The Executive Board, meeting in a special session in Columbia on March 27, unanimously endorsed the nomination of Jim Austin of Missouri to be the next executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
Candidate Jim Austin, center, with Executive Board chairman Tom Swilley, left, and search committee chairman Tim Williams.At the close of the 1:30 p.m. meeting at the Baptist Building, state convention president Mike Moody called for a special session of the South Carolina Baptist Convention to vote on the election of Austin, who is now an associate executive director for Missouri Baptists.
The called convention, approved by the Executive Board, will be held April 26, beginning at 1 p.m., at Riverland Hills Baptist Church, Irmo, site of the recent state evangelism conference. Registration of messengers will begin at 11 a.m.
After the vote by members of the Executive Board and a standing ovation when he returned to the meeting, Austin first offered praise for retired executive director Carlisle Driggers, saying that Driggers had been a “pace setter” and “creative thinker” among Southern Baptists during his 15-year tenure in South Carolina.
The Charlotte, N.C. native said he is committed to “the mission to preach the salvation message” without “neglecting discipleship.”
“After they have responded to the gospel, don’t leave the new believers in an infant state,” he said, adding that the church needs “grown-up, mature leaders.”
After his endorsement, Jim Austin chats with state convention president Mike Moody.Austin asked the board members to “be more committed to prayer than ever before,” calling prayer the “foundation for revival” in America and a key to a “vibrant” relationship with God.
Asked about his vision for South Carolina Baptists, Austin said that from a philosophical standpoint, it would be impossible to “improve on Empowering Kingdom Growth.”
He described church planting as a “passion” of his, while noting, “But we want healthy churches to be planting the new churches.” Strengthening churches is a primary aim of EKG.
Helping to keep South Carolina Baptists working in harmony while “focusing on Christ and developing disciples” would be major aims of his administration, Austin said.
Austin was introduced to the Executive Board by Tim Williams, pastor of Roebuck Baptist Church and search committee chairman. Executive Board chairman Tom Swilley, pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Conway, and a member of the search committee, presided.
If Austin is elected, the search committee will host a reception for the new executive director in the church fellowship hall immediately after the convention adjourns.