Anderson University presents annual Pastor of the Year awards

Anderson University presented the 2015 South Carolina Baptist Pastor of the Year awards Nov. 9 during the evening session of the South Carolina Baptist Pastors’ Conference at Southside Baptist Church in Spartanburg.

Anderson University recognizes the unique high calling of the pastorate. In an effort to honor the meritorious servant leadership of pastors in our state, the South Carolina Baptist Pastor of the Year award was established in 2011.

This annual award is designed to recognize some of the most outstanding pastors in the South Carolina Baptist Convention, based on the following criteria:

— Having served in South Carolina for at least three years

— Strong supporter of the Cooperative Program

— Be a model of pastoral faithfulness and integrity

The award is given in different categories of church size and for directors of missions, each named for a key Baptist leader who has helped define Anderson University:

1. The John E. White Award is for the South Carolina Baptist Pastor of the Year in churches up to 300 members. It is named for the second president of Anderson University, John E. White, who served from 1916-1927.

This year’s recipient is Woody Oliver, pastor of Harmony Baptist Church in Chester Baptist Association.

2. The W.B. Johnson Award is for the South Carolina Baptist Pastor of the Year in churches with more than 1,000 members. Due to a late error in categories of church size, the Johnson award was presented to two pastors. It is named for William Bullein Johnson, one of nine founders (1821) and president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention (1825-1852); first president of the Southern Baptist Convention (1845-1851); and founder and chancellor of Johnson University (1842-1862), the forerunner of Anderson University.

This year’s recipients are Jim Oliver, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in the Spartanburg County Baptist Network, and Don Brock, pastor of Gateway Baptist Church in Columbia Metro Baptist Association.

3. The B. Carlisle Driggers Award is for the South Carolina Baptist Pastor of the Year in the director of missions category. It is named for the 15th executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Driggers served the convention from 1990-2007. His tenure was marked by Empowering Kingdom Growth, which included an emphasis on the vital role of local Baptist associations.

This year’s recipient is Randy Bradley, director of missions of Three Rivers Baptist Association in the North Greenville area.

LifeWay Christian Resources and the National Conference on Preaching are partners with Anderson University in making possible gifts that are presented with the awards.