The Southern Baptist Convention began in Augusta, Georgia, 200 years ago. We are celebrating that bicentennial at this year’s Georgia Baptist Convention held in, appropriately and obviously, Augusta.

I always try to make it in time for the Preaching Conference on Monday afternoon. In a three hour meeting we heard four sermons with a little bit of praise & worship in between each speaker. The Preaching Conference featured three pastors from Georgia and one from Florida that I really enjoyed; Brad Whit, Jeff Crook, Dennis Watson and Zach Terry. Then in the evening session of the convention we heard a missional sermon from Josh Smith and a doctrinal sermon (on the doctrine of forgiveness) from Wayne Robertson. Jeff Crook and Zach Terry were my personal favorites from the preaching conference and Pastor Robertson “came to preach” to close out the day.

In the afternoon session later today the convention sermon will be brought by Dr. Tony Evans. There will be some history, reports and a vote or two on resolutions and officers but I really come for the worship. Here’s the honest truth: I don’t go to any lectures, conferences, retreats etc. throughout the year. I get a lot out of the annual state meeting. I will have more to say, either later in the week or on the big Saturday post, as we still have a full day of the convention left. As a matter of fact I’m about to pack up and head to Warren Baptist Church right now.

*I will correct one statement about attending conferences and retreats. Dudley Morris and I usually find a one or two-day men’s conference to attend, usually early in the spring. Last year we went to a wild game supper and heard from Sid Bream, who talks a little about baseball, a lot about hunting and fishing, and uses those activities to share his testimony. So never say never, always avoid always when writing or speaking.