The Baptist Foundation of South Carolina (BFSC) has elected Barry B. Edwards as its seventh president and chief executive officer. Edwards, who succeeds Weldon Fallaw, will begin service Feb. 22.
Barry Edwards“I believe Barry Edwards has been groomed by God for such a time as this in our foundation’s history,” said Fred Payne, chairman of the BFSC board. “He has a strong Baptist heritage and deep Christian commitment. He has a wealth of professional experience in leading foundations and institutions to develop needed resources through strategic planning, marketing, and resource development.
“His servant heart, warm personality, communication skills and inspirational messages will enable him to relate well to all of our many mission partners – churches, members, associations and institutions – of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.”
Edwards was instrumental in creating the Richland Memorial Hospital Foundation in Columbia and leading it for 14 years. He served as executive vice president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of South Carolina and as president of the Newberry College Foundation. Most recently he was senior principal of Panas, Linzy and Partners, a strategic-planning, marketing and fund-raising consulting firm where he was involved in helping hospitals, colleges and other organizations, including Wycliffe Bible Translators, to raise millions of dollars.
Edwards graduated from Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham, Ala. He worked for two Baptist institutions: Samford, as director of recruiting, and East Tennessee Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, Tenn., as director of human resources.
“Based on our extensive search and interview process,” past BFSC chairman and pastor of Dillon First Baptist Church Dickie Cullum noted, “I am pleased to share that Barry Edwards has a very solid background as a committed and informed Southern Baptist layman. His personal faith in Christ comes from strong Baptist roots, and he has been a dedicated leader in local Southern Baptist churches throughout his adult life.”
Edwards resides in Chapin with his wife, Alice. They have two children and four grandsons. They are all members of Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Irmo.
The Baptist Foundation of South Carolina is an institution of the South Carolina Baptist Convention that encourages financial and estate planning, provides financial and investment management services, and promotes stewardship of endowment and capital resources for kingdom growth. Its ministry partners are the 2,100 churches, almost 700,000 members, 43 associations and six institutions of the SCBC.