MC Delegation Gathers at Southern Baptist Convention

Mississippi College faithful were out in full force at the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville.

In late June, SBC leaders like Morris Chapman, and Jim Futral of the Mississippi Baptist Convention plus an outpouring of young MC alums were on hand for the the 152nd annual SBC meeting at the Kentucky Exposition Center. An Atlanta area pastor, Johnny Hunt was re-elected to a second one-year term as SBC president.

Also winning in a landslide was a Mississippi College reception Tuesday evening June 23 that saw scores of MC supporters gather for food, fun and fellowship.

"We had a great event last night,'' said MC alumni affairs director Ross Aven. More than 100 alumni and friends enjoyed the company of one another over cookies and ice cream, he said.

Those in attendance included Hal Kitchings, Ted Dibiase,George Dye, Gene Henderson, Guy Odom, Martha Sutton, Rob Futral, and Ken Anderson. The young alumni joining the gathering included Even Lenow and his wife Meredith, David Dawkins, Jonathan Coleman, Rachel Day and Meredith Day. A number of the young alums are in seminary or just finished up.

At the convention in the Bluegrass State, Aven got a autograph from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, now the host of a Fox News show. The former Republican presidential candidate signed one of his books.

Huckabee stayed in the same Louisville hotel where many of the MC people were lodged for the night. Retired MC administrator Doc Quick of Clinton rode down an elevator with Huckabee. MC people also got the opportunity to hear Huckabee address the convention.

In short, "it was a fun event,'' Aven said. Last year, MC graduates also enjoyed a similar event at the SBC meeting in Indianapolis.

At the Louisville convention, more than 8,600 messengers attended from churches across the nation. The SBC represents more than 16 million members from over 42,000 churches nationwide. The organization was founded in 1845 in Augusta, Ga.

During his remarks, Hunt, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., expressed his urgency about the Great Commission.

From all accounts, Mississippi College supporters had a great time in Kentucky and many will be back for the Southern Baptist Convention's 153rd annual meeting next summer.