by Terry Barone

CLOVIS - Messengers to the 2010 annual meeting of California Southern Baptist Convention will have the opportunity to experience international missions firsthand by attending a commissioning service for international missionaries Tuesday, Oct. 26.

The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention will commission as many as 20 missionaries during the evening CSBC session. The commissioning extravaganza will feature missionary testimonies, a mission sermon, a charge to the newly appointed missionaries and music by the California Baptist University choir and orchestra.

The IMB service highlights the annual meeting slated for Oct. 26-27 at Clovis Hills Community Church in Clovis, under the theme "Declare His Glory Among the Nations."

Jeff Coburn, pastor of Signal Heights Baptist Church in Sacramento and chairman of the committee on convention operations, said the theme was selected not only because of the IMB commissioning service, but because of the ministry done by California Baptists in reaching the world in California.

He noted this is not the first time an IMB commissioning has been held in California. In 1999, the IMB commissioned missionaries during the final session of the CSBC annual meeting in Sacramento.

"The IMB service gives a picture, a visual aid, of those folks who represent us around the world. We get to see who represents us through our gifts and offerings. I believe it will bring that mission focus into the everyday life of those attending," Coburn said.

Disaster Relief volunteers will cook a tri-tip dinner for messengers Tuesday evening. Mike McCullough, CSBC associate executive director and liaison with the planning committee, said the meal is planned so messengers can eat on campus and be at the venue for the IMB event.

Though Tuesday evening is devoted to the commissioning ceremony, Coburn said there will be enough time Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning for the Convention to conduct necessary business.
A new feature of the business will be hearing from CSBC, CBU and California Baptist Foundation as they present both visual and oral reports. Coburn said each of the entities will present an overview of its ministries via video on Tuesday afternoon followed by a video and oral report Wednesday morning.

The annual sermon will be delivered by Matthew Spradlin, pastor of Copper Springs Church in Clovis. Also addressing the convention will be Fermin A. Whittaker, CSBC executive director, and Walter Price, Convention president and pastor of Fellowship in the Pass Church in Beaumont.

Messengers also will elect a new president to succeed Price who will complete his second, one-year term, the maximum allowed by the CSBC constitution.

Preceding the annual meeting are the Fellowship of Church Musicians' Conference, Pastors' Conference, On Mission Celebration and California Women's Meeting. Additionally, several language groups are scheduled to meet.