ORLANDO – A convention hall filled with thousands of Southern Baptists fell silent as the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard marched to the center of the stage to present the colors as messengers to the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting celebrated the liberties enjoyed in the United States.
Chaplains, led by retired Major General Douglas Carver, have led Southern Baptists in the solemn opening ceremony as they remember the sacrifices of those who went before to secure the freedoms Americans cherish.
“Before our forefathers stood to fight for independence, they knelt to pray before the King of kings,” said Carver, executive director of chaplaincy for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). “Before they announced their independence to the world, they declared their dependence on Almighty God.”
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, Carver asked Southern Baptists to remember this godly heritage upon which the nation was founded as well as the “brave souls” who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.
Members of the Armed Services daily put their lives in harm’s way to preserve America’s freedom. Carver also recognized first responders – police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and others – who also work to keep communities safe and strong.
Chaplains minister in each of these arenas, and dozens of chaplains stood behind Carver to represent the broad array of roles in which chaplains serve.
Major General Trent Davis, current Chief of Chaplains for the U.S. Air Force, then prayed.
“Every freedom we possess, every blessing we enjoy, for two and half centuries, have come directly from your gracious hand,” Davis prayed. As one of the opening prayers for the Annual Meeting, Davis also asked God to pour out his Spirit and strength on every church, pastor, the seminaries, and the mission boards of the convention.
“We earnestly pray for a great, spiritual awakening to sweep across our nation once again. Pour out your Spirit upon this convention,” Davis prayed. “Rekindle the call of every pastor, chaplain, missionary, and church planter to magnify you and multiply new and thriving churches around the globe.”
Chaplain fellowship provides reminder of how their work matters.
On Monday afternoon, June 8, Carver and the NAMB chaplaincy team hosted hundreds of chaplains for a reception that marks one of the many opportunities chaplains have throughout the year for networking and to hear directly from NAMB’s chaplaincy team.
Brent Bond, NAMB’s senior director of chaplaincy, welcomed the chaplains and prayed for them, their families and their ministries. Carver, then, thanked the chaplains for their ministries before providing updates as well as a charge rooted in Ephesians 6.
“Brothers and sisters in Christ, I beg you to continue to share the Good News of Jesus Christ,” Carver said. “There are too many people who do not know the Lord. We are seeing a rise in lostness in this increasingly God-denying, God-defying secular world.
“And you, as believers in Christ Jesus, you are light in the dark place. So, may God use you boldly to proclaim His truth.”
Carver shared that chaplains reported sharing the Gospel nearly 115,000 times and saw more than 19,300 reported professions in 2025.
As part of the gathering, Carver invited NAMB staff person, Heather Brooks, to share her testimony of how a chaplain impacted her life. As a young mom, she lost her four-month-old son.
After her son died, a chaplain entered the room as she held her deceased baby boy.
“Who would want walk into a room with a grieving mother?” Brooks said. “What words could she say to me that would comfort me in that time?”
That hospital chaplain told her that her boy was with a heavenly Father who loved him and that Jesus had a way for her to see him again.
“So, holding my baby boy, she helped lead me to Christ so that I’m standing here, and I will see him again,” said Brooks. “Sometimes, you might think what you do doesn’t matter, but I’m here to tell you it does.
“Because I wouldn’t be standing here if a hospital chaplain did not answer that call. I can’t thank you enough for what you do, and what you do matters.”