He believes the meeting will have a great impact on the city.
“This will be an important opportunity for Southern Baptists from all across the country to come here to learn how they can partner locally to help get people off the road to hell and get on the road to heaven,” McLaurin told Baptist Press.
Hunter believes the city is ready for that impact. “We believe having Southern Baptists among will be a great encouragement to us,” he said. “Both through the Crossover event and the Serve Tour, just having them here among us will be a great blessing.”
New Orleans area pastor Jay Adkins is leading the Local Encouragement Team, a team that helps recruit local volunteers and spread the word about the annual meeting’s arrival.
He says Southern Baptists serving the region after Katrina gave them an open door for Gospel conversations, and the city’s hosting the annual meeting could give them a second opportunity.
“My prayer is that we will have fertile soil from the work of the Serve Tour and Crossover,” Adkins said.
“My hope is that people (messengers) will see this community … as a unique place with a unique history that is a blessing to serve.”
The 2023 meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Charlotte, N.C., but the SBC EC voted to move the meeting to New Orleans due to the need for more convention space necessitated by increased attendance the past few years.
Those attending the kickoff also heard a preview of the 2023 SBC Pastors’ Conference from Daniel Dickard, this year’s conference president. He said his primary focus is to encourage pastors to continue in faithful ministry.
“Since its inception in 1935, it’s always existed for that purpose,” Dickard said of the annual gathering.
He believes pastors are in great need of encouragement and pointed to how pastors have been stretched thin by the coronavirus pandemic and the turbulent cultural climate.
“We’re going to emphasize nine pastors, many of whom have retired or are retiring, as they have been faithful through the years,” Dickard said. “We want to hear from them, ‘This is what kept me in the ministry during the tough times.’”
Dickard plans to begin announcing conference speakers and more details later this fall.
Of course, no visit to New Orleans is complete without enjoying culinary delights. The seminary has developed a guide for visitors helping them find a seafood, Cajun or French dish that will put a smile on their face.
Luter, a native New Orleanian, says he personally recommends messengers try chargrilled oysters while in the Big Easy.
The 2023 SBC Annual Meeting is set for June 13-14 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
This article originally appeared here.
 to prepare to welcome thousands of messengers to the 2023 annual meeting.){kind=link}