Taylors First Baptist calls Paul Jimenez as pastor

Taylors First Baptist Church in Upstate South Carolina has called 41-year-old Paul Jimenez as pastor. He will begin duties in mid-December.

Paul Jimenez

The Greenville native was elected by a vote of the Taylors congregation on Sunday evening, Nov. 7.

Jimenez succeeds Frank Page, who resigned in October 2009 to accept a position with the North American Mission Board and later was named president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee.

Jimenez served most recently as teaching pastor and local and national ministries pastor at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga. He previously was a legislative adviser and staff associate for Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina in his Washington and Raleigh offices.

Jimenez received a master of theology degree from Duke Divinity School and a master of divinity with Biblical languages from?Southeastern Seminary.?He is a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

“The aim of my ministry is to instruct and strengthen believers so that they are equipped to love God and evangelize the world,” Jimenez said in a news release from the Taylors church. “To carry out this ministry, I believe the preaching and teaching of the Word of God is fundamental.”

He is married to the former Cheri Bennett of Greenville and is the father of two children, Emma Grace, 9, and Harrison, 6.

“We are excited to welcome Paul and know God has great plans for our church under his leadership,” the church’s press release stated.

The Jimenez family.