In a year marked by a global pandemic, racial tensions, political unrest and more, people are searching for hope, restoration and redemption. Against the backdrop of current world events, the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s (BSCNC) annual meeting this November will focus on “God’s Great Hope” based upon Romans 15:13.

In a year marked by a global pandemic, racial tensions, political unrest and more, people are searching for hope, restoration and redemption. Against the backdrop of current world events, the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s (BSCNC) annual meeting this November will focus on “God’s Great Hope” based upon Romans 15:13.

“Based on everything going on in the world, ‘God’s Great Hope’ is a timely and appropriate theme for the coming year,” said Jeff Maynard, pastor of First Baptist Church of Brevard. “We serve a God who the Apostle Paul identifies as a God of hope. Our desire is to communicate that hope to others.”

Maynard serves as the chairman of the state convention’s Committee on Convention Meetings, which selects the annual meeting theme and helps set the agenda and schedule.

This year’s annual meeting is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 9-10, at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, N.C.

Highlights of this year’s meeting include messages by longtime missionary Sam James, BSCNC President Steve Scoggins and BSCNC Executive Director-Treasurer Milton A. Hollifield Jr.

James, who served more than 50 years as a missionary with the International Mission Board, will deliver the annual convention sermon on Tuesday evening, Nov. 10. James served in Southeast Asia, East Asia, Europe , the Middle East and North Africa. Along with wife, Rachel, and their children, James served in Vietnam from the early 1960s until the fall of Saigon in 1975. He also served extensively in Vietnam from 1991-2017.

Scoggins, pastor of First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, will deliver the annual president’s address on Tuesday morning, Nov. 10. Scoggins plans to share a message of hope from Romans 15:13, which is the meeting’s theme verse. Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (ESV).

In the opening session on Monday evening, Nov. 9, Hollifield will deliver his final address and report as executive director-treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Earlier this year, Hollifield announced his plans to retire effective Feb. 28, 2021. He has served as the state convention’s top executive since 2006.

The meeting will also include business sessions, officer elections, exhibits, breakout sessions and more.

N.C. Baptists are also invited to join in a 30-day prayer emphasis during the month of October leading up to the annual meeting. Chris Schofield, director of the BSCNC’s Office of Prayer for Evangelization and Spiritual Awakening, is developing a devotional prayer guide for individuals to use during the prayer emphasis that aligns with the meeting theme. Prayer guides will be available by the early fall.

More information about this year’s annual meeting, including hotel and travel information, is available online at ncannualmeeting.org.

The website will be updated with additional information such as the complete schedule, the proposed 2021 Cooperative Program budget, breakout session descriptions and more leading up to the annual meeting.