I have known Daniel Dickard since he was a boy. His dad, Wayne, and I have been close friends for many years and have traveled together often. We typically meet for lunch every week. I know the family, and Daniel is a bright, spiritual young man (31), who can be a breath of fresh air to the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference.
Daniel’s dad is now a retired pastor and former SCBC president, and his father-in-law, Mark Conrad, is pastor of Turning Point at Calvary, a Southern Baptist church in St. Augustine, Fla. He met his wife, Cassie, at North Greenville University where both sang in Joyful Sound.
Before the vote was announced on who the next Pastors Conference president would be, he reminded his dad, “Now, if I win, don’t jump up and down. Too many people are watching.”
His dad’s reply was, “Well, I can jump up and down on the inside.” Wayne said, “It was a big night. We are humbled and proud of him at the same time.”
An important issue that he will work toward as PC president is developing some guidelines, bylaws, or some type of ruling documents that will help the Pastors Conference in the future. Voddie Bauchman was the other candidate for president, and he is an outstanding speaker, teacher, and apologist. However, he is not currently a member of a Southern Baptist church. To me, it seemed strange that a person who is not a pastor or member of a Southern Baptist church could be eligible to be president of the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference. The Pastors Conference does not have any governing documents, so a non-Southern Baptist could be elected as president. That situation is just one example why the Pastors Conference needs some type of guidelines. Daniel said, “My goal is to solicit input from previous Pastors Conference presidents and work with those involved in the parliamentary processes of the convention so that we create sound governing documents and subsequently pass them at the beginning of next year’s Pastors Conference.”
Daniel has a Ph.D. in preaching from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has always had a keen interest in and appreciation of good (particularly) expository preaching.
He said, “My goal for the Pastors Conference is to encourage pastors. One of the highlights of my ministry each year is attending the Pastors Conference. Over and over, this conference has renewed my fire to pursue God’s calling for my life. We are people of the book. We are a convention that prioritizes the centrality of biblical preaching. The Pastors Conference is a time when pastors strengthen other pastors through the preaching of God’s Word. I am both honored and excited about the challenge.”
He has already put together a council to help him choose speakers who reflect churches of all sizes for next year’s conference in New Orleans.
Daniel grew up in South Carolina, attended seminary in Texas, and is the pastor of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C. One thing he wants to reproduce in his ministry that he learned from his dad is to serve Jesus with joy.
He said, “As a young child, I watched my dad serve Jesus with great joy. Serving the Lord and ministering to God’s people was never a negative burden to him. It was a joyous one.”
I predict next year’s Pastors Conference in New Orleans will be a great success, and hopefully many pastors will be motivated to serve our Lord with great joy. The Pastors Conference has a new-generation leader whose aim is to faithfully preach God’s Word and serve the Lord with joy. Leaders like that deserve our prayers, respect and support.