A letter to all Georgia Baptists from Wayne Hamrick

To all Georgia Baptists,

It has been an honor to serve you as president of the Georgia Baptist Convention this year. I am looking forward to this year’s annual session held November 13-14 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth.

The theme for this year’s convention is “Back to Basics in Sunday School/Open Groups, Evangelism and Missions.” The Order of Business Committee has planned an excellent program that will not only provide the messengers the opportunity to conduct Convention business, but also afford all of us the privilege of experiencing the hush of prayer, the thrill of song, and the power of preaching.

Music will be provided by God-anointed musicians, including The Lemings, The Gentrys, Terry Braswell and the Light Brothers, State Missions Quartet, Old Paths Quartet, Shorter College Chorale, Hebron Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra, a 200-voice choir from the Bartow Baptist Association, and a 500-voice choir from the Gwinnett Metro Association and Greater Metropolitan Atlanta Area Churches.

In addition to the president’s address the preachers for the convention will be Don Hattaway, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville, preaching the missionary sermon; Larry Wynn, pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, preaching the doctrinal sermon; and Jerry Vines, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, preaching the closing message on Tuesday evening.

On Tuesday afternoon there will be a time designated to recognize all of the younger preachers (35 years and younger) and also a time to recognize all of the older preachers (65 years and older).

The pre-convention rally will take place in the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Sunday evening, November 12, with great music by the North Metro First Baptist Church Celebration Choir and Orchestra and the Jubal Chorus directed by Jon Duncan. O. S. Hawkins, president of Guidestone Financial Resources, will bring the message for this Sunday evening rally.

The new Georgia Baptist Missions and Ministry Center will host all convention messengers and guests for an open house on Sunday afternoon from 3 to 4:30. There will also be a reception at the new facility and the dedication of the new building on Monday evening at 9:45 p.m.

I want to make a personal appeal to every Georgia Baptist to come to this year’s convention meeting. We have tried our best to make this year’s meeting singularly significant in every way. We believe that God is doing some remarkable things through our Convention agencies and institutions. We want you to get a glimpse of how His Spirit is at work in Georgia Baptist life. Pray for God to bless our Convention and this year’s annual session. Please plan to join us for significant business sessions, convivial fellowship, and soul-thrilling worship.

Yours for a great gathering of Georgia Baptists,

Wayne Hamrick
President, Georgia Baptist Convention