NATCHEZ &045; Christian Hope Baptist Church will host the Antioch Missionary Baptist Association today beginning at 9 a.m.

The gathering will include pastors, Sunday school teachers, other church leaders and members of the association, said the Rev. John Scott, pastor at Christian Hope.

The association is the local arm of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention. Guest speaker at the Natchez meeting will be the Rev. John W. Davis of Gulfport. His topic will center on church growth.

&uot;One of the main things we will do is enjoy some good singing from the youth and adult mass choirs,&uot; Scott said.

Those choirs include members from different Baptist churches in the area.

&uot;In addition, we will attempt to inform and educate those who come on goals of the association,&uot; Scott said.

Classes on various topics will be led by members of the Christian Congress, the educational arm of the association.

Scott said today’s meeting is the first of its kind to be held on a weekend day instead of during the week. The change was made in order to give more working people the opportunity to come, he said.

&uot;I don’t know how many to expect,&uot; he said. &uot;It could be big.&uot;

Scott said the Rev. Ernest Ford Sr., president of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Association, will present the sermon at 1 p.m. The mass choirs will sing during that part of the program, as well.

&uot;I hope everyone will find it educational. I know it will provide an opportunity to fellowship,&uot; Scott said. &uot;There will be training for Sunday school and church leaders to make them better prepared.&uot;

Further, the meeting allows churches to help one another. &uot;Coming together, we can pool our resources and better serve our people, especially our young people, inside as well as outside the church,&uot; he said.