Jim Austin is the new executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
From left: Jim and Debbie Austin, and Tim Williams, chairman of the search committee for the executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, at a reception following Austin’s election April 26.Austin, an associate executive director for Missouri Baptists for the past 18 months, received a unanimous vote from messengers at a called convention April 26 at Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Irmo.
He succeeds Carlisle Driggers, who retired at the end of February after 15 years as executive director-treasurer.
Austin, 53, was unanimously approved for the top convention post March 27 at a special session of the SCBC’s executive board.
Tom Swilley of Conway, who chairs the executive board, said that body “never showed more unanimity” than when it endorsed Austin for the executive director’s job.
Tim Williams of Roebuck, who was chairman of the search committee to find a new executive director, said that, at first, Austin was “an unknown quantity” to the search committee, but quickly found that “he loves Jesus and he loves people.”
Prior to his election, Austin traced his own journey of faith, much as he did at the March 27 appearance before the executive board. He described it as “a humbling experience” even to be considered for the position as leader of the oldest state convention among Southern Baptists. (Listen to Austin’s remarks.)
Convention president Mike Moody, second from right, presided at the April 26 meeting at Riverland Hills Baptist Church. Here, Jim Austin shares his journey of faith with messengers attending the called convention.“I prayed a lot, seeking God’s will,” he told messengers, “and you want nothing less than that.”
As he did on March 27, Austin placed heavy emphasis on discipleship in the faith, “rooting people in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
One of his “life verses” from the Bible, he pointed out, is Colossians 1:28-29, which says, “We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.”
Austin was given a standing ovation when he returned to the sanctuary after the vote. Later, messengers attended a reception in honor of the Austins.
The new executive director-treasurer is a graduate of Jacksonville State University in Alabama, Southwestern Baptist Seminary and Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. He received an honorary doctorate from Emmanuel Bible College and Seminary in Kota, India.
He formerly was pastor of Morganton (Ga.) Baptist Church, Blackshear Place Baptist Church in Gainesville, Ga., and First Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va. He and his wife are parents of five children.
Related stories:
Welcome, Jim Austin (April 27, 2007)
Executive Board unanimously endorses Austin (March 28, 2007)
Austin committee’s choice for executive director (March 19, 2007)