Dusty Bradshaw, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in North Charleston, will be nominated for president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention at the state denomination’s annual meeting Nov. 12-13 at Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia.

He is the second announced nominee for the office, joining Spartanburg-area pastor D.J. Horton.

Bradshaw, 51, will be nominated by James W. “Skip” Owens, former convention president and current director of denominational relations at Charleston Southern University, who told the Courier he is nominating Bradshaw “because he has a spirit that really wants to glorify God, stay true to Scripture and bring unity to our convention. We are fragmented now, and I am convinced Dusty can lead us back together as churches and as a convention.”

“He will be an excellent president if elected. He is a good leader, and we need leadership. Dusty has proven his leadership in his church, in our association and in our state convention.”

Bradshaw said his goal as president would be to “touch people with the love of Jesus.” He said South Carolina Baptists “must lay aside our differences and focus on those principles that bind us together.”

“Having served here for 20 of my 30 years in ministry, I am well aware of the uniqueness throughout our state,” he said. “I am also aware that the church in Acts 1 did not explode in spiritual growth until the disciples were of one accord. They came together under one agenda: God’s.

“This is where we must find ourselves. My commitment is to enhance the vision of our convention in missions, evangelism, and church revitalization in unity under the direction of the Holy Spirit as the Scripture admonishes us.”

According to figures published in the South Carolina Baptist Convention Annual, Hillcrest Baptist Church contributed 8.3 percent of undesignated receipts of $213,336 to the Cooperative Program in 2012. Bradshaw told the Courier his church recently increased its CP giving to 10 percent. In addition, the church contributes 3 percent to Charleston Baptist Association and designates 3 percent for local missions.

Hillcrest Baptist Church has established a work in the Hispanic community and partners with a local elementary school and high school. The church also provides a monthly ministry to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home and to a local assisted-living facility.

A graduate of Gardner-Webb University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Bradshaw is completing a doctoral degree in hermeneutics and evangelistic preaching at Liberty Theological Seminary.

He has served the SCBC as a member of the Resolutions Committee and as chair of the Nominations Committee, and is a member of this year’s Committee on Committees. He previously served as registration secretary and first vice president of the state convention.

Bradshaw and his wife, Julie, have been married for 30 years and have two daughters, Whitney and Allison. He has served as moderator of Charleston Baptist Association and currently chairs the association’s personnel committee.