Free Will Baptist National Convention | Charlotte, NC | July 17-20, 2011

Important Convention Update: The readers of ONE Magazine usually find the convention Pre-registration Form and the Housing Information Form in the February-March issue of the magazine. This year, however, there has been a change in the process.

Housing and pre-registration for the 2011 convention will open Monday, May 9, 2011, 9:00 a.m. CST (10:00 a.m. EST). Forms will be available in the April-May issue of ONE Magazine and online at www.nafwb.org. Hotel reservations and pre-registration will close June 17, 2011.

Charlotte: City Fit for a Queen

by Mary Kathryn Driggers, 2010 convention press intern

After traveling to Oklahoma City, Cincinnati, and Little Rock, the next national meeting will take place in the city fit for a queen…and several thousand Free Will Baptists.

In July 2011, Free Will Baptists will convene for the 75th annual convention in the southern metropolis of Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte received the nickname “Queen City” in honor of the wife of King George III. Resting along the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Charlotte is located 15 minutes from the South Carolina border in the south central part of the state. It is the 18th largest city in the United States with a population of more than 750,000. The city hosts more than 700 places of worship, prompting another nickname: “City of Churches.” Charlotte is also home to the Carolina Panthers professional football team.

Between the hustle and bustle of competition events, seminars, and meetings, Charlotte offers many opportunities for visiting Free Will Baptists. The Billy Graham Library gives visitors a glimpse into the life of the well-known American evangelist, and admission is free. For racing fans, the newly opened NASCAR Hall of Fame honors the history and heritage of NASCAR. Carowinds, an amusement park near Charlotte, thrills guests with rides, shows, and attractions the whole family can enjoy. Discovery Place, a science museum and IMAX Dome theater, will amaze visitors with larger-than-life displays.

To see all Charlotte has to offer, various forms of public transit are available including the CATS Bus Service. From the Charlotte Trolley, an educational tour, and the free Gold Rush historic trolley to the LYNX Light Rail system, there are many opportunities see the city. Many fast-food restaurants are scattered across downtown Charlotte, making meals convenient for church groups on the go.

Some will travel to Charlotte for the competitive activities or worship services; others for meetings, convention business, and seminars; and more just to experience a national convention of Free Will Baptists. However, all will enjoy the opportunity to explore a city filled with history, entertainment, and excitement.

Next summer’s conventioneers will leave Charlotte with the feeling they have visited a city fit for a queen.