This year’s State Evangelism Conference will be held February 23-25 at Charleston Southern University.  This conference will be unlike others in that it will include a time for attendees to participate in outreach, ministry, and evangelism in the Greater Charleston area.  This special effort called “Lovin’ the Lowcountry” will take place on Tuesday afternoon following lunch.  

The conference will start Monday at 1:30 p.m. and conclude at 9:30 p.m., and continues Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Encouraging messages from gifted preachers and heart-stirring music are staples of the conference.

Under this year’s theme –“Reaching Emerging Generations”—attendees can choose to attend a special mini-conference Tuesday afternoon at 4:30.  Practical learning will also take place in a “classroom on the streets” from 1:15 through 4:30 as the conference participants engage in ministry and evangelism through the “Lovin’ the Lowcountry” effort. 

According to Tommy Ferrell, the Evangelism & Missions Director for the South Carolina Baptist Convention, “Our ‘Lovin’ the Lowcountry’ outreach will model getting outside the walls of the church, intentional evangelism coupled with ministry to human needs, and the courage to do things differently, all of which are indispensable to reaching emerging generations.”

This unique outreach will include food box distribution to select needy families, concerts in local public parks, and neighborhood spiritual interest surveys.  Association staff and pastors of the Charleston and Screven Baptist Associations are integrally involved in planning this exciting evangelistic outreach.  

Speakers at the conference include Jimmy Draper, Mike Hamlet, Richard Gaines, Thomas Hammond, Allen Jackson, Dan Kimball, Greg Surratt, Jay Strack, David Nasser, Paige Patterson and Dan Southerland.  This year's worship leaders are Dean & Gayna Forrest from Alabama.  Charles Billingsley will be in concert on Monday evening, and special musical guests include New Vision from Charleston Southern University and Radiance from Anderson College.

The conference is free; however, attendees must register at the door.  The first 500 to register will receive a free copy of The Emerging Church by Dan Kimball. 

Attendees must reserve a bag lunch for the “Lovin’ the Lowcountry” effort (cost $5.50) each and can register for the “Lovin the Lowcountry” dinner banquet on Tuesday evening (cost $10.00).  There will be an open microphone at the banquet so that attendees can share their experiences from participating in “Lovin’ the Lowcountry.”  The registration deadline for “Lovin’ the Lowcountry” is February 16.

For more information contact the Evangelism & Missions Team Office, SCBC, (803) 765-0030 extension 5000, or contact Fan Hopple at fanhopple@scbaptist.org.