Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists (KNCSB)

Annual meeting crowd urged to embrace humility

A disaster-relief training session preceded the KNCSB annual meeting at LifeSpring Church in Bellevue, Neb. Here, Art Push leads the training on how to operate a disaster-relief shower unit and a laundry unit. Push is disaster-relief director for Eastern Nebraska Baptist Association. The association’s shower- and laundry units provided the opportunity for hands-on learning. (Photo by Eva Wilson)

Participants in the 62nd KNCSB annual meeting were challenged to imitate Jesus and “tie on the apron of humility.”

About 500 people gathered Oct. 15-16 at LifeSpring Church (formerly West Bellevue Church), in Bellevue, Neb., on the south edge of Omaha. Registered attendance included 334 messengers and 148 visitors.

Officers elected were:

• President: Steve Holdaway, pastor of the host church. He had previously served for two years as KNCSB vice president.


• Vice president: Ron Pracht, pastor of Olivet Baptist Church, Wichita, Kan.

The following officers were re-elected:

• Recording secretary: Bryan Jones, pastor of Tyler Road Baptist Church, Wichita, Kan.


• Assistant recording secretary: Gloria Garner, a member of First Baptist Church, Burlington, Kan.


• Historian: Tony Mattia, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, Wamego, Kan.

Messengers also:

• Approved the 2008 KNCSB budget of $5,468,358. This is a 1 percent increase from the 2007 budget. Cooperative Program receipts from Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptist churches are anticipated to total $3,195,000. Giving to the national Cooperative Program will remain at 32 percent.


• Adopted only one resolution; it expressed appreciation to the host church.


• Recognized three long-time KNCSB staff members. Brett Yohn and Bob Anderson have served as campus ministers for 35 years. Yohn leads Christian Challenge, the Southern Baptist ministry at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Anderson is head of Christian Challenge at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. Also recognized was Terry McIlvain, who has served as KNCSB director of youth ministries for 25 years.

Hance Dilbeck, the meeting’s Bible study leader, took an in-depth look at 1 Peter 5: 1-4. He is senior pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.

The passage is “Peter’s description of a local church minister,” Dilbeck said. “We shepherd the flock of God. That is such a beautiful, powerful biblical job description.”

Dilbeck challenged pastors to be humble as Jesus was when He washed the disciples’ feet in John 13.

In 1 Peter 5:5, “clothe yourself with humility” means to “tie on the apron of humility,” he said.

Dilbeck called humility the “fundamental Christian virtue.” It is “key to a right walk with God and with others.”

Pastors are “in the relationship business,” he continued. “Humility is the oil of the machinery of the church,” regardless of the worship format it uses.

The 2008 KNCSB annual meeting will be Oct. 13-14 at Westside Family Church, Lenexa, Kan.