2020 – Tucson, Arizona

February 10-13

Registration Form: PDF | DOCX

The Westin | La Paloma Westin Resort and Spa
3800 East Sunrise Drive
Tucson, Arizona 85718
520-742-6000

This resort hotel is located in the Sonoran Desert, with breath-taking views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It boasts a full-service business center, five outdoor pools, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Gold Course and a spa.

Special room rate for single or double: $199. Use the link below to book your room(s) now.

Reservations within the group block can be booked through January 10.

The hotel is approximately 16 miles from Tucson International Airport (TUS) and does not provide a shuttle service. Estimated taxi fare one-way is $ 50.

RESERVATIONS: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1555358372144&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Plan now to be in Tucson for the 2020 ASBP Annual Meeting.

Optional Event: Old Tucson

Wednesday, Feb. 12, is an open evening for all attendees to the ASBP annual meeting. One option for editors that evening is to join the state executive directors for a dinner and show at Old Tucson Western Movie Set. This will be a fun evening with a taste of the Old West. You can check out Old Tucson at oldtucson.com. The cost is $20 per person ($40 per couple), and transportation to and from the venue will be provided. You can register and pay for this event by using this link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/86865140975. Please register no later than Monday, Jan. 27.

Speakers

Keynote speaker

Bob SmietanaBob Smietana is the keynote speaker for the 2020 ASBP Annual Meeting in Tucson, Ariz. Smietana serves as editor-in-chief for Religion News Service (RNS), a position he has held since September 2018.

Smietana is an award-winning religion reporter and editor who has spent two decades producing breaking news, data journalism, investigative reporting, profiles and features for magazines, newspapers, trade publications and websites. Most notably, he has served as a senior writer for Facts & Trends, senior editor of Christianity Today, religion writer at The Tennessean, correspondent for RNS and contributor to OnFaith, USAToday and The Washington Post. 

“Bob Smietana is one of the most respected religion journalists in the United States,” said Tom Gallagher, RNS CEO and publisher. “Bob is a deeply competent person of integrity, enthusiasm and generosity, and has mentored many of today’s top religion journalists. 

Devotional leader

Art ToalstonArt Toalston is the devotional leader for the 2020 ASBP Annual Meeting in Tucson, Ariz. Members of ASBP know and love Toalston, who retired from Baptist Press in September 2019, after more than 27 years of service.

Prior to joining Baptist Press, Toalston worked seven years as a staff writer at the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) and one year as a writer at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before that, he worked as a religion writer at the Jackson Daily News/The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss., and at newspapers in Middletown, Fostoria and Findlay, Ohio.

Toalston is a devoted Christian. “He has a passionate devotional life of prayer, meditation, witnessing and Scripture memory,” said Sing Oldham, Executive Committee vice president. “Seldom does a week go by that he does not share a witnessing testimony or cite a passage of Scripture he is memorizing. We anticipate he will continue to write for Baptist Press on a regular basis in his retirement and wish the best for him and his wife Karen in the years to come.”

In addition to hearing from Smietana and Toalston, ASBP members will have opportunities to interact with various Southern Baptist Convention entity leaders.

Theme

Good News, Bad News: All News Is God’s News