Retired pastor Mickey Gambrell was elected director of missions, and Southern Baptist Convention president Frank Page delivered the keynote message at the spring evangelism meeting of the Palmetto Baptist Association March 26.
Mickey GambrellAlso, retiring director of missions James Ellenburg was honored for 10 years of service.
Palmetto Association, which includes 24 churches located in the northern section of Anderson County, met at New Hope Baptist Church, Pelzer.
Gambrell, 64, who served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Pelzer, for 22 years, said he hopes to bring “a spirit of cooperation and fellowship” to the job, adding that fellowship is one of the “biggest needs” in any association.
“This is a way I can extend my ministry for several years to come,” he said. “I’m excited about it.”
SBC president Frank Page, center, delivered the keynote message at the 2007 Spring Evangelism Meeting of Palmetto Baptist Association. Also pictured are Mark Spearman, left, pastor of White Plains Baptist Church, Pelzer, and evangelism director for the association; and James Ellenburg, retiring director of missions for Palmetto Association.A Furman University graduate, Gambrell previously pastored Park Place Baptist Church, Greenville. He lives near Williamston with his wife Sandra. They have three children and seven grandchildren.
SBC president Frank Page, pastor of Taylors First Baptist Church, delivered a sermon on the “imperative” of evangelism.
“If we don’t get on the ball, we’re going to die,” he said. “The harshest judgment comes for those who do nothing.”
Taking his message from Luke 13:1-9, which includes the parable of the unproductive fig tree, Page exhorted messengers to be mindful of both God’s grace and his judgment.
“What will we do with the opportunities God sets before us?” he concluded.