SBC President Luter among speakers at 2013 Evangelism Conference

IRVING—The 2013 Empower Evangelism Conference, March 4-6 in Irving, will feature a lineup of speakers that ranges from well-known denominational leaders such as Fred Luter to notable names such as Pam Tebow to Texas church planters such as Shane Pruitt.

“Do The Work of an Evangelist,” based on 2 Timothy 4:5, is the theme for the meeting at the new Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

“The 2013 Empower Evangelism Conference is going to be a great time of fellowship, challenge and equipping,” said Nathan Lorick, SBTC director of evangelism. “We have an awesome lineup of speakers and worship leaders. I am really excited about our live, on-stage dialogue about evangelism that will take place on Tuesday afternoon. I know you will be encouraged, inspired, and challenged to help impact Texas with the gospel.”

Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, was elected Southern Baptist Convention president last June as SBC messengers gathered in his home city. Luter led Franklin Avenue from about 65 people when he arrived in 1986 to around 8,000 strong by the time Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. The church was scattered and the campus was 13 feet under water, but a re-gathered congregation rebuilt and now is running around 5,000 people each Sunday.

At his election last summer, Luter became the first African American to be SBC president. Luter helped write the 1995 SBC resolution that sought reconciliation for the convention’s pro-slavery roots and served on the committee that proposed a revision of the Baptist Faith and Message in 2000. He served as SBC first vice president in 2011. Luter will also be the featured speaker at the Cooperative Program Luncheon on Tuesday, March 5, during the conference.

Among the other conference speakers will be Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Danny Akin, First Baptist Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress, Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research, Mobberly Baptist Church of Longview Pastor Glynn Stone. Pam Tebow, mother of New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow, and retired Houston judge Paul Pressler, will also address the conference.

The event will also include a women’s session and a Spanish-language session.

Musicians will include recording artists Josh Wilson on Monday and Tuesday, and former Gaither Vocal Band member Mark Lowry on Wednesday morning and during the Wednesday afternoon Senior Adult Luncheon. Also, the choirs and orchestras from First Baptist Dallas and Mobberly Baptist will perform Monday and Tuesday nights, respectively.

For more information on the Empower Evangelism Conference, and for ticket information on the Senior Adult and Cooperative Program luncheons when it becomes available, visit sbtexas.com/evangelism.

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