By Sharon Mager
COLUMBIA, Md.—Local associations are making plans for their annual meetings this autumn. Each association has a mix of activities—some with food, others providing training opportunities, or expos or mission fairs and many have special guests and music. Montgomery Association combines their meeting with revival services. Each meeting is a great opportunity to fellowship with local pastors and leaders to network, to get and give support and encouragement, and corporately worship Jesus.
Here’s a list of meetings scheduled:
Arundel Baptist Association (ABA)
Kevin Smith
Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) Executive Director Kevin Smith will be the guest speaker at Arundel Association’s annual meeting on Oct. 30, at First Baptist Church, Crofton, 1690 Crofton Parkway, Crofton, MD 21114. The theme is, “Bound together in the will of God,” based on II Corinthians 8:5, “And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.” At 4 pm there will be an executive board meeting and pastors’ wives “mini-conference,” followed by a 6 pm dinner and the business meeting at 7 pm.
Baltimore Baptist Association (BBA)
Dr. Smith will also be the guest speaker at the Baltimore Baptist Association’s annual meeting, on Oct. 29, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at Captivate Church, Dundalk, 1710 Delvale Avenue, Dundalk.
This year’s theme for the BRBA annual meeting, on Oct. 9, is, “Churches Helping Churches.” First Baptist Church, Hagerstown, 15 High Street, Hagerstown, Md., will host the event. Pre-registration begins at 6:30 pm.
Visitors can browse national, state and local resource display tables and chat with representatives. In addition to business, there will be a time to hear and share what’s happening and a time of fellowship and refreshments.
Delaware Baptist Association (DBA)
The DBA meeting will be from 10 am to noon on October 14, at the Baptist Student Ministry House, (click here for a map). Parking is available at a nearby parking garage (click here for a map). Registration is requested.
Eastern Baptist Association (EBA)
Eastern Baptist Association members will meet from 5:30-8 pm on Oct.17, at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1514 Old Ocean City Road, Salisbury. The meeting is a time of celebration and sharing what God has done in and through the churches in the EBA.
Mid-Maryland Baptist Association (MMBA)
The MMBA will meet on Oct. 1 at Bethel Baptist Church, 4261 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City, Md. Food and fellowship is from 6 to 7 pm, followed by a time of worship and the business meeting. Interim Director of Missions Gary Glanville will share the message and there will be special music.
Montgomery Baptist Association (MBA)
Chaplain (Major General) Douglas L. Carver, United States, Retired, will be the guest speaker at Montgomery Baptist Association’s Fall Revival Oct. 15-18 at Georgia avenue Baptist Church.
The MBA will have their annual meeting at Georgia Avenue Baptist Church, 12525 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, Md., on Oct. 15 followed by the first evening of a 3-day revival. Registration for the meeting begins at 4 pm and the meeting is from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Volunteers will serve a light dinner after the meeting. The revival begins at 7:30 pm. Chaplain (Major General) Douglas L. Carver, United States Army, Retired, will be the guest speaker for the revival. MBA churches will provide the music each evening.
Potomac Baptist Association (PBA)
The Potomac Baptist Association annual meeting is from 6 to 8 pm on Oct. 26 at Southern Calvert Baptist Church, 12140 H.G. Trueman Road, Lusby, Md. It begins with refreshments and a ministry expo at 6 pm., then the worship service and business session at 7 pm.
Prince George’s Association (PGBA)
Prince George’s Baptist Association will have their annual meeting on Oct. 7 at Kettering Baptist Church’s Legacy Center, 6909 Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro. They’ll enjoy a time of fellowship over breakfast from 9 to 10 am followed by a time of worship and then the business meeting.
The theme is, “He who has called you is faithful,” based on 1 Thessalonians 5:24.
Susquehanna Baptist Association (SBA)
The Susquehanna Baptist Association will meet on Oct. 17, at 7 pm at First Baptist Church of Aberdeen, 219 E. Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen, Md. Details will be finalized soon.
Western Baptist Association (WBA)
John Wyrick, pastor of Rush Church, and leader of the John Wyrick Band, will provide music for the WBA annual meeting.
Western Baptist Association will have a missions fair as part of their 2017 annual meeting, which will be from 4 to 6 pm on October 29, in the gymnasium of Second Baptist Church, located at the corner of Oldtown Road and Grand Avenue in Cumberland.
The missions fair will offer church leaders new ways to discover missions opportunities and learn from other WBA churches. There will be a nursery for children through age 2, and a special missions class for children ages 3-4. Parents are encouraged to bring their older children to the missions fair.
Afterwards there will be a hot dog supper and short business session. John Wyrick, pastor of Rush Baptist Church and leader of the John Wyrick Band, will lead worship.
Registration is needed for providing sufficient food and child care.