Groucho Marx once said, “If you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you.” Although I have been accused of having a “resting serious face,” I also know the importance of having fun, especially together. So here are a few moments at SBC ‘25 that had us laughing with one another.
The SEND Luncheon
NAMB’s annual lunch event is always a hot ticket. It’s known for bringing inspiring and touching moments to the crowd of thousands. But this year also brought the laughs with a show from comedian, Michael Jr. His stories about life, like asking his grandma why a dead body was at church, or the front row prisoner named Moses (Let my people go!) had the room laughing, at the jokes and at themselves.
Adam Groza’s hair
As someone who is “follically challenged” I admire the fact that Dr. Groza, president of Gateway Seminary in California, uses his full head of hair to its maximum capacity. (See photo page 8.) The SBC loves it, too. His hair has become the subject of questions from the floor about hair-care products, memes comparing him to early 2000’s cartoon character, Jimmy Neutron, and even a brief parody account on X.
Nomination speeches
With only three minutes to pump up their candidate for one of the SBC’s elected officer positions, nomination speeches can be adjective-filled and fast paced. But this year, one nominating speech for recording secretary had an extra dose of humor. “There is no one more qualified to serve in this completely unnecessary role, than Dr. Nathan Finn,” his nominator and friend, Jay Adkins, said. “In fact, his dissertation titled “The Development of Baptist Fundamentalism in the South from 1940 to 1980” is evidence enough that Dr. Finn is gifted in the area of spending time on things that are unnecessary.” Messengers chuckled through all 180 seconds.
The Mayor’s bobblehead
Don Currence has been a crowd favorite at the Convention for several years. The diminutive mayor of Ozark, Missouri was easily reelected to serve as Registration Secretary. EC President Jeff Iorg presented him with a Don Currence bobblehead—”life-sized edition,” Iorg said. “The Mayor” and about 10,000 messengers and guests, were thrilled at the hilarious moment.
Friends, after all
“Why can’t we be friends?” sang the 1975 funk band, War. I think this is what laughing together helps us achieve. A young pastor recently told me that to connect to SBC life
and the Cooperative Program, he needed to feel that other pastors and denominational leaders were people he could be friends with. He needed to like them. Our mission is serious, but that doesn’t mean we have to take ourselves so seriously.
—Ben Jones