The Tribune

NINETEEN churches will unite this weekend for the 73rd annual session of Bethel Baptist Association.

Every year, Baptist churches come together for a weekend of jointly planned activities. "God's Assignment for me in Christ" is the theme that will direct the activities.

Rev. Patricia Bethell said there are many highlight events for the jam-packed weekend, including a prayer breakfast on Sunday morning at 8am with guest speaker Xernona Clayton, founder, president and chief executive officer of the Trumpet Awards Foundation and creator and executive producer of the Foundation's Trumpet Awards.

Bahamian Rev. Timothy Stewart, moderator of the convocation is a former Trumpet Award recipient. He is also the second vice president of the influential Progressive National Baptist Convention.

The Trumpet Awards recognise the accomplishments of African Americans and those that support the African American community. Dr Clayton was the first African American to host her own television show in the south and was the highest ranking female corporate executive at Turner Broadcasting Network, the owners of CNN and TNT on cable.

Friday night of the convocation is dedicated to the youth, where 800 young people are expected to attend the Remnant Tabernacle in praise, worship and song. The 25-year old Dr Charles Goodman, pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia, is slated to speak. He is considered one of the top 20 speakers under the age of 40 in the United States.

Other activities include day and evening sessions on Friday at Bethel Baptist Church, a Sunday morning service at Bethel Baptist and a closing night event at Remnant Tabernacle.

Rev Dr James Perkins, pastor of Greater Christ Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan, and first vice president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, a US-based organisation with 2.5 million global members, will delivery the message on Sunday morning.

For more information, contact 3235000.