Sonny Holmes, pastor of Northwood Baptist Church, North Charleston, 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.
Holmes is the second announced nominee, joining D.J. Horton, pastor of Anderson Mill Road Baptist Church, Moore.
HolmesHolmes will be nominated by Tommy Kelly, pastor of Varnville First Baptist Church.
“These are challenging days for South Carolina Baptists,” Kelly said in a Sept. 23 e-mail to The Baptist Courier. “In the near future, our state convention needs a proven leader who can unite us through both difficulty as well as prosperity.”
Kelly said he will “prayerfully and without reservation” nominate Holmes for the SCBC presidency.
“One could view Sonny’s ministry philosophy as ministry, missions, and mentoring,” Kelly said. “During his tenure, the churches he served have given double digits to the Cooperative Program and have supported other mission endeavors resulting in young adults surrendering to the mission field.
“Under Sonny’s pastorate, new churches have been planted throughout South Carolina. He currently mentors young ministers and Citadel cadets struggling with personal and spiritual issues.”
Kelly said Holmes gained “valuable knowledge of churches and pastors” across the state when he served in the position of pastoral ministries director for the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
Holmes, originally from Greenville, holds a business administration degree from The Citadel. After working eight years in commercial banking and hospital financial administration, he answered a call to ministry and entered Southeastern Seminary, where he earned a master of divinity in 1980. In 1990 he completed requirements for the doctor of ministry degree.
Holmes has served at Northwood Church since 2003. He previously pastored Hampton Heights Baptist Church in Greenville (1986-2001) and First Baptist Church, Goose Creek (1982-1986). From 2001-2003, he served as director of pastoral ministries for the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
“If I had to pick a scripture that reminded me of Dr. Holmes, it would be Acts 11:24,” Kelly said. “Luke wrote concerning Barnabas, ‘For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit, and many people were added to the Lord.’
“In these uncertain days of the world, as well as South Carolina, I am thankful for people like Dr. Sonny Holmes. He is a man after God’s own heart who will serve South Carolina Baptists well.”
Holmes has served on the SCBC’s committee on committees and the bylaws committee. He has served as a trustee of The Baptist Courier and the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina. He is a current trustee of Southeastern Seminary and has served on the credentials committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Fred Stone, pastor of Pickens First Baptist Church, is current SCBC president. State convention presidents serve a one-year term and are not eligible to succeed themselves.