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The 24th Annual Meeting of the Sullivan Baptist Association was wonderful. One hundred twenty four messengers and thirty nine guests gathered at Higher Ground Baptist Church which graciously served as this year’s host. David Salley served as moderator for the second year in a row, and led the meeting with perfect combination of business and humor all the while inspiring cooperation and fellowship among the member churches. Mr. Jason Whitson, Minister of Music at Lynn Garden Baptist Church, and Mr. Mikel Caywood, Minister of Music and Education at Calvary Baptist Church did a wonderful job leading. The ensemble from Higher Ground Baptist Church, led by Bruce Hill, brought the messengers to their feet in praise with their special music. During the business session, messengers voted to accept New Journey Fellowship Church into the association under watchcare. The church was formed in June of this year and is currently meeting in the Grace Evangelical Free Church at 617 Donelson Dr. at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoons. Dr. Richard Kelly is the pastor of the church which began with about thirty members and has grown to seventy. Under watchcare, New Journey Fellowship Church will be monitored by Dallas Bivins, Associational Missionary, and will enjoy all of the privileges of membership except the right to vote. At next year’s annual meeting, the church will be presented for full membership into the SBA. Also during the meeting, Jim Ramey, Disaster Relief and Volunteer Missions Coordinator, awarded Mr. Paul Strong and and Mr. Frank Waldo with their “Blue Caps” for their dedication to and leadership in the Disaster Relief program. Reports were given by Sherree Williams for Gibsontown Ministries, Ron Coleman for Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes, and Eric Hogstrom for the ETSU Baptist Collegiate Ministry. Dallas Bivins gave the State of the Association Report and recognized those churches in our association which have experienced growth in the five areas of worship, evangelism, community, service, and discipleship. He also challenged all of our churches to strive for growth in all five of these areas. Jeff Strong, pastor of Sullivan Baptist Church, delivered an inspiring message. Tommy Holtclaw recognized Rosalynn Gray for her service to the association for the past thirty years and she, in turn thanked the association for allowing her to serve. Many thanks to Tony Ellis and the program committee for organizing our annual meeting. We are also grateful to Phil Hoskins and the staff and volunteers at Higher Ground Baptist Church for hosting our meeting and providing the wonderful lunch that followed. Next year’s annual meeting is scheduled for October 21, 2008 at State Line Baptist Church. |
