Mound Bayou, MS — June 27, 2023 — Pastor Earl V. Hall, Sr., Moderator, announced today that the Bolivar County Baptist Association will hold its annual session of the Congress of Christian Education Christian Leadership School on July 9 – 11, at the First Baptist Church, Mound Bayou. According to Hall, the July 9 session will begin on Sunday at 3:00 p.m., with the dean’s annual address being given by DeVoyce C. Morris, Congress Dean and the opening message by Rev. Rudy Seals, pastor of Greater New Kingdom MB Church in Cleveland.
“On Monday, July 10, Rev. Clarence Tolbert will deliver the Bolivar County Baptist Association President’s annual address and on Tuesday, July 11, Pastor Hall will deliver the annual Moderator’s address,” stated Morris. “In addition to the annual addresses, the session will also include other messages from committee chairmen, inspirational singing, invitations to discipleship, youth participation and other leadership opportunities,” stated Tolbert. “The sessions on Monday and Tuesday will begin at 6:00 p.m.,” said Tolbert.
“Four classes will be offered this session,” stated Hall. “In order to teach, one has to be certified by the National Baptist Congress, Division of Christian Education Accreditation and Credentials of the Sunday School Publishing Board,” he further stated. “It is the responsibility of the Dean of Christian Education to ensure that each teacher is properly certified with up-to-date credentials and a subscriber to the Informer, the official publication,” stated Hall.
According to Morris, The Survey of John will be taught by Rev. Clarence Tolbert; Christian Stewardship by Rev. Willie Jackson; Introduction to Discipleship by Pastor Earl V. Hall, Developing Your Spiritual Gifts by DeVoyce C. Morris, and a Youth Leadership Class by Shelia Howard.
“The four courses taught by Tolbert, Jackson, Hall and Morris are in the four phases of the Certificate of Progress Program (COPP), which has been in effect since 1937,” stated Morris. “The COPP is designed to produce qualified church leaders; to increase the biblical knowledge of students; to create an understanding of the Baptist faith; to develop candidates qualified for teaching and leadership positions; to provide incentives for candidates to complete the COPP program and to produce trained church leaders,” said Morris.
For additional information on this event, the public is invited to contact Moderator Hall at 662-719-9186, President Tolbert at 662-545-7074 or Dean Morris at 662-719-0090.
DeVoyce C. Morris
Founder: Artistically yours, Art-cetera, Art-cetera Summer Arts Enrichment Program, St. Gabriel Mission School, Mound Bayou, Mississippi
