Faithful flock to Springfield

Full story at http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090606/LIFE07/906060360/Faithful+flock+to+city

Affordability and accessibility are among the reasons religious organizations decide to hold conferences in Springfield. "The religious market segment is our second largest," a CVB official said.

Linda Leicht
News-Leader

There are about 2,000 more people in Springfield this weekend, and another 2,200 are expected in a few weeks.

Those visitors represent a market that brings plenty of group events to the city -- religion.

"The religious market segment is our second-largest," behind sporting events, says June Lammers, sales manager with the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.

This month alone, the Missouri conference of the United Methodist Church is holding a four-day event over this weekend, and the American Baptist Association will have its national assembly here June 23-25.

The reasons for picking Springfield are varied, but two things are at the top of most lists -- affordability and accessibility, says Lammers.

Number of denominations

The United Methodists have been coming to Springfield since 2006 and are booked at the Exposition Center in Springfield through 2014.

The American Baptists are here for the first time this year, beating out Wichita, Kan., and Birmingham and Mobile, Ala.

The Missouri Baptist Convention and the Missionary Baptist State Convention have been here in the past, and the United Pentecostal Church Women's Ministries will be here next year.

Lammers hopes to bring the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Youth Convention and some Church of God groups.

Fresh Grounded Faith, a nationally held women's conference organized by Springfield resident Jennifer Rothschild, attracted more than 1,000 people last year at High Street Baptist Church. An even larger group will meeting here in November at Second Baptist Church.

Topping the list

Sherry Habben, director of connectional ministries with the United Methodists, says Springfield meets all five of the church's criteria: large enough space for the meetings, hotel space for attendees, plenty of convenient parking for the mostly drive-in attendance, dining facilities and affordability.

But another criteria puts the city over the top, she said -- hospitality.

"We have been quite pleased," she says. "The (University Plaza) hotel staff has been wonderful in working with us."

Eddie Sutton, director of meeting arrangements for the American Baptists, says Springfield has been on top of the group's list since 2000, when Lammers first proposed the city for their 2003 meeting. But delays in construction of the Expo Center meant a switch to Wichita that year.

"June never quit working on it," he says. "She kept pushing for Springfield."

It turned out to be a good choice. Within three hours of opening reservation at University Plaza for the meeting, the hotel was sold out, Sutton says. He is now setting up rooms at five hotels in the city.

Lammers says that when the members voted on Springfield, many of the people told her they were excited to visit Bass Pro Shops, Fantastic Caverns and Branson.

"Their attendance has just exploded having their convention in this area," she says. "Our location is a big part of the reason for that."

Fresh Grounded Faith meetings are held around the country each year, but it is less about accommodations than it is about attitude that brings the conference to a city, says organizer Theresa Wiggins.

The conference does not focus on one denomination or even on church, she says. "It is a community outreach."

To qualify, a community must demonstrate a willingness on the part of many churches and denominations to work together to make it happen.

"We really want the community to be unified," Wiggins says.

"Although it may be held at a church, it is a coming together of women in harmony. It is bigger than the church."

Springfield has demonstrated that it has that cooperation. Last year, 11,398 women from 11 states worked on the event and attended, representing 188 churches from 16 denominations. Wiggins expects even more involvement this year.

"It was interesting ... how many people responded that they want their church involved..." she said.

"People can feel safe"

Lammers attends trade shows for two religious planning organizations, the Religious Conference Management Association and Rejuvenate. There, she is able to learn about the needs of the groups and promote Springfield.

Besides the top two, affordability and accessibility, Lammers finds that Springfield's "friendly atmosphere" and low crime rate are major issues for many groups. "People can feel safe here," she says.

The need for more hotel rooms close to the Expo Center and more access to affordable air service are among the few drawbacks to the city, she adds.

Money is a top consideration, especially in today's economic environment, Lammers and event organizers agree.

"In these times, people are looking for things to do," says Wiggins. "If it's an affordable event, they'll go."

The struggling economy has not reduced the number of people attending religious events and conferences, Lammers says.

"What we find with the religious market ... is that in times when the world is in turmoil, we see an increase in attendance."

Additional Facts
"June never quit working on it. She kept pushing for Springfield."
-- Eddie Sutton, director of meeting arrangements for the American Baptists

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