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MC Graduate Jerry Rankin Address Mississippi Baptist Convention


International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin
Don't expect Mississippi College graduate Jerry Rankin to slow down once he retires next year as president of the International Mission Board.

After speaking to the Mississippi Baptist Convention Tuesday, the longtime Southern Baptist Convention leader says he plans to "stay very busy'' when he returns to his native Mississippi.

Rankin says he already has a home in Clinton. He and his wife, Bobbye, an MC graduate, have plans to attend one of MC's Homecoming events on the Clinton campus Friday night.

On another subject, Rankin says America's bad economy is having a major impact on giving levels at churches nationwide. The drop in funds from church-goers is curtailing the number of missionaries that can be sent out around the globe, he says.

The funding situation, however, is also causing church leaders to become "better stewards'' of the funds coming in, Rankin noted in an interview.

During his speech to the Baptist convention, Rankin encouraged mission trips overseas and strongly urged church members to do so with their heart in it every step of the way.

"There's got to be a passion for a lost world,'' Rankin said in his remarks Tuesday. "The priority is God's priority to reach the ends of the Earth.''

Outgoing Mississippi Baptist Convention President Mickey Dalrymple lauded Rankin for his convention message. "Thank you Dr. Rankin for reminding us to have His Father's heart.''

Tuesday marked the opening day of the 174th Mississippi Baptist Convention drawing hundreds of messengers and other church members to the sessions at First Baptist Church in downtown Jackson.

The convention also attracted an array of higher education leaders including MC President Lee Royce and William Carey University President Tommy King. Blue Mountain College President Bettye Coward is set to address the convention Wednesday. Also on hand were nearly 20 MC School of Nursing students who provided free health screenings to visitors.

Gary Richardson, senior pastor of North Oxford Church, was elected by acclamation to become the new convention president. Dalrymple, pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus, completed his second one-year term as president. Richardson is the son of a longtime Mississippi Baptist pastor, the late James Richardson.