HOUSTON — Wade Arnold and Jessica Arnold, residents of Natchez, participated in the 19th annual Cooperative Baptist Fellowship general assembly in Houston July 2 and 3.

More than 1,500 Fellowship Baptists attended the event, which featured opportunities for worship, fellowship, networking and discussion on various social and religious issues.

Under the theme “Embrace the World: Welcome to your Neighborhood,” the assembly explored the ideas of diversity and hospitality as Christian practices while in the nation’s fourth-largest city.

The event included an address from CBF executive coordinator Daniel Vestal, a concert with Dove Award-winning singer and songwriter Kyle Matthews and a presentation by Al Winseman, Gallup’s global practice leader for faith communities and author of “Growing an Engaged Church.”

Six individuals were appointed for missions service in the United States and around the world at the annual CBF Global Missions field personnel commissioning service.

CBF is a fellowship of more than 1,800 Baptist churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. Based in Atlanta, the Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.