RICHMOND — Connect:2008, the 185th annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, will be held in Roanoke Nov. 11-12 at the Roanoke Civic Center and the Hotel Roanoke & Convention Center.
The theme for Connect:2008 is “Who's My Neighbor?” This annual gathering of Virginia Baptists will explore ways of reaching beyond the church doors to minister to all types of people in one's community, across the Commonwealth and around the world.
The featured speakers for Connect:2008 will be Tony Campolo, a well known speaker, author and professor; J. Larry Holland, senior pastor of Franklin Heights Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, Va.; and David Coffey of Great Britain, president of the Baptist World Alliance. The worship leader will be singer, songwriter and storyteller Kate Campbell.
The breakout sessions will offer practical assistance on topics such as stewardship, pastoral transition, predatory lending, welcoming strangers into your home or church, opportunities for involvement in missions with Virginia Baptists' international partners and many more. There will also be hands-on ministry opportunities at the Baptist Community Center and a truck stop ministry.
For the first time, this year the ministry fair will be open from 2-9 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10. Located in the Exhibit Hall at the Civic Center, the ministry fair highlights exhibitors who provide resources and services for congregational ministries, including Virginia Baptist ministry partners, book and music publishers, seminary and university groups, church suppliers and more. There will be no ministry fair on Wednesday.
The general sessions and the evening worship service will be held in the Performing Arts Theater at the Roanoke Civic Center. Registration will be located in the theater lobby. Breakout sessions will meet at the Hotel Roanoke & Convention Center.
The Hotel Roanoke is approximately a 10-15 minute walk from the Civic Center. On Tuesday, shuttle service between the two venues will be provided on classic buses from the Commonwealth Coach and Trolley Museum, Inc. Tentative plans are for the shuttles to run from 12-2 p.m. and 4:15-7 p.m.
There is no charge for parking at the Roanoke Civic Center. Parking at the Hotel Roanoke & Convention Center, however, costs $7. Limited free street parking is also available near the Hotel Roanoke until 4 p.m. only.
Registration materials were mailed to the attention of the church clerk of all eligible BGAV churches in early September. Any church that is eligible for messengers and has not received a registration packet should contact the Virginia Baptist Mission Board at 800.ALL.BGAV to request a replacement packet.
Churches are encouraged to pre-register for Connect:2008 online at www.bgavconnect.net. Online pre-registration will close at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 19. Pre-registration forms may also be submitted by mail and must be postmarked no later than Oct. 15. Onsite registration will be available, but is discouraged for all but last-minute attendees.
Again this year, special incentives will be offered for online pre-registration. Everyone who pre-registers online will be entered into drawings for five prizes: two $50 gift certificates from Smyth & Helwys, two $50 gift certificates from LifeWay, and a year's free entry to VBMB events and conferences (registration/program fees only; lodging and meals not included).