Oklahoma Baptists came to Oklahoma City, Quail Springs to attend the 2023 Advance Conference, April 3-4. The conference, previously known as the State Evangelism Conference, was rescheduled from January to this week because an ice storm prevented the Advance Conference from occurring on the original dates.
Thankfully, many faithful Oklahoma Baptists were in attendance this week, and most of the speakers originally scheduled for the Advance Conference were able to keep their commitments to speak this year.
Many Oklahoma pastors and leaders made up the list of Advance Conference speakers, as well as a pastor from Georgia. They include Mike Murray, pastor of Tahlequah, First; Vern Charette, pastor of Coweta, First; Emmitt McKenzie, an Oklahoma vocational evangelist; Andy Taylor, Oklahoma Baptists regional ministry partner; Robert Haskins, longtime Oklahoma Baptist leader; Danny Gandara, pastor of Del City, Sunnyside; Stephen Rummage, pastor of Oklahoma City, Quail Springs; Kevin Williams, pastor of Villa Rica, Ga., First; Mark Custalow, pastor of Oklahoma City, Glorieta; Robert Kellogg, CEO of WatersEdge Financial Services; and Todd Fisher, executive director-treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists.
Times of worship through music were led by Geron Davis and Kindred Souls with a special appearance Monday evening by the Advance Student Worship Choir.
The Advance Conference also featured time for different ministry focus groups to meet. On Tuesday morning, April 4, sessions were offered for topics such as Sending Church Training, led by Rusty Gunn; Scripture Guided Worship, led by Joe Crider; Reaching and Discipling Women, led by Marilyn Fine; Starting From Scratch: Building a Discipleship Ministry, led by Doug Matlock and Prophet Bailey; Student Ministry: Evangelistic Teaching/Preaching with Effective Invitations, led by Todd Sanders; Children’s Ministry, led by Sarah Hagar; Going Global with Your Church, led by Mike Wall; Great Commission Vision for the Multi-vocational Pastor, led by Philip Jones; Evangelism Tools for Every Occasion, led by Alan Quigley; and Great Commission Strategies for the Hispanic Church, led by Alfaro Orozco.
An exhibit hall provided opportunities to connect with Southern Baptist seminaries and ministries affiliated with Oklahoma Baptists.
Featured above are scenes from the Advance Conference. An additional story on the Advance Conference will appear in an upcoming digital edition of the Baptist Messenger.
