Georgia's Dan Spencer to be nominated first VP at Southern Baptist Convention

Dan Spencer, pastor of the 3,500-member First Baptist Church in Thomasville, is one of Southern Baptists' emerging young leaders. John Hannigan, a member of The Church at Ponte Vedra in Ponte Vedra, Fla., has announced his intention to nominate Spencer as first vice president of the SBC.

Dan Spencer

Spencer, 38, has provided splendid leadership at the Thomasville church since arriving in September 2000. His successful ministry is no surprise considering his rich Baptist heritage. His maternal great-grandfather was president of Union University in Jackson, Tenn. His father, Jerry Spencer, is a recognized pastor and evangelist who served as the president of the SBC Pastor's Conference in 2001.

The Thomasville pastor is a graduate of Hannibal LaGrange College in Hannibal, Mo. and has earned a Master of Science degree from Troy State University in Dothan, Ala. He also holds a Master of Arts degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va. Prior to coming to Georgia, Spencer served churches in Missouri and Alabama.

Hannigan identifies Spencer as a champion of Southern Baptist mission causes and boasts that Spencer has led the charge to increase the Thomasville church's percentage of Cooperative Program giving. He further indicates that the church has given more than one million dollars to the CP during the course of Spencer's pastorate.

Special missions offerings have also soared under Spencer's leadership. Last year the church's goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering was $90,000. The church exceeded the goal by giving more than $113,000 for global missions.

Spencer is married to the former Tresa Colleen Schulz and they have two sons, Jeremiah Daniel and Jacob Brandon.

Spencer is the second announced candidate for first vice president of the SBC. Baptist Press announced on June 2 that Roger Freeman, current president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and pastor of First Baptist Church in Clarksville, intends to nominate Mike Boyd as first vice president of the SBC. Boyd is senior pastor of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville and a past Tennessee Baptist Convention president.