JOPLIN, Mo. — When the Ozark Christian College Preaching-Teaching Convention gets under way later this month, you can count on one thing: Bob Scott will be there.

Scott, a 1950 OCC graduate and the first OCC Alumni Association president, has attended all the conventions but three since the event began in 1946. And, yes, he plans to be at the latest one Feb. 27-29.

Although the conventions have been held on the OCC campus, 1111 N. Main St., since 1967, Scott, 84, remembers when they started at First Christian Church at Fourth and Pearl streets. After four years at First Christian, the event moved to Villa Heights Christian Church, Seventh and Ozark streets, from 1950-1952; the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Fifth and Byers streets, from 1953-1963; and Memorial Hall, Eighth and Joplin streets, from 1964-1966.

The names have also changed over the years. Before Preaching-Teaching Convention was decided on, the event went from Mid-West Christian Convention, Mid-Winter Preaching Convention, Ozark Bible College Preaching Rally and OBC Preaching Convention.

“At first it was the preaching sessions, then later it was expanded to include sessions for youth and children,” said Scott, whose five sons also attended OCC. “It is still a great preaching convention and the skills of the preachers are the same today as when the convention started.”

Today, in addition to eight main preaching sessions, there are more than 50 workshops and seminars.

“All this has given huge growth to the nature of the convention,” Scott said. “The convention still brings in lots of area people and ministers to their needs. It is still a very inspiring event.”

One part of the convention that has remained consistently solid is the music.

“The music in the convention for all the years has been first class,” Scott said. “Sure, it has changed with the adding of drums, guitars, praise songs, etc. But the worship times have always been filled with great praise to the Lord.”

The alumni banquet, which was not added to the convention schedule until 1952, began on a small scale. However, with the increase of alumni, it has become one of the major highlights each year. This year the Seth Wilson Outstanding Alumni Awards portion of the event are expected to draw between 600 and 700 people during its 4 p.m. time slot on the final day.

The convention’s main preaching sessions this year will follow the theme “True Identity, a Study in Exodus, Remembering Who You Are.” Meredith Williams, OCC media and Preaching-Teaching Convention director, describes how the theme can reflect on our lives.

“Today, as was with the Israelite people of the Bible, we are tempted to let the surrounding culture define who we are rather than the relationship we have with the God who has freed us from slavery,” he said. “We need a return to the story of God to refresh us in what it means to be His people, the true identity our God gives us.” OCC President Matt Proctor offered additional insight.

“We need this reminder of who we are because in the tough times we have been through in our economy and with the Joplin tornado, remembering who we are can make all the difference,” he said. Williams said that in addition to the main preaching sessions, seminars, workshops and alumni banquet, there will also be a teen event, children’s sessions and four meal-time meetings.

“The convention has been a favorite among folks in the Four-State Area, with over 1,000 expected to be in attendance for the evening sessions,” he said. “For many who come, this is a time of learning and refreshing that they look forward to every year. It gives them a needed boost because it is a power-packed week of preaching and teaching. They unite with friends they have known over the years and it also gives them a real lift upward.”

The opening message Feb. 27 by Jeff Snell, OCC professor of New Testament and Preaching, sets the tone for the convention with the title “Liberating Leadership, How Exodus Shapes Our Understanding of God’s Work in and through Spiritual Leaders.”

All night sessions begin at 7 p.m. in the OCC multi-purpose building. Ken Idleman, former OCC president who is now senior pastor of Crossroads Christian Church in Newburgh, Ind., will speak at 1:30 p.m. the final day.

Corey Scott, OCC graduate and music minister at Northside Christian Church in Springfield, and his worship team will lead worship for all main sessions.

Such topics as leadership, prayer, evangelism, preaching, worship, family issues, dealing with teens, missions, social subjects, women’s and children’s ministries, and marriage will be featured in the seminars.

A nursery will be available during the main sessions, with activities for children in kindergarten through sixth grade scheduled each night.

Those attending nights only are asked to share in the offerings, while a registration fee will be charged for the entire convention. A complete schedule and registration forms are available on the OCC website: www.OCC.edu/pt.

More details may be obtained by calling Williams at 437-1428 or through email at mwilliams@OCC.edu.



Address correspondence to Rich Brown, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, MO 64802, or email richbrown@cableone.net.