Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 Annual Messenger Assembly of the American Baptist Association was cancelled for the first time since 1945.  The disappointment of not being able to meet for the 95th Annual Session has really been difficult for me, as I am sure it was for many more.  By the middle of March, everything was planned for a great meeting in Springfield.  The ABA block of 253 rooms at the University Plaza Hotel was sold out January 20. The ABA block of 81 rooms at the Q Hotel was sold out on February 20.  More than 80 rooms were booked at the Oasis Hotel.  I would like to offer a special thanks to all for reserving your rooms early.  At the end of April, I was informed by the General Manager of the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield, Missouri that it would not be possible to hold a meeting of our size due to city rules. The University Plaza Hotel applied a one-night deposit of $103.00 for each reserved room.  The deposit has been refunded to the credit card used to make the reservation.  If you have not received credit back to your credit card, please contact the University Plaza Hotel. There were no charges made by the Q Hotel or the Oasis Hotel. Please continue to send in your church letter and offering for Expense Fund to Bro. Roger Stewart, PO Box 1050, Texarkana, TX. 75504-1050. 

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     Now, we must pray and plan for the 96th Annual Messenger Assembly.  The dates are June 22-24, 2021 in downtown Charleston, West Virginia.  All officers, speakers, and committees will remain as elected for the 2020 meeting. Charleston’s theme is "It's Almost Heaven".  Information concerning the Charleston meeting will be on the ABA website - www.abaptist.org.  We have two hotels booked for our messengers and visitors.  The Marriott Town Center Hotel is across from the Charleston Civic Center and across the street from the large downtown mall.  The Holiday Inn Express is across from the Civic Center.  Please make your plans to make reservations at either of these hotels to help with the Civic Center rental.  Reservations will open for the ABA block of rooms in Charleston on Monday, January 11, 2021. All meetings, meal banquets, and exhibits will be in the Charleston Civic Center.  This is a beautiful center and has just been renovated.  Charleston is anxious and waiting to welcome the Messenger Assembly back to the beautiful city of Charleston, West Virginia.

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I pray we will all make plans to meet together in Charleston for the best meeting ever.

If I can assist you in any way, please contact me.

Dr. Edgar N. (Eddie) Sutton

DIRECTOR OF MEETING ARRANGEMENTS

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