Trustees of LifeWay Christian Resources unanimously approved the recommendation of Tom Hellams to be vice president and executive associate to LifeWay’s president Feb. 7. Hellams, 48, a native of Greenville, will assist Thom Rainer, who succeeded Jimmy Draper as president Feb. 1.
Tom HellamsHellams is leaving a similar position at Southern Baptist Seminary, where he worked since 1997 and where he and Rainer became friends during their eight years of service together. Rainer was dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth.
Hellams is filling a newly created position at LifeWay.
“Tom Hellams is a tremendous Christian servant and a man of great executive ability,” said Southern Baptist Seminary president Al Mohler. “He is a highly gifted administrator. All this is combined with a pastoral heart and a genuine sense of calling to the local church. Tom made a great contribution to Southern Seminary during his years with us, and he touched virtually every corner of this campus. I know he will serve Thom Rainer and LifeWay with the same combination of heart and mind that made such a difference among us.”
Prior to joining SBTS’ staff, Hellams was minister of music and executive pastor at Carlisle Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. He also has served four South Carolina Baptist churches: minister of music and youth education, Calvary, Williamston; minister of music and youth, Second Baptist, Belton; minister of music, Homeland Park, Anderson; and summer youth director, First Baptist, Fountain Inn. He was ordained to the ministry at First Baptist Church, Fountain Inn.
He earned a bachelor of arts in church music from Erskine College, and master of arts and master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from SBTS.
Hellams was born in 1957 in Greenville, and made a profession of faith in 1968, being led to Christ by his mother. He married Tena Ellen Locke of Taylors in 1979. They have two children, Katie Ellen, 21, and John Thomas III, 16.
As LifeWay’s executive associate, Hellams primarily will be responsible for leadership in the president’s office and will serve as coordinating chief of staff of the executive management team. He also will take on many of the external responsibilities of the president’s office, representing LifeWay to Southern Baptists and others beyond the SBC.
“Having Tom here ensures that the president’s office maintains priority relationships with state conventions and associations,” said Rainer.