By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent

Kim Hardy

Kim Hardy, who will address ministers’ wives, is an inspirational communicator and a unique combination of author, speaker, worship leader, singer, and Bible teacher. As a frequent conference speaker, Hardy has had the privilege to speak to thousands in such venues as the Michigan Theological Women’s Conference, South Carolina Women’s Conference and Evangelism workshops for The North American Mission board in Alpharetta, Ga.

In addition, she has 20 years of experience in women’s ministry. She has been an instructor at the Detroit Bible Institute, worked as a consultant for the LifeWay’s women division in Nashville, Tenn., and served on several boards in her community.

To continue to spread God’s message of hope, Kim has released her new book entitled, “Spiritually Sassy (Serious About Serving the Savior-Yes).” This book provides four secrets to living bold for Christ to women who are serious about serving the Savior.

Currently she works side by side with her husband Dexter as a missionary for the North American Mission Board. The couple resides in Ypsilanti, Mich., with two of their four children and Hardy’s mom, Gloria.

By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent

Gary Hollingsworth

Gary Hollingsworth is senior pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., where he has served since Nov. 2007.

Prior to that, he served as senior director of cultural evangelism at North American Mission Board. While there, he directed five teams: Apologetics and Interfaith Witness, Collegiate Evangelism, the International and Multi Ethnic team, the Evangelism Response Center and Christian Ministry to the United Nations in New York. In the months preceding Hollingworth’s call to Immanuel, God had been redirecting him back to the local church where his heart and passion is to serve as a pastor. As he likes to say, “Being a pastor is not what I do, it’s who I am.”

He had served for nearly 10 years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Trussville, a bedroom community to Birmingham. The church experienced great growth necessitating several building programs. The highlight was the completion of a 2,000-seat worship center and full remodeling of the former sanctuary as a student center, preschool area and administrative complex.

Hollingsworth also has served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Alabama State Board of Missions and was elected both President of the Pastor’s Conference and Vice President of the State Convention.

By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent

TOWSON, Md.— To be held Nov. 8-10 at the Sheraton Towson on 903 Dulaney Valley Road in Towson, Md., this year’s annual meeting will offer several opportunities designed to help messengers “Connect” with God, each other and the community.

“This year’s theme is embodied in one word—Connect,” explained David Lee, BCM/D executive director. “The Order of Business Committee felt that we needed to remind one another that we are ‘connected in Christ’ and must ‘connect’ with one another in order to accomplish the Great Commission.”

This year’s messengers will enjoy a variety of guest speakers, from author Kim Hardy to New Orleans pastor, Fred Luter, to Southwestern Seminary Professor Scott Preissler, among others. Some of the guest speakers will also be speaking at brunches and breakout sessions.

SPECIAL MUSIC AND WORSHIP
This year’s annual meeting will kick off with a multi-church mass Gospel choir, led by worship leader Dee Jones of Oak Grove Church.

Special musical guests, Keith and Kristyn Getty, will lead a workshop for worship leaders as well as several times of worship throughout the meeting. The Gettys have been at the forefront of the modern hymn movement over the past decade demonstrating the ability to successfully bridge the gap between the traditional and contemporary.

Keith and Kristyn Getty are currently living in the United States where they write have just finished their second album together “Awaken the Dawn,” a collection of hymns that takes you on a lyrical journey of grace and hope for all the nations. This follows their first collection of hymns, the successful 2006 release “In Christ Alone.”

CHANGES IN THE ANNUAL MEETING FORMAT

There are several changes in this year’s meeting:
•    The Annual Meeting will start on Sunday evening rather than Monday afternoon.
•    Monday morning will feature a series of “brunches” providing dialogue opportunities with key national leaders. There will be brunches for ministers, ministers’ wives and lay leaders.
•    In a series of equipping breakout opportunities, messengers can explore with national and local church and ministry leaders on the topics: helping hurting people, ministries that impact, building an evangelism strategy, discipling believers, impacting our changing culture, or they may take a firsthand missions tour of Baltimore.
•    There will also be a two-session workshop for worship leaders and a money management workshop.
•    The Monday evening session will be similar to past years except that messengers will hear both the President’s Address and a message from the Executive Director. Election of Officers will still be held on Monday evening.
•    Tuesday morning will be a business session with two keynote addresses, one from Southwestern Seminary’s Scott Preissler and another by Larry Steen, who serves as pastor of Westminster Church.
•    Convention reports will be primarily delivered via brief video presentations.

David Lee, BCM/D executive director, shared, “I sincerely believe that Maryland/Delaware Baptists will leave ‘Connect: A Conference Celebrating the Great Commission’ with a renewed spirit. I encourage each church to send their leaders this year to what I believe will be a fresh experience.”

By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent

Larry Steen

Larry Steen, pastor of the Westminster Church, where he has served since March 1983, will give this year’s annual meeting keynote address. Pastor Larry was a 1972 cum-laude graduate of Towson State College (now Towson University) and received his Master of Divinity degree at Southern Baptist TheologicalSeminary in Louisville, Kentucky in 1975.

He currently serves as the Treasurer of the Westminster Ministerium, and on the advisory board of Carroll County Marriage Resource Center. He and his wife, Dianne, have two adult sons, “Jes” and Kenn, both of whom are members at Westminster Baptist.

Charles Roesel

By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent

For 30 years, Charles Roesel served as pastor at First Baptist Church of Leesburg, Fla.; which is now considered the model for the nation in Ministry Evangelism. The church was in the top one percent of the nation in evangelism and mission giving.  In a town of 15,000 with over 90 churches, the church grew by transformation not transfer, baptizing over 7,000 people.

The church has over 70 separate ministries including a Men’s Rescue Mission, Women’s Care Center, Children’s Shelter, Benevolence Center, Furniture Barn, Food Pantry, Teen Shelter, Pregnancy Care Center, Medical Center, Counseling Center, First Academy (K-12th grade), School of Fine Arts, First Academy, Preschool, Rape Crisis Center, Aides Clinic, Mentoring Program, Children-at-Risk Program, Mentally Challenged, People Helpers (Counseling), Signing Ministry, a Home Ministry sharing with over 400 home-bound persons each week and more.

Recipient of the Southern Baptist Distinguished Service Ward for the Year 2000, Roesel served eight years on the Florida Baptist State Board of Missions; two years as the Chairman of Evangelism of Pasco Baptist Association; moderator of the Association; and one year on the Administrative Board.

Roesel had a television ministry potentially reaching over 4,000,000 homes each week and is co-author of the book, “Meeting Needs, Sharing Christ.” He currently leads the Charles L. Roesel Ministry Training Center, which is located on the FBC Leesburg campus.

By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent

Ron Sylvia

Ron Sylvia is the founding and lead pastor of Church at The Springs in Ocala, Fla., and the Director of NEXT Churches, an organization that provides coaching networks, conferences and resources to lead pastors nationwide.

The Springs started in an office building in 1994 with only 21 people and now averages 3,000 in weekly attendance. While leading a fast-growing church, Sylvia learned first-hand the value of mentoring and coaching. As a result, Ron started NEXT Churches, and he and the NEXT team have coached hundreds of church planters and pastors to start and lead healthy churches. Sylvia also leads the coaching networks as one of the few certified in the well-known Tom Paterson Strategic Planning Process, using the process to help pastors think and act strategically in the local church.

Sylvia is the author of “Launching a Purpose Driven Church” conference curriculum and recently authored his story and methods in the book, “Starting New Churches on Purpose.” More about Sylvia and NEXT Churches can be found at www.NextCoachingNetworks.com.