Mississippi College Student Nurses Offer Health Screenings at Mississippi Baptist Convention

Mississippi College student nurses are pictured at the 2012 Mississippi Baptist Convention. They will return to provide health screenings at the 2013 Mississippi Baptist Convention October 29-30 at First Baptist Church Jackson.

More than two dozen Mississippi College student nurses will offer health screenings to pastors and hundreds of other visitors at upcoming Mississippi Baptist Convention meetings.

The 178^th annual conference of Baptist leaders across the Magnolia State will convene October 29-30 at First Baptist Church Jackson.

A popular event for convention-goers for years, the MC health fair is “an excellent way to have screenings and present information on topics related to maintenance of health and prevention of illness,” says School of Nursing Dean Mary Jean Padgett.

“With the changes coming in healthcare, along with the increasing number of senior citizens, maintaining health is a matter of vital importance for our entire population,” Padgett said.

“Celebration” is the theme of this year’s health fair. The 25 MC student nurses will check blood sugar and blood pressure levels, give flu shots, provide advice on healthy eating habits and much more. They will be joined by several nursing professors.

As usual, there will be plenty of Mississippi College connections at this fall’s convention. One of the keynote speakers is MC graduate Chip Stevens, pastor at First Baptist Church Starkville. He speaks at 4:05 p.m. on Tuesday October 29.

Other keynote speakers include Charles Carter, a professor at the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and Ken Whitten, senior pastor at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida.

Wayne VanHorn, dean of MC’s School of Christian Studies and the Arts, always looks forward to attending convention activities at the massive church near the Mississippi Capitol. There are several reasons why the former Columbia Baptist Church pastor keeps going.

“Convention planners invite the best preachers that Mississippi and the Southern Baptist Convention has to offer,” VanHorn said. “These preachers provide ample biblical inspiration to motivate us in our service to Christ.”

In addition, Mississippi Baptist Convention meetings showcase “lots of inspirational music that exalts Jesus and reminds us all of why we are here,” he said. The Mississippi Singing Churchmen will be among the groups performing.

The MC educator enjoys encountering former students he taught in seminary, fellow pastors and other Baptist college professors.

“The annual convention is a reminder that we are all on the same team trying to advance the cause of Christ in our various communities,” VanHorn said.

Whether the visitors come from churches in cities or rural communities, they “will be blessed by reports of what God is doing among His people,” says Jim Futral, executive director and treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention.

Mississippi College President Lee Royce, Vice President for Christian Development Eric Pratt, admissions recruiters, alumni and others with ties to the Christian university will also be on hand at the two-day sessions in the capital city.

For more information, call the Mississippi Baptist Convention at 601.968.3800 or go to the website mbcb.org