CELEBRATE GOD-LIVE OUT LOUD
May 4 and 5 were the dates of the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Baptist Churches of Vermont/New Hampshire. This year's theme was "Celebrate God...Live Out Loud". On Friday First Baptist was represented by eight enthusiastic 70+ year olds; Glen and Sue Bachelder, Graham Gordon, Irwin Jenkins, "Skip" and Barbara Pimentel, and Bobby and Lorna Willette. The weekend was jam-packed full of worship, singing, celebrations, special meetings for pastors, Baptist Men/Baptist Women, missions, camp updates, youth, Bible study, communion service, workshops and, of course, the very important annual business meeting. Offerings were received and were shared between three key elements of our regional ministry ~ Gove Hill & Sentinel Ministries, New Life 2010 Church Planting, and Church Leadership Development.

The special 'Bullard Task Force' hosted a listening event, "Bullard Forum," and addressed the "lop" seventeen most often mentioned affirmations from the focus groups and the thirty-one challenges the region faces. After the forum's presentation representatives were able to speak from the floor voicing additional affirmations, challenges, and suggestions regarding procedures to address the concerns brought forth. This forum was indeed an eye-opener. I know it would have been of interest to all here at FBC.

Friday evening's banquet was a delight...choices of prime rib, chicken Wellington or baked stuffed haddock...served hot, efficiently and with much eye appeal, and topped off with cheesecake on a dark chocolate candy crust, whipped cream and strawberries! All this was followed by our evening's entertainment; The choir of the Manchester French-Speaking Baptist Church, Teal Reynolds-soloist from the Portsmouth New Hope Baptist Church, "Godly Conversations with Rock Johnson" by Rev. Stephen Hammond, pastor of the Newport First Baptist Church, and Nashua New Fellowship Baptist Church Choir.

Convention workshops are always incredible. They are all time well spent with enthusiastic presentations by powerful speakers presenting challenges to all attending — this year was no exception. Workshops offered were; "Mission Church: Serving Out Loud", "Prayer: Heart Songs Out Loud", "Spiritual Gifts: Living Out Loud", "Convention Choir: Singing
Out Loud", "Preaching: Out Loud", "Slaying Legal in Church Life; Integrity Out Loud", "What Youth Want Out Loud!", and "Sensing Rebirth: Work and Wonder Out Loud". Your church representatives attended five of the eight offered workshops. They were most enriching.

We strongly urge youth and young families to attend next year's convention. The two-day experience is wonderful and the workshops are exciting. But...more importantly. the business meeting and awareness of how convention decisions affect the local churches is a responsibility we all should share.