Exhibit hall engages annual meeting participants

Nov 26, 2008
MARGARET DEMPSEY
Florida Baptist Convention

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief workers show how fast they can feed a crowd during the State Convention annual meeting in Lakeland Nov. 11. FBC photo by Ken Touchton

Snow cones were popular at the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes exhibit. FBC photo by Ken Touchton

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LAKELAND—Close to 60 exhibitors at Florida Baptists’ 147th annual meeting provided information and inspiration for approximately 1,600 people strolling through the halls of First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland.

Exhibitors ranged from state convention ministries to the International and North American Mission Boards, from Baptist colleges to seminaries, from a disaster relief

The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes celebrates with a circus tent, complete with popcorn, snow cones and balloons. FBC photo by Ken Touchton

trailer to a mobile dental unit, from a motorcycle ministry to partnership missions. For information on church construction or church signs or church directories, the annual meeting exhibit hall was the place to be.

One colorful exhibit this year was Florida Baptist Children’s Homes (FBCH), which used a circus theme, complete with a red-and-white big top tent, balloons, popcorn and snow cones, to share its mission with annual meeting attendees. A children’s choir from FBCH provided special music during Tuesday morning’s worship service, adding youthful exuberance to the occasion.

While most exhibitors had participated in state conventions in years past, a few were new to the annual meeting. One new exhibitor this year was Defender Ministries, which was formed in 2005 in an effort to help families, churches, schools, college ministries, and students fight against the increasingly destructive power of Internet pornography.

Another new exhibitor was Keith David Building Solutions, a company that specializes in permanent and temporary buildings for congregations. Owner David is a member of Hibernia Baptist Church in Fleming Island, where he first got his start in providing building options for churches. Representatives

Jim Tatum (left) is founder of a ministry which provides suits for those in ministry. FBC photo by Ken Touchton

from these two first-time exhibitors agreed that their participation provided an opportunity for them to meet face-to-face with pastors and other church leaders.

Some of the more popular exhibitors have participated for years, such as Faith Riders, a motorcycle ministry which got its start at this year’s host church in 2002.

Annual meeting participants also had opportunity to stroll through Florida Baptists’ mobile dental unit, operating in the state since 1977. Also, many participants enjoyed a Tuesday lunch sponsored by Florida Baptists’ disaster relief unit. LifeWay Bookstore transformed a room at the church into a temporary bookstore and enjoyed brisk business.

Representatives of the Partnership Missions Department of the convention mingle in the exhibit area. FBC photo by Ken Touchton