Pursuing Presence: SBTC Annual Meeting Highlights 2022

By Texan Staff
October 4, 2022

Prayer Meeting among the highlights
at this year’s annual meeting

The Monday evening session of this year’s annual meeting will feature a prayer gathering that leaders are saying will be a powerful opportunity for the churches
of the SBTC to spend time not only talking about this year’s theme, “Pursuing Presence,” but actually calling out to the Lord together.

The corporate prayer meeting will begin at
7:55 p.m. Monday, capping the day’s activities.
The meeting will include prayer, encouragement,
and a challenge for the churches of the SBTC to
begin a corporate prayer initiative in their local
contexts, SBTC Executive Director Nathan Lorick said.

“It’s going to be an incredible gathering where churches from all across Texas come together to celebrate all that God is doing and to look together
in anticipation of what God wants to do,” Lorick said.

Kaunitz to be nominated for second term as SBTC president

Caleb Turner, co-pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church, has announced his intention to nominate Todd Kaunitz to serve a second term as president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention at this year’s annual meeting in Corpus Christi.

Kaunitz is lead pastor of New Beginnings Baptist Church in Longview. He was first elected to serve as SBTC president on November 9, 2021, at the convention’s annual meeting in Flint. He and his wife, Adrian, have three children.

“I have had the privilege of serving alongside Todd for a number of years and have personally seen how God has worked in and through him in a number of ways,” said Turner, who serves as vice chairman of the SBTC Executive Board. “Our great convention is truly blessed to have faithful and capable leaders like him.”

New Beginnings contributed $103,217 through the Cooperative Program in 2020. The church’s CP giving in 2021 was $112,500.

The partnership, SBTC Executive Director Nathan Lorick said, will provide financial support and various resources to help Southern Baptists in Nevada strengthen existing churches, plant new churches, reach the lost, and develop leaders.

In July, the SBTC Executive Committee approved funding of up to $150,000 to be disbursed to the Nevada Baptist Convention in three annual installments of up to $50,000 each beginning this year. A fourth installment may also be given with Executive Committee approval.

Meals & Events

American Bank Center, Corpus Christi
Meal registration is required at sbtexas.com/am22.

Sunday

Spanish Session & Reception
6:00-9:30 p.m.

Monday

Interim Pastor Equipping
9:00-3:00 p.m.

En Español Lunch Panel
12:00-2:00 p.m.

Missional Ministries Dinner
4:45-6:00 p.m.
Come meet your Missional Ministries team and
hear about the gospel work being done in Texas and beyond. Special guest speaker is Bryant Wright, president of SEND Relief for the North American
Mission Board.

Regenesis Dinner/Church Revitalization
4:45-6:00 p.m.
Each church can benefit from a time of spiritual renewal and rebirth. The SBTC has launched a new strategy with the exclusive goal to help jumpstart this Regenesis process in your church. Join the Church Health & Leadership team for a time of encouragement, good food, and to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Young Pastors Network Late Night
9:00-10:30 p.m.
Dessert reception and conversation with SBC President Bart Barber.

Tuesday

SBTC Disaster Relief Taco Truck
7:30-8:45 a.m.

Alumni & Friends Seminary Breakfasts
7:30-8:45 a.m.

President’s Lunch
12:00-1:30 p.m.
Guest speaker Bill Elliff is a frequent conference speaker, writer, and consultant to churches drawing from his 50+ years of pastoring and revival ministry. This will be very special time as Bill speaks to the churches of the SBTC on the history of revival and spiritual awakenings, continuing our theme of Pursuing Presence. Attendees will also have an opportunity for Q&A. Complimentary box lunch provided to all attendees.

Resolutions

Resolutions give convention messengers an opportunity to discuss, refine, and express a consensus voice on a current issue. While resolutions are non-binding on convention churches, they do add substance to current conversations in Baptist life and the culture at large. Any member of an SBTC church may submit a resolution to the resolutions committee for consideration. The committee considers these suggestions and prepares a slate of resolutions for messengers to consider at the annual meeting.

Submitters are encouraged to view previous SBTC resolutions for style and recent content at sbtexas.com/resolutions. The 2022 resolutions committee will receive resolutions for consideration from Wednesday September 21, to Wednesday, October 19. All submissions must include the name, church membership, phone number, and email address of the submitter. Email proposed resolutions to Jenna Griffis at jgriffis@sbtexas.com.

Lopez featured at AM22 Spanish Session

Join other Spanish-speaking congregations on Sunday evening, Nov. 13, at the American Bank Center for a time of worship and fellowship starting at 6:00 p.m. The session will feature guest speaker Luis Lopez. Luis leads the Hispanic relations and mobilization initiative for the Southern Baptist Convention. He has a long history of multiplying and engaging Hispanic congregations among Southern Baptists to reach the lost and advance the kingdom. Special musical guest is Los Hermanos Gonzalez. Refreshments will be served after the session, starting around 8:30 p.m.

The following day a Hispanic leaders luncheon will explore the benefits of living daily in integrity in our personal, family, church and professional lives. The lunch panelists are Luis Lopez; Camilo Del Valle, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Getsemani in McAllen; Dr. Bruno Molina, SBTC associate in interfaith evangelism and apologetics; and Chuy Avila, lead associate for SBTC Español. The luncheon is 12:00-2:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, and registration is required. Visit sbtexas.com/am22.

Hotels

Omni Corpus Christi
Room Rate: $111
900 North Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
361-887-1600
King or Double (limited availability)
Cut-off: October 24

Holiday Inn Corpus
Downtown Marina
Room Rate: $115
707 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
361-882-1700
King or Double
Cut-off: October 16

Residence Inn by Marriott
Room Rate: $169-$189
309 S. Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
361-904-0090
$169 Studio King
$189 Studio Queen
Cut-off: October 13

Group Rates
Specify SBTC for group rates
when making any hotel reservations.

Room block rates are only guaranteed until
the cut-off date listed. Please contact the

hotels directly for availability and pricing.