January 26, 2024
By Aaron Weaver
DECATUR, Ga. — Cooperative Baptist leaders gathered January 25-26 at the CBF Global offices in Decatur for the winter meetings of CBF governance bodies, including the Governing Board, Nominating Committee, Ministries Council, Missions Council and the CBF Foundation Board.
The two-day gathering began Thursday with a joint worship service led by CBF staff. Rev. Kasey Jones, CBF Associate Coordinator of Outreach and Growth, preached a sermon from Exodus 3 titled “Transformation: Trusting God to Stand in the Unknown.”
“I truly believe that the landscape that God has laid out for CBF is full of milk and honey,” Jones said. “Yet, we are still on our journey. We’ve had some successes, but we’re not there yet. We’ve had some Red Sea Experiences, but we are still here and God has seen fit to keep us moving forward.”
Jones stated that now, 30-plus years after its founding, the Fellowship is beginning to “taste and see what God has in store.”
“God has a plan and is delivering us to a new place,” she said. “So my prayer as staff, and my prayer for you all as leaders is that the spirit of Joshua and Caleb rise up in all of us—that we become those who help make it to the promised land, the place God is carving out in the landscape of Christianity for us to be the people that look like the people that came together at the birth of the Church.”
“I believe that God is calling us continuously out of what we used to be pre-1991 to where God wants us to be,” Jones continued. “So today, I encourage all of us to be transformed, and in doing so, to stand firm and have a long memory of what God has done and what God is to do, and be willing to share those testimonies….We can stand firm if we trust God.”
Celebrating Becky Hall
Over 100 Cooperative Baptists gathered Thursday evening for a special celebration of CBF’s longest tenured employee, Becky Buice Hall, who retired January 1 after more than 30 years of service to the Fellowship.
The night was filled with food, friendship and the sharing of stories from past colleagues Connie McNeill, Rob Nash, Clarissa Strickland and former CBF Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal, as well as friends and field personnel who sent video tributes and congratulations.
“I have learned so much from each of you, and I am so grateful for the times that we have had together,” said Hall, as she shared words of gratitude and reminiscence.
Join us in celebrating Becky Buice Hall for her years of service and blessings on her new adventures in retirement!
Governing Board
CBF Moderator David Hull convened the Governing Board during its two-day meeting, focusing its in-person time working and planning together as well as hearing reports from committees on advocacy, development and finance. Board committee chairs Charles Watson (advocacy), Debbie McDaniel (development) and Alan Redditt (finance) shared these updates.
The Governing Board will hold its next in-person meeting on June 18 prior to the 2024 CBF General Assembly, June 19-21 in Greensboro, N.C., at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons/Koury Convention Center.
Hull also recognized CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley on his 5th anniversary leading the Fellowship. Hull concluded the winter meeting thanking Governing Board members for their service and offering a benediction used throughout his ministry and written by his late father.
“Christ, go before you to prepare a way of service. Christ, go behind you to gather up all of your efforts for his glory. Christ, go beside you as leader and guide. Christ, go within you as comfort and stay. Christ, go beneath you to uphold with everlasting arms. Christ, go above you to reign as Lord supreme. Amen.”
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CBF is a Christian network that helps people put their faith to practice through ministry efforts, global missions and a broad community of support. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.