NAFWB Convention
From this writer’s limited perspective, it seems a monumental task to be able to describe all that occurred last week in Louisville, KY. Those of you who have attended a national convention understand the multi-faceted schedule of events and the excitement of joining with almost 6,000 other Free Will Baptists. The air is electric, and the anticipation of each event is contagious.
The National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention is actually three conventions in one: 1) the Free Will Baptist Convention, 2) the Women Nationally Active for Christ Convention, and 3) the National Youth Conference.
Perhaps the best way to describe the experience is to tackle one aspect at a time.
The City of Louisville
Louisville is a wonderful setting for such a meeting. It is a city full of history, chartered in 1780 and named for King Louis XVI, the French king who aided the colonies during the Revolutionary War. The architecture is varied with a lot of classical revival, Victorian, as well as contemporary style. On a ride through the city one afternoon, I noticed a lot of what I call “shot gun” houses--narrow but deep, two-story houses set closely together, probably originally built in the 20s and 30s, as well as the craftsman style houses of the 30s and 40s. The city is separated from Indiana by the Ohio River. From our hotel, we could see the bridge over the river and the Colgate plant with its huge clock. (We were told by the locals that the clock is the third largest outdoor clock in the world.) Also, from our hotel, we could hear the calliope of the steamboat Belle of Louisville, an original 1914 paddleboat that still plies the waters of the Ohio River.
Most of our group stayed in the Galt House Hotel, two blocks from the convention center. Thanks to an enclosed sky pedway, we could make the two-block trek to the convention center without going outside. The Galt House has a history of its own. The original Galt House, built in 1823, boasts guests such as President Lincoln, Charles Dickens, and Mark Twain. Our carriage driver told us that Mark Twain was a resident at the Galt House when he was writing Huckleberry Finn.
Some in our group took a tour of the Louisville Slugger Museum located a few blocks from our hotel. Professional baseball players continue to have their bats custom made at this wood bat manufacturing facility, not far from where the very first bats were made back in the 1800s.
The food choices were varied and good. Most restaurants featured a Louisville classic, the Hot Brown: an open-faced turkey and bacon sandwich topped with a rich cheese sauce. This favorite originated at Louisville’s Brown Hotel in the early 1900s. Besides eating from our own food stashes in our hotel rooms, we tried such restaurants as the Spaghetti Factory, Kunz’s, and T.G. I. Friday’s.
The Services/Themes
As exciting as Louisville was, the 69th annual Convention was the main attraction. The adults, youth, children, and pre-schoolers had their own separate worship services.
For the adults in the main convention hall, the preaching theme was “Pleasing God” based on 2 Timothy 2:4. Rev. Jeff Manning, pastor of Unity FWB Church in Greenville, NC and son-in-law of Rev. Dennis Wiggs, preached in the Monday evening service. The Wednesday evening missionary service was a very moving experience as all the foreign and home missionaries able to attend marched on stage to a standing ovation and special prayers for their individual fields.
The WNAC theme was “Let Us Pursue” based on Hosea 6:3.
The National Youth Conference Theme was “Yes, Your Majesty” based on Psalm 145:5.
The Music
The music at the convention was a blended worship experience similar to our own services at Sherwood Forest. Richard Davis was the worship leader for the Sunday morning service. Each evening service included piano, organ, orchestra, vocal groups, and a mass choir. Our own Kineth Nelson, Lisa Fields, Martha Anderson, and Richard Davis sang in the mass choir each night.
Some favorites sung by the mass choir were the Dennis Jernigan song entitled “Blessed Redeemer,” ("Who can satisfy my soul like you? Who on earth could comfort me and love me like you do? Who could ever be more faithful, true? Lord, I will trust in you. ... There is a fountain, who is the King. Victorious Warrior, and Lord of everything. My Rock, my Shelter, my very Own. Blessed Redeemer, who reigns upon the throne.") and the Mike Speck arrangement of “Wish I Could’ve Been There” sung with the Mike Speck Trio.
The Seminars
In addition to various business sessions, the convention offered seminars for pastors, laymen, and teachers.
One such seminar was taught by Katie Greenwood, an editor with Randall House, entitled “CLEAR Made Easy.” The purpose of this seminar was to explain the new curriculum and to allow for feedback from teachers who use the curriculum each Sunday.
Several interesting points:
1. The CLEAR curriculum quarterlies are written in magazine format to encourage their being read at home.
2. The plan of salvation is given inside the back cover of each book, making them useful outreach tools. Mrs. Greenwood told of one girl who took her quarterly to school and used it to have a Bible study with other students.
3. The Scripture for each lesson is purposely not written in the book to encourage students to use their own Bibles.
4. Each quarterly is formatted as a daily devotional guide. The preschool through upper elementary books are set up so that the daily reading is about the previous lesson. The teen and adult books are the opposite.
5. Randall House also solicits teen writers to contribute to CLEAR Direction and CLEAR Horizon. They are looking for the following ideas:
1. Fictional stories that illustrate principles of the Christian faith.
2. Inspirational--God brought you through a rough time? Share your experience.
3. Christian growth articles--Been thinking about hope, true Christianity, discipleship, faith, etc.?
4. Testimony--Describe how God’s changing you in “Changing Lanes.”
5. Biographical--You or your youth group doing something exceptional? Are you a musician, actor, athlete, etc. who’s not ashamed of Christ?
6. Book reviews--Opinionated? Read a Christian book and give the pros and cons.
If your submission is accepted, you will be awarded a $35-$50 honorarium! (Submission does not guarantee publication.)
For exact submission details, see Martha Anderson.
The Youth Competition
With our church having eleven entries in youth competition, it took some juggling to be on time for each event. The NYC rules state that Bible competition takes precedence, so the music and arts competition had to work around each competitor’s schedule. Thankfully, we made it to each venue on time, though sometimes out of breath. Ten out of eleven of our entries placed in the competition.
Following are the results:
Tic-Tac-Toe - 3rd place
Elizabeth Lamm - Sword Drill - 2nd place (Level B)
Piano - 2nd place (Level B)
Jacob Austin - Photography - 1st place (Level A)
Piano - 1st place (Level A)
Melissa Nelson - Graphic Arts - 1st place (Level C)
Vocal Trio - 3rd place (Level C)
Vocal Quartet - 1st place (Level C)
Vocal Ensemble - 1st place (Level C)
Drama - 1st place (Level C)
You Just Had To Be There!
Our church group was an eclectic mix of personalities. You just had to be there to see and experience the hilarious and emotional moments:
1. The entire morning service attendees wishing our pastor a happy 40th birthday. (Thanks to Richard Davis who was worship leader for the Sunday morning service.)
2. Jill Nobles and Lisa Fields sneaking contraband into the hotel. (Actually, it was a microwave wrapped in a blanket.)
3. Ralph and Pam Gaskins making multiple trips to their Tahoe to refill their suitcases with food brought from home. (When I say food, I mean a home-cooked ham, home-made pimento cheese, and enough food of every sort to feed our entire group of forty-three for a week!)
4. Pam Gaskins running from the Tic-Tac-Toe competition room with her cell phone ringing one of those wonderful personalized rings. (I know, she has asked for forgiveness, but it certainly fits with “You Just Had To Be There!”)
5. Speaking of running, Richard Davis dashing into the convention hall and up on stage to sing in the mass choir dressed in a suit and TENNIS SHOES. (When asked about his attire, he replied in his usual demonstrative tone, “Well, I knew I was running late, and I would never make it on time with my dress shoes on.”)
6. Judy, Cindy, and Stacie crying tears of joy when Elizabeth won her awards for Sword Drill and piano. (Miss Judy, we are all so glad that you decided to go to Louisville!)
7. The preacher shouting (it sounded more like a war-hoop) and jumping in the air each time our church had a winner.
8. The expression on the faces of our Tic-Tac-Toe team every time they were asked a question in a game. (The best way to describe it is that “I’m going to be sick” look mixed with the “I know this. . .
I know this. . . hurry and finish the question so I can answer” look.
9. Gwen Nelson trying to contain herself and act dignified during a Tic-Tac-Toe match. (She almost succeeded.)
10. Rachel Janus trying to keep up with the rest of us. (The word “waddling” come to mind.)
11. Harvey and Barbara Godwin being able to out-walk all of us.
12. The Mills family being early for EVERY meeting and competition.
13. The preacher being angry and sinning not when being sprayed by the teens with silly string at his birthday party, and Miss Loreida scraping it off the hotel wall the next day.
14. The “I swallowed a canary” look on Elizabeth’s and Jacob’s faces each time they won an award.
15. Robin Howell calling her mom on a cell phone after every match to give an update on the Tic-Tac-Toe competition. (Thanks, Miss Barbara for all of your help.)
16. The sound of Elizabeth’s feet hitting the stage floor each time she stepped forward with the correct passage in Sword Drill competition. (Let’s put it this way, you could be looking away from the stage and still tell when she stepped forward. Go, girl!!)
17. And last but not least, the tears on the faces of our group as they watched our vocal groups sing in competition. It was very evident that the teens were singing from their hearts in praise to God, and that message of love and praise reached not only the judges but also those in the audience. All the glory belongs to Him!
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