The Western Baptist State Convention of California will hold its 134th Mid-Winter Board Meeting beginning Saturday, March 2, through Thursday, March 7, at Greater New Light Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1154 E. 92nd Street in Los Angeles.
The theme is “Being led by the Holy Spirit in Lawless Times” based on Matthew 10:16-20.
The Rev. Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick, WSBCC president, and the Rev. Dr. Patrick D. Ross, host pastor, invite the greater Los Angeles community to attend.
The conference highlights include programing for youth and young adults on Saturday, a concert featuring Pastor Calvin Rhone and the L.A. Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America and recording artist Bishop Norman Hutchins on Sunday, Mar. 3, a prayer and praise service on Monday, and auxiliary services for Ushers, Laymen and Women, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Featured speakers for the week include the Rev. Dr. Ivan Pitts, senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Santa Ana, and the Rev. W. Edwards Jenkins, pastor of Victory Baptist Church on Tuesday; the Rev. David McKinley, pastor of Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church in California City, the Rev. Dr. Manuel Scott, Jr., National Baptist Convention evangelist; and the Rev. L. Mack Mossett, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Santa Monica on Wednesday; and Dr. R. A. Williams, Jr., pastor of McCoy Memorial Baptist Church on Thursday.
Dr. Hardwick, pastor is Praises of Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, is now in his 38th year heading WBSCC, the oldest and largest statewide Black Baptist convention west of the Mississippi. Under his leadership, the organization recently secured a partnership with Karios University, which provides undergraduate and graduate level classes digitally, in several disciplines including leadership, marriage and family therapy, healthcare, early childhood development, licensed medical assistant, certified alcohol & drug counselor and others at an affordable cost.
Karios is a campus of American Evangelical University, a private, nonprofit Christian institution of higher learning dedicated to fulfilling the commission of Jesus Christ to spread the gospel among the nations. Kairos is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education and the Association of Theological Schools.
Western Baptist State Convention of California was originally incorporated in 1890 as the Western Baptist Association of California. In 1906, it was renamed to the WBSCC to foster the work of Christian Missions and Christian Education and to carry forward the program of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., through a statewide organization of churches.
