The Baptist Convention of Iowa (BCI) gathered at Grace Church in Des Moines, Nov. 5-6 for its annual meeting and to celebrate 25 years as a state convention.
History of BCI – Part 1
“Our Time Has Come”
History of BCI – Part 2
“Leading Through Change”
History of BCI – Part 3
“Forward to the Future”
BCI Legacy Award
The convention honored four men who were instrumental in moving Iowa from a Southern Baptist Association to a Fellowship and, ultimately, to become a state convention. Max Carmichael (in memoriam), Jack Owens, Tom Nesbitt, and Ed Gregory received the Legacy Award for their tireless and faithful work over the history of Baptist work in Iowa.
Accelerating Commitment to Cooperative Program Giving
The key decision presented to the messengers at this year’s annual meeting was a recommendation by the BCI Executive Board to increase the convention’s giving to the Cooperative Program from 60 percent to 75 percent. President Michael Felkins noted this was a unanimous recommendation from the Executive Board to the messengers.
Tim Lubinus, executive director of the Baptist Convention of Iowa, explained the work that went into this recommendation. “As a convention, we see strategic stewardship as a foundational value of the BCI. Rather than watch money sit in buildings and bank accounts, we want to invest in multiplying disciples, churches, and mission throughout Iowa, across the United States, and around the world. There is no better investment than the Cooperative Program.”
After a presentation of the budget and a full understanding of the numbers, the messengers voted unanimously to increase the state’s CP giving to 75 percent.
“What we have done today,” stated Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church Las Vegas, “can be a model for other state conventions to follow.”
Expanding Resources to Develop Leaders and Equip Churches
During his executive director’s report, Tim Lubinus highlighted several new initiatives and resources available to BCI churches to multiply disciples, churches, and mission.
“Together we are investing an addition $1 million above our CP giving over the next three years to expand the mission and reach of BCI churches, to identify, train, and equip leaders for ministry, and to introduce the next generation of high school and college students to the life calling we all have as Great Commission Baptists.”
“Key to ministry expansion is the development of godly men and women for ministry service,” Lubinus stated. “We will do this by investing in church planter development, providing expert coaching and convening for pastors and ministry leaders, and connecting students and young people with mission leaders in foreign fields.”
While BCI is increasing CP giving to better serve our BCI churches, BCI is also expanding ministry in Iowa. Tim Lubinus announced the addition of a new staff member, Chris Mavity will serve in a newly created BCI staff position to assist churches in developing leaders.
“We have a strong partnership with the IMB and NAMB and we are eager to connect members of BCI churches with the opportunities available throughout North America and the world,” Lubinus said.
Keynote Speakers
Keynote speakers during the annual meeting included Jacob Boss, Affinity Leader for the European Peoples with the International Mission Board, Willie McLaurin, vice president for Great Commission relations and mobilization at the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, and Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church of Las Vegas, NV.
Officers
The messengers re-elected the following men as officers: President Michael Felkins, pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist Church, Ames; First Vice President Todd Stiles, pastor of First Family Church in Ankeny; Second Vice President Ricky Rohrig, pastor of Crossroads Community Church of Red Oak; Secretary: Jerome Risting of Temple Baptist Church of Mason City.
