 1998 and has served churches in Oklahoma, Virginia, and Florida. He currently pastors First FWB Church in Melbourne (FL).

A 1992 graduate of Free Will Baptist Bible College, Simpson earned his M.A. in Theology from Covenant Theological Seminary. Current pastor of Calvary Fellowship FWB Church, Ken has pastored in Missouri since 1998. Enjoy the service Tuesday, July 21, 10:00 a.m. in the convention hall.

Missions Rally. The 2009 Joint Missions Rally will take place on Monday, July 20, from 3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. in the Bronze Ballroom of the Millennium Hotel. According to Deborah St. Lawrence, communications manager of International Missions, “The rally is a joint effort between Home Missions and International Missions to educate, inform, and inspire Free Will Baptists about evangelistic efforts in North America and around the world.”

This year’s rally will feature home missionaries Greg Floars (MI), John Reed (WI), and Howard Gwartney (AZ).

WNAC Convention. Monday afternoon’s special presentation, WNAC: We’re Not Just Your Mother’s Auxiliary, takes a closer look at current Free Will Baptist women’s ministries and unveils WNAC’s vision for the future. Women will gain inside knowledge as WNAC Executive Secretary-Treasurer Danita High presents her first official report during the Tuesday business session.

Tuesday morning’s service will focus on worship as Donna Crabtree, missionary to New Brunswick, Canada, shares from God’s Word and from her heart. Later that same day, Carol Pinkerton, veteran missionary to Côte d’Ivoire, will bring her wealth of knowledge and experience to the tables of the WNAC Fellowship Luncheon. Join WNAC for two unforgettable days.

Get involved. The 2009 Convention Orchestra needs instrumentalists, according to Convention Music Coordinator Chris Truett. “We invite anyone from ninth grade up to participate in the ensemble, although we would like to have as many adults to participate as possible.”

The ensemble will accompany the congregational and choir selections each night of the convention and practice Sunday through Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. and after each evening service on the main stage of the Duke Energy Center.

Anyone who wishes to participate should send name, address, phone number, and church name to Bethel FWB Church, Attention: Chris Truett., 1936 Banks School Road, Kinston, NC 28504.

Volunteers may call Chris at (252) 522-2451 or email ctruett@bethelfwb.com. Please specify instrument(s) and how many years of experience in playing the instrument. Notify Chris Truett by June 15 to receive music prior to the convention.

The Convention Choir will also sing each night of the convention. All singers are invited to attend the first practice on the convention stage, Sunday afternoon, July 19, at 5:00 p.m.

View the Cincinnati Convention Map

Preliminary Convention Schedule

SATURDAY, JULY 18

Impact Cincinnati
Various Locations
10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Registration Opens
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Duke Energy Center
Lobby Lower Level

SUNDAY, JULY 19

Registration (Open Daily)
8:00 am – 7:00 pm

Sunday School*
10:00 am – 10:45 am
Duke Energy Center

Morning Worship*
11:00 am – 12:00 Noon
Duke Energy Center

Evening Worship*
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Duke Energy Center

MONDAY, JULY 20

General Board Meeting
8:00 am – 2:30 pm
Millennium, Grand Ballroom

NYC Competitive Activities
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Duke Energy Center

Theological Trends Seminar
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Millennium, Bronze

WNAC Seminar
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Hyatt Regency, Ballroom

NYC Seminars
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Duke Energy Center

Missions Rally
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Millennium, Bronze Ballroom

Exhibits Open
3:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Duke Energy Center

Benjamin Randall
Appreciation Dinner
5:15 pm – 6:30 pm

Evening Worship
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Duke Energy Center

TUESDAY, JULY 21

Randall House Seminar
8:00 am – 9:30 am
Duke Energy Center

Exhibit Hall A
NYC Competitive Activities
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Duke Energy Center

WNAC Convention
8:30 am – 10:30 am
Hyatt Regency, Ballroom

Pastors/Laymen Conference
10:00 am – 11:45 am
Duke Energy Center
Exhibit Hall A

NYC Seminars
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Duke Energy Center

Exhibits Open
10:00 am – 10:30 pm
Duke Energy Center

WNAC Missionary Service
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Hyatt Regency, Ballroom

WNAC Fellowship Luncheon
12:00 noon – 2:00 pm
Millennium, Bronze

Convention Business Session
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Duke Energy Center
Exhibit Hall A

Evening Worship
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Duke Energy Center

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22

NYC Competition Finals
8:00 am – 11:00 am
Duke Energy Cente

Convention Business Session
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Duke Energy Center

NYC Seminars
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Duke Energy Center

Exhibits Open
10:00 am – 9:30 pm
Duke Energy Center

FWBBC Alumni Luncheon
12:00 noon – 1:15 pm

Evening Worship
6:45 pm – 8:30 pm
Duke Energy Center

NYC Awards Ceremony
8:50 pm – 11:00 pm
Duke Energy Center

* Teen services will be held in the Hyatt Regency Ballroom.