The final day of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia’s 139th meeting wraps up today at The Forum with an address from the convention’s president, Clarence Moore.

Moore will take the stage around 11 a.m., and celebrations will end around 1 p.m. Rome saw about 2,500 people come from hundreds of congregations around

the state for this year’s convention.

The Forum was full of gospel music and a parade of colorful hats for Wednesday’s address by the president of the Women’s Auxiliary, Lois Catherine Broughton.

She told members during her address that their focus for the coming year should be on missionary work and evangelism to their communities.

“My sisters, we have work to do, and we must be found busy,” she said. “Let us work when it is day, for no man can work when the night comes.”

Broughton explained through scripture that “God expects us to be about his business, he created us for a purpose, and that purpose is to lift him up.”

She also emphasized that working together within the convention as a whole will help move forward projects during the upcoming year, but she also said some strong words to the women’s auxiliary about their need to trust leadership. In other words, she wanted her fellow church leaders to “quit talking” and be “sister participators” in their churches.

Former Gov. Roy Barnes also addressed the convention before Broughton took the stage, asking for support in the upcoming gubernatorial race in 2010.

The Democrat said his reason for running after years in politics away from his family was to “fix the mess and go back home again.”

“I’m concerned about where we’re going as a state,” Barnes said. “Progress has been turned back. We’re divided as a people again for political purposes, and there’s a ring in hell for any politician who does so.”

Barnes especially focused his attention during his short speech to the convention toward education and said he was angered by teacher furloughs in the state.

“Why do we think so little of education that we’re not respecting our teachers?” Barnes asked the crowd.

“The choices we make in our elections make a difference,” Barnes said. “If you don’t believe it matters, then look at who is president of the United States.”

Established in 1870, the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia has 861 member congregations around Georgia and has 550 churches represented at this week’s convention.