Armed with Bibles and cash, thousands of Baptists hit Baltimore City on Monday as they registered for the 101st meeting of The National Baptist Congress of Christian Education.
Organizers estimated more than 50,000 people will attend the weeklong event and could drop more than $40 million into the local economy.
The Baltimore Convention Center is hosting the meeting in which more than 400 courses in 18 divisions of Christian education will be conducted through Friday to emphasize the mission of Baptist churches and the efforts of individual delegates.
“In order to do things at a local level, you have to be certified at a national level, and that?s why people are here,” said Rev. Walter Lee Johnson Jr. of Canton, Miss.
The Congress is an entity of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc., the largest black religious organization in the nation with 7.5 million members worldwide.
Attendees travel from across the country for courses taught by educators, pastors and missionaries to earn credits toward certification in one division.
Ronnie Burt, interim president and CEO of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, said, “this is a great opportunity for the city and an economic reward.”
Burt said BACVA proposed Baltimore in 2002 and sold the city with attributes like hotels near the Convention Center, accessibility from BWI airport, convenience of Amtrak trains and proximity to Washington, D.C., and New York.
The courses will begin today with a curriculum compiled by Dr. George W. Waddles Sr., the Dean of the Congress who will address attendees at the 1st Mariner Arena tomorrow evening.
Luxury buses lined up outside the Convention Center Monday to unload thousands of attendees excited to further their education.
thousands of attendees excited to further their education. The crowds stood in lines at booths organized by state due to the sheer volume of people registering.
Magdalene Rorie traveled from Wingate, N.C.. with a group of 11 from the Piney Grove East Missionary Baptist Church who are taking classes for a group fee of $600.
Rorie has already completed most of her credits and will be certified in Christian education after she completes a daily three-hour course this week.
“I?m here to enhance the congregation by being more knowledgeable and for personal fulfillment” Rorie said.
Kenethia Jackson, 26, from Indianapolis, Ind., registered for her first class and wasn?t looking for certification. As the director of the drama program at Rock of Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Jackson?s church paid for her to take a course called “dramatics in Christian education.”
She hopes the course will help her “improve the program with focus on worship and praise.”
This evening, a choir composed from several Baltimore Baptist churches will perform the Congress Musical at the 1st Mariner Arena followed by the Official Welcome from Dr. William J. Shaw, the president of the Convention, and Dr. R.B. Holmes, president of the Congress.
In a written statement, Dr. Holmes said, “We are excited to hold the 101st Congress of Christian Education in Baltimore. The inviting array of hotels, restaurants, and attractions located in the Inner Harbor and downtown vicinities along with convenient transportation will enhance the experience for our delegates.”
National Baptist Convention Congress Musical and Official Welcome Program
» Where: 1st Mariner Arena
» When: 7 p.m. today
» Tickets: $10
» Info: www.nationalbaptist.com
