Larry Wynn, pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, has informed The Christian Index that he intends to nominate Dan Spencer as president of the Georgia Baptist Convention at the annual meeting at First Baptist Church Woodstock in November.

Spencer, a native of Tennessee, has been pastor of the 3,500-member First Baptist Church of Thomasville since Oct. 1, 2000.

Wynn stated, “We are at a critical juncture in the life of our denomination and we need a dynamic leader who can appeal to both the youngest and oldest members of our Convention. Dan Spencer has the vision to capture the imagination of our younger generation and he has the wisdom and stability to win the approval of those seasoned veterans who have built the framework for our future.

“Through his leadership at First Baptist Thomasville,” Wynn added, “Dan has proven himself to be a champion of the Cooperative Program and world missions. His church gives well over 10 percent of undesignated gifts to the Cooperative Program and has consistently been among the top churches in the Southern Baptist Convention in giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions.”

The records from the Thomasville church’s Annual Report show that they have given $761,502.82 to the LMCO during the course of Spencer’s ministry. The annual budget for the church has increased from $1.8 million to $3.2 million during the eight years Spencer has been at the helm of the Thomas County church. During that same period of time the church has added almost 900 new members and the average Sunday School attendance has increased from 680 to 970.

Wynn explained, “Dan Spencer will bring to the presidency of the Georgia Baptist Convention the same kind of warm-hearted, gracious spirit that has endeared him to the people of First Baptist Thomasville. I am confident that Georgia Baptists will be proud to have him as their president.”

Spencer’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Hannibal-LaGrange College in Hannibal, Mo., a Master of Science degree in Counseling/Psychology from Troy State University in Dothan, Ala., and a Master of Arts in Religion degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va.

 

Came to Georgia from Alabama assistant pastorate

Prior to coming to Thomasville Spencer was assistant pastor of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Dothan, Ala. for five years. He has also served as a US-2 missionary for the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board).

In 2001 Spencer was one of the preachers for the Pastors’ Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention. He has also been a member of the Nominating Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention and is presently serving on the Executive Committee of the GBC as well as a trustee of the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation.

In 2005 Spencer was called upon to serve the Southern Baptist Convention as a member of the Committee on Committees.

Spencer, 41, is married to the former Tresa Schulz of Hull, Ill. Dan and Tresa have two sons, Jeremiah Daniel, 17, and Jacob Brandon, 15.