In mid-September Olive is hosting the James Messer Evangelism/Bible Conference, a four day-event featuring well-known speakers, authors, and gifted teachers from the Southern Baptist Convention. Each of these men will bring a challenging message aimed at deepening your relationship with Jesus Christ. We will have three guest speakers on Sunday alone. Monday through Wednesday will feature noon luncheons and evening services, both of which will included messages and special music. These evening services will feature pre-service music at 6:00pm. Invite your neighbors and friends to hear the Gospel!

There will be no Wednesday supper on September 16 due to the conference.

Sunday's Guest Speakers

Dr. Emir Caner

President
Truett McConnell College
9:30am Worship
6:00pm Worship

Raised as the son of a Muslim leader in Turkey, Caner became a Christian shortly before entering college. A public speaker and apologist, Caner has debated Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and other religious leaders in thirteen countries and thirty-five states. Caner is the author of seventeen books.

Dr. Ergun Caner

President
Liberty Theological Seminary
11:00am Worship
5:00pm Youth/Young Adults (gather in Passmore Hall)

Caner grew up in a Sunni Muslim family, the son of an Islamic leader. As a young teenager, he came to faith in Jesus Christ. Dr. Caner has served as a lecturer and seminar leader in numerous colleges and institutes, as well as in pastor and staff positions in churches in Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia and Texas. A prolific writer, Dr. Caner has written or contributed to 16 books. He is co-author of the book, Unveiling Islam, which received the Gold Medallion Book of the Year award and has sold nearly 200,000 copies.

Dr. Paige Patterson

President
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
8:00am Senior Adult Rally (all Senior Adults gather in the Worship Center)
6:00pm Worship

After 17 years as president of The Criswell College in Dallas, he served for 11 years as president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. The focus of Dr. Patterson’s leadership is an intense commitment to evangelism and the task of global missions. He has led church planting movements in New Hampshire and other states in America and served as pastor of churches in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.

Monday

Dr. Tommy Green

Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church, Brandon, FL
6:30pm

First Baptist Brandon has grown from 2,700 to over 5,500 members since 1996 under the leadership of Dr. Tommy Green, who has served as a pastor or youth pastor in various churches since 1979. Green received his Doctor of Theology degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Tuesday

Dr. John Sullivan

Executive Director-Treasurer
Florida Baptist Convention
6:30pm

John Sullivan is Executive Director-Treasurer for the State Board of Missions for the Florida Baptist Convention. Since arriving in Florida, Sullivan has led the convention to establish three priorities to which all activities are directed: evangelism, starting new churches and developing existing churches. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Wednesday

Dr. Phil Hoskins

Senior Pastor
Higher Ground Baptist, Kingsport, TN
6:30pm

For twelve years, Pastor Hoskins served as a full-time Southern Baptist evangelist, having conducted over four hundred revivals and crusades in twenty-eight states and Canada. In January 1991, Phil accepted the pastorate of Higher Ground Baptist Church in Kingsport. Under his leadership, the church has grown from 200 members to 3,500, with over 2,800 additions by baptism.

Monday - Wednesday

Noon Luncheons

We will begin serving lunch at 11:45am in the ROC. Enjoy a meal, a message from James Messer (biography is below), and special music.

Evening Services

Pre-service will music will begin each evening at 6:00pm, featuring Phil Willis and Sons of the Father. The services will begin at 6:30pm.

Conference Team

James E. Messer

Staff Evangelist
Cypress Shores Baptist, Mobile, AL
Noon Luncheons (Mon.-Wed.)

James E. Messer pastored for twenty years and has been in evangelism for twenty-five years. From 1992 through 1999 Brother Messer was the Evangelist for Theodore First Baptist Evangelistic Assocation. He is currently serving as the Staff Evangelist at Cypress Shores Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama.

James E. Messer Mihistries, Inc. began on March 9, 1999 when Brother Messer saw the need to have his own ministry organization for evangelism. The mission of JEM Ministries is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. As an evangelist, his purpose is to share this good news in cooperation with local churches. His means is through preaching crusades, revivals, and harvest studies; teaching Bible studies and seminars; leading evangelistic Bible conferences, retreats, and camps; speaking at banquets, luncheons, businesses, etc.; and witnessing and ministering to individuals.

He and his wife, Toby, have three children and seven grandchildren.

Phil Willis

Music Evangelist
Baton Rouge, LA
Worship Leader/Special Music

Phil is an Evangelist from Baton Rouge, Lousiana, where he is a member of Parkview Baptist Church. He has been our Music Director since 1999. We are blessed to have him as our friend. Phil will be leading worship and providing special music throughout the conference.

Perry “Airhead” Robbins

The Balloon Man
Columbia, MS
Children’s Worship Each Night

Sharing the Gospel with an unusual twist is Perry Robbins’ specialty. Perry uses magic, balloons and other creative methods to tell both children and adults about Jesus. Perry will lead children’s worship during the conference.

Sons of the Father

Music Evangelists
West Frankfort, IL
Special Music

Traveling full-time since 1989, this father and his two sons have sung all across the United States. They have sung for the SBC Convention Pastors’ Conference, the National Campers on Mission, the National Lay Renewal Conference, and numerous state evangelism conferences. They have blessed our conferences since 2002.