(Please scroll down for Thursday evening's plenary session schedule) 

Thursday, January 31, 2008
9:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Presiding: Stephen Thurston
President, National Baptist Convention of America

Pre-Session Music (8:40 a.m..):  Justis Kao

Call to Worship

Congregational Singing

Welcome and Recognitions: Jimmy R. Allen, Program Chair, New Baptist Covenant 

Scripture Reading:  Hannah McMahan, Baptist Collegiate Fellowship, Wake Forest University Divinity School

Prayer: Neville Callam, General Secretary, Baptist World Alliance, Falls Church, VA

Special Music:  Melanie and Randall Burns

Sermon:  “The Bible Speaks about the Poor” Tony Campolo, Professor Emeritus, Eastern University, Founder of the Evangelical Association for Promotion of Education (EAPE)

Congregational Song of Response

Offering

Special Music: Krystaal

Testimony:  Naw Blooming Night Zan, Joint General Secretary, Karen Women’s Organization, Burma

Congregational Song of Response

Message: “What About the Children?” Marian Wright Edleman, Founder of Children’s Defense Fund

Song of Response: Kate Campbell

Benediction

Thursday, January 31, 2008
7:00 - 9:30 p.m.

Presiding: Daniel Vestal
Executive Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Pre-Session Music (6:35 p.m.):  Deborah Bailey and The First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir, Rome, GA, Keith A. Reaves, Director

Call to Worship

Congregational Singing

Welcome and Recognitions: Jimmy R. Allen, Program Chair, New Baptist Covenant

Scripture Reading:  Giosep Vo, Stephenson Seminary Scholar Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Prayer: George Tooze, Director of the Board of Managers, The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board

Special Music: The Combined Choirs of the Atlanta Baptist Association, Harding Epps, Director

Choirs: Fellowship Group Baptist Church,Peachtree Baptist Church, Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, Wheat Street Baptist Church, Wieuca Road Baptist Church

Sermon:  “The Bible Speaks about Respecting Diversity” Julie Pennington-Russell, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Decatur, GA

Meditation:  Yevgeniy Dovgalyuk, Violin

Offering

Special Music:  Kyle Matthews

A Presentation by The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board

Testimony:  Grant Teaff, Executive Director, American Football Coaches Association

Congregational Song of Response

Message:  “Respecting Diversity” John Grisham, Author

Congregational Song of Response

Benediction