Newly formed Baptist Convention to hold first conference in Albany

ALBANY — The Fellowship Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, a newly formed Baptist state convention, has announced it will hold its inaugural statewide gathering in Albany. The conference will meet Nov. 7-9 at Mount Zion Baptist Church, where the Rev. Daniel Simmons is pastor.

The inception date for the FMBCG was Feb. 7 of this year. The organization was officially launched two months later with an initial 20 charter members. The FMBCG is led by its president, I. Edwin Mack, pastor of Unionville Baptist Church in Macon, who will be among several speakers at the convention, which will be the third statewide Baptist convention in Georgia.

Mack said the 20 founding members are those that came together with the desire to start a new state convention. Since then, he noted in a telephone conversation Wednesday, the membership has grown to include 40 churches with a combined membership of about 3,000 people.

Mack said that the decision to hold the group’s first conference in Albany came through “divine inspiration.”

“God spoke to me and said we should have it in Albany,” he said. “Clearly there is a strong show of churches in Albany — predominantly black churches. And there have been many relations established there over many years. We have received a welcoming spirit in Albany.”

Asked about the convention choosing Albany for its first convention, Simmons responded, “Why not Albany?

“Albany is an ideal place to hold the convention and to represent the Southwest Georgia region. We have plenty to see and do here in Albany, and we are very active as far as churches go.”

Simmons said he expects about 400 people to attend the three-day event.

“One of the focuses will be how to expand our ministries through strategic partnerships, which will be mutually beneficial and will bring more services to local churches,” he said.

Some of the services Simmons mentioned included housing, medical care, after-school programs and rehab work on houses.

“We plan to do an analysis of local churches to help determine needs and opportunities,” he said. “We are also looking at ways churches, outreach ministries and nonprofit groups can pool resources.”

Mack said one of the highlights of the convention will be the music and welcome session on Nov. 7, when a pre-convention musical will feature national artist Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson and Bishop J.D. Means.

“It’s going to have a power-packed agenda and some great classes,” Mack said of the conference.

Simmons said the conference is not denomination-specific and all interested parties are encouraged to attend.

According to the FMBCG website, the organization has established a list of goals it hopes to accomplish, including: demonstrating accountability and transparency in all financial matters; attracting all generations to a 21st century convention; studying the feasibility of a statewide Credit Union for members; organizing an annual forum or conference with a focus on employment, home-ownership, health, wellness, and education; establishing a young ministers division (ages 40-under) to bridge the generation divide; using technology to deliver programs, events and statewide training; overseeing senior assisted-living facilities; creating ways to promote and provide voter education and participation, and serving as a voice that promotes social justice in the State of Georgia.

The FMBCG also plans to establish a deaconess ministry, disaster and rapid-response ministry, laymen’s ministry, moderator’s division, security and safety ministry, ushers’ ministry, women’s ministry, young ministers’ division and youth ministry.

Church registration for the conference is $100, which will allow each church to have up to 10 delegates, and personal registration is $35. For more information, visit the FMBCG website at www.fellowshipmbcg.org.