WEST DES MOINES, Iowa ?“Kingdom Growth Now" along with “Empowering Kingdom Growth?has been adopted as the strategic emphasis in the Baptists?evangelist plan. 60 messengers from 32 churches, along with 51 visitors attended the seventh annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of Iowa from November 1 to November 2 at Grace West Church in West Des Moines.

This convention settled several issues, including the nomination of the Southern Baptist officers.

Nominees for these seats were unopposed and were therefore elected unanimously: president, David Miller, pastor of Northbrook Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids; first vice president, Bob Ray, pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Shenendoah; and second vice president, Dan Doolin, pastor of Solid Rock Baptist Church in Wapello. Terry Wilkinson, co-pastor of Cross Pointe Church in West Des Moines, was re-elected recording secretary.

Messengers approved a 2003 budget calling for a 2 percent increase in income and church expenditure of over the current year. In Cooperative Program giving from the 95 churches in the convention, an anticipated $454,770 will continue in an 80-20 percent allocation between Iowa missions and ministries and Southern Baptist Convention national and international causes.

The convention also approved a set of re-stated articles of incorporation to be filed with the secretary of state to bring the convention's charter into compliance with current laws for nonprofit corporations.

4 churches, the Cross Pointe, Grace West, Crest Baptist Church, and Grand Avenue Baptist Church, provided the music for this Southern Baptist convention. Four other churches offered the highlight of the convention: the faith planter testimonies.

Dan Doolin preached the annual sermon at the conclusion of the two-day convention.

Pre-convention meetings included the pastor's conference and the minister's wives luncheon.

Other convention-related activities were the annual golf tournament the day prior to the convention and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary luncheon featuring David Penley, a theology professor at the Fort Worth, Texas seminary.

The next Baptist Convention of Iowa is scheduled to be held at the University Baptist Church next year from October 31 to November 1.

By J.E.Chang