There is an Annual Youth Seminar, the most recent of which

was held June 25-30 at Norfolk State University in the state of Virginia where approximately 400 youth between 14 and 20 years old attended. The organization inaugurated the Calling Congregations Project that helps churches “to notice, name, and nurture adolescents who may be open to ministry as vocation.” Lott Carey is the major funder of the Lott Carey Mission

School in Liberia in West Africa, and provides significant support to Rick’s Institute, also in Liberia. Lott Carey provides significant support in disaster relief in

North America and elsewhere. It helps churches extend Christian witness around the world,

providing prayer partnerships, technical and financial support, and works alongside partner nations on most continents. Partners from Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Liberia, Nigeria, and South Africa attended this year’s conference. The approximately 2,000 delegates attending the meetings

in Memphis in August were informed and inspired to invest in Christian mission. The work of the convention is to “extend the work of the church thereby allowing us to extend beyond the neighborhood of the church,” said Alyn E. Waller, senior pastor of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church and second vice president at Lott Carey, “By doing mission work we become better Christians,” he stated. The meetings began with a prayer breakfast hosted by the

Women’s Auxiliary, followed by “Memphis Mission Blitz” when hundreds of volunteers, young and old, branched out all across Memphis, conducting more than 1,000 hours of community service projects in support of those in need. Projects included administrative support to feeding the elderly to cleaning and beautifying the community. Each day began with sunrise prayer and praise. Delegates also

attended informative presentations from partner nations. Mission partners raised awareness and garnered support for educational programs and disaster relief, and discussed difficult challenges in the fight to combat HIV/AIDS, gang violence, and human trafficking. Mission education classes trained delegates on the roles and functions of mission, and equipped them to train others. As the adults attended seminars and presentations, the youth

were provided a unique opportunity to serve. Hope Missionaries (ages 5-12) and Youth Missionaries (ages 13-18) were immersed in the missionary experience. Trevor Beauford of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and Team Leader for International Youth Development said the goal was to nurture the next generation of missionary leaders. Youth were provided hands on opportunities to do mission work, and opportunities to fellowship and connect with other young missioners. The youth conducted community service projects each day, led a worship service, and assembled a dynamic choir. Another highlight of the convention was the Community Feast.

It provided an opportunity for local guests to dine and fellowship with delegates. The honored guests for the event were from the Friends for Life Corporation, which cares for those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. “I have never experienced anything like this before in my life,” one guest stated. The feast was followed by a musical concert. At the conclusion of the 114th

Session of Lott Carey, Robert Murray, president of the convention, offered reflections. Located 26 BAPTIST WORLD MAGAZINE

Drawing of Lott Carey, one of the first American and Baptist missionaries to West Africa

in a historic city, the convention site overlooked the bridge that connects Tennessee and Arkansas. The symbolism of the bridge was not lost on Murray. “This meeting, in this city, with this host has been a ‘bridge’ meeting,” he observed. This was the first meeting hosted by a female host pastor, the

first time the convention has been held so far west, and it had the largest number of adults in their 20s and 30s. The session exposed the togetherness that a bridge brings. “We have come so far and have a long way to go with empowering people and global partners. This is a global community and we are venturing into innovative options and opportunities that will provide other means to fund mission work,” declared Murray. As Lott Carey crosses the bridge into new territory, the future

will bring new challenges and new opportunities to continue God’s work.

Donna Scott, a Lott Carey volunteer and member of Alfred

Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, contributed to this report

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Participants in the Lott Carey pastoral excellence program in Guyana, South America, in 2010

Photos courtesy of Lott Carey