D.J. Horton, 32, pastor of Anderson Mill Road Church, Moore, will be nominated for president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention when messengers gather for the SCBC annual meeting Nov. 16-17 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
D.J. HortonJim Goodroe, director of the Spartanburg County Baptist Network, who said he has witnessed “a concentrated effort at all levels of our denomination to involve the younger generation and include them in leadership,” told The Baptist Courier he plans to nominate Horton.
In a written statement, Goodroe said Horton’s leadership opportunities have given him “on-the-job training in how our state convention works.” Horton has served as vice chairman of the SCBC Executive Board and is completing a term as the board’s administrative committee chairman.
“Only God’s – providence – would have a gifted leader so young – available for such a time as this when we need young leaders,” Goodroe said.
Originally from Montevallo, Ala., Horton has served as senior pastor of Anderson Mill Road Church since 2004. He earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from Auburn University and a master of divinity degree in expository preaching from New Orleans Seminary. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in expository preaching from Southeastern Seminary.
Goodroe recalled that Horton was one of six young pastors whom Goodroe mentored when they were called to Spartanburg-area churches around 2003. “All except D.J. pastored small churches,” Goodroe said, “but he never displayed an air of superiority. He continued in the group long after its other ‘charter members’ had moved on, and he always befriended the new guys joining us.”
Goodroe credits Horton’s “great expository preaching” and “godly leadership” with helping grow the Anderson Mill Road congregation, noting that the church expanded to three morning worship services before building a new worship center in 2009. He also lauded Horton’s work on the planning team for the association’s 25th anniversary celebration in 2008.
“D.J. was providing Great Commission leadership even before the Resurgence,” Goodroe said, noting that Anderson Mill Road gave the most of any church in Spartanburg Network to the Annie Armstrong Offering for 2009 and that Horton’s church sent just over $58,000 to the International Mission Board through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. During Horton’s pastorate, “Cooperative Program giving has always been a priority of his church,” Goodroe said. “Last year they willingly gave $99,077.”
Horton and his wife, Laurel, have three children: Ty, 5; Micah, 4; and Lilian, 1.
Horton is the first announced nominee for the SCBC presidency. Fred Stone, pastor of Pickens First Baptist Church, is current SCBC president. State convention presidents serve one-year terms and are not eligible to succeed themselves.
Click here to read Goodroe’s full statement.