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About Us

A message from our Executive Director-Treasurer

We invite you to spend some time here at our Web Site and we trust that it will be time well spent to either encourage you or to help you find the information, people, or resources that you may need to help you in your personal walk with the Lord, or to help your church, group, or association with anything they may need.

In order to find your way, it is helpful to understand how the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board is set up to do their work. The responsibilities of the Convention Board fall into three natural divisions. One division is Business Services – the funds that are received and distributed to Kingdom causes are handled following Biblical guidelines of Christian stewardship and absolute fiscal responsibility. The second division, Church Growth, oversees those areas of church ministries that strengthen, equip, and enable the church and its functions. The third division, Mission Strategy, is entrusted with the responsibility of the work beyond just the walls and doors of the church. Our mission is to reach the world across Mississippi, the nation, and the uttermost parts of the earth.

Dr. Jim Futral

2007 Book of Reports – Executive Director-Treasurer

KATRINA + TWO YEARS

What has happened on the Gulf Coast, what has happened in Baptist life, and what Baptists have done - - Well to begin with, it is a wonderful thing to be able to report the weather conditions have not been favorable for hurricane development. For two years, there have been no hurricanes that have come to the Gulf Coast and virtually no hurricane of consequence has come to the United States. Thank God for the things that have not happened. The absence of a major disaster in our land has enabled work teams from across the state and nation to continue to focus on the needs across South Mississippi and Louisiana. It would be inevitable that a new disaster would divert them to the next crisis on the horizon. In an effort to help you understand at least in part what Baptists have done, think about these statistical accomplishments over the past two years.

HENDERSON POINT/GULFSHORE BAPTIST ASSEMBLY PROPERTY UPDATE

At the 2006 Mississippi Baptist Convention on October 31, the Conference Study Committee brought the following recommendation:

That the Mississippi Baptist Convention relocate our primary conference facilities and offer the coastal property for sale, with proceeds made available for acquisition of a new site, design of facilities, and/or construction of conference facilities. Furthermore, we recommend that the implementation of this recommendation be entrusted to the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.

A ballot vote of the Convention of 95% supported the study and the recommendation, which set in motion a slow, thoughtful, and meticulous moving toward the sale of the 34 acres at Henderson Point. One of the steps taken in the sale process was a recommendation brought to and approved by the Executive Committee and the Convention Board, which excluded the future use of any of the property by gambling interests. The recommendation is as follows:

That the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (Board) be hereby authorized and instructed by the Board to act as a steering committee related to the sale of the Convention owned property located at Henderson Point, MS. That certain restrictive language as adopted by the full Board during its May 4, 2007, meeting, be included in the marketing material and in any warranty deed(s) related to the property. That the Executive Committee and the Board reserve the right to refuse any and all offers throughout the entire sales process. That acceptance of an offer to purchase will require the recommendation of the Executive Committee and the approval of the Board.

The Convention’s action set in motion a yearlong series of events in efforts to sell the property. The time and effort required for this process had to be kept in balance with many other needs on the coast related to our churches and families. As so many things in the storm affected area, the process moved slower than we anticipated or desired. In time all of the survey material was accumulated, verified, and sent out to prospective interested parties and a date was set for sealed bids to be presented with one of the stipulations being that the Executive Committee would have the prerogative of rejecting all bids. The date was set for September 24, 2007 and three major interests brought bids to the opening. When all of the bids had been opened and the amounts posted, opportunity was given for an auction bid process that at the conclusion the Executive Committee unanimously concluded that the highest offer was insufficient and rejected the bid. Plans are now in process for a new direction to market the 34 acres at Henderson Point. While that is taking place, the president of the Convention, Dr. Clarence Cooper, has been requested according to his constitutional prerogative to appoint a committee that will serve as the Site Selection Committee for future Conference Ministry Development. In spite of the lack of sale of the property, the process can begin to find a new location for Mississippi Baptists to develop for future conference ministries.

STAFF CHANGES

As it is in our churches and across our associations the work of the Mississippi Baptist Convention is done by people, not by organizations. Since last year, four of our fine servants who have served the Lord and the Convention with both skill and spirit have retired. Larry Salter had worked for years in the Sunday School Department and concluded his service of over 31 years with Mississippi Baptists as the Procurement Officer in the Business Services Division. Linda Reeves retired after 16 years of service with the Sunday School Department as Pre-School and Children’s Consultant. Jim Price had served as a Contract Consultant in African American Ministry for six years. Frank Harmon retired after serving as Director of Church-Minister Relations for six years. Harvey Ellis resigned to accept a church position after seven years of service. Each of these brought blessings to the Lord’s work and will be missed. While some moved on from the Convention Board to other activities in their life, three new workers came on board. Angie Boydstun came to serve as a Consultant for Preschool and Children’s Work in the Sunday School Department. Christy Carley became the state BSU Associate Director in the Collegiate Ministry Department, and Wayne Pinkerton came to serve as the Procurement Officer in Business Services. These new workers have not only hit the ground running but have already impacted the work significantly in their areas of responsibility.

MEMORIAL TO THE MISSING UPDATE

We are inching towards completion of the Memorial to the Missing. Our thanks go to Dr. Jimmy Porter and the Christian Action Commission for providing leadership and pressing on towards filling up the glass case with 50 million pennies. Each one of those copper mementos represents one precious child who did not have opportunity to begin life because of the tragedy of abortion. It took all 50 states and over 300 million citizens over three decades to surpass the 50 millionth child aborted. It has taken Baptists across the state just over a year to accumulate the pennies donated to the memorial to all of these missing. Several have suggested that the memorial on the corner of the Baptist Building property across from the Capitol may be the most photographed spot in the state other than the issues related to Katrina on the coast. I have no way of knowing, but I do see day after day individuals and some times large groups come, read the plaque, and look at the pennies. More often than not, it turns into a thought provoking and often somber moment. To the boys and girls who have responded so energetically, to pastors who have thoughtfully encouraged their churches, and to adults who have been moved and thoughtful enough to send dollars rather than pennies, thank you.

MBCB Divisions

Other About Us pages

Directions

Directions is a weekly article by Dr. Futral that appears in The Baptist Record.

Easter Week Services2008 Easter Week Services Messages

Hear Dr. Futral’s Easter Week services messages in the message archive.

For more information, please contact our office at (601) 292-3201 or contact our staff by e-mail:

Dr. Jim Futral, executive director-treasurer at jfutral@mbcb.org
Brenda Box, administrative assistant at bbox@mbcb.org
Gayla Perry, ministry assistant at gperry@mbcb.org