Baptist Congress stops in Cincinnati
Week of spirituality offers education, fellowship
The 92nd annual Baptist Training Union Congress arrives in Cincinnati today, bringing with it an estimated 22,500 people from all over the country and at least $3.2 million in business for the city.
It is the largest convention scheduled for the Albert B. Sabin Convention Center this year.
The congress, a mobile one-week school of Christian education, offers classes to pastors, lay leaders and youth in a different American city every June. In between more than 100 classes, attendees -- including Baptists and other denominations -- will spend much of the week in worship and fellowship.
"It's really a community, spiritual, social event that we hope will involve not only Baptists but people of faith throughout the area," said the Rev. Terriel R. Byrd of Inspirational Baptist Church in Avondale, who as host has spent the past year organizing the event. The Rev. K.Z. Smith of Corinthian Baptist Church in Avondale is co-host.
The week kicks off this morningwith Sunday school and a worship service at Inspirational Baptist. Highlights later in the week include a performance by Dr. Charles Fold and the Charles Fold Singers Tuesday evening, and a March for Jesus Parade downtown Wednesday morning, which features youth drill teams and liturgical dancers. "The congress is something churchgoers look forward to each year," Pastor Smith said. "It's just a great week."
Kweisi Mfume, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, will address the congress Friday morning. The theme for the congress is "The Family: A Divine Structure for Man's Destiny," and speakers will address such topics as education, youth crime and racism.
The National Baptist Publishing Board, sponsor of the congress, is the oldest and largest African-American religious publisher in the country. The Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the congress will bring $3.2 million to Cincinnati, while the publishing board puts the figure at $6 million to $10 million.
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