DALTON, Ga. — Benjamin Moore, pastor at Salem Bilingual Church and youth pastor at Salem Baptist Church in Dalton, will be nominated to serve as vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention at the annual meeting scheduled for Nov. 11-12 in Statesboro.
Darey Kittle, the senior pastor at Salem, said he intends to nominate Moore, whose “passion for souls and incredible work ethic would make him the perfect person for this job.”
Moore was born in Honduras, the son of missionaries, and gave his life to Christ at age 8. He recalled, “Much of my upbringing involved mission work alongside my family, shaping my love for the Lord and my desire to share His message. After moving to the United States, I worked in various industries, including manufacturing and education, while also serving in several churches, including church plants.”
Moore “has a white hot heart for missions as well as planting churches,” Kittle said. “He has planted churches and led groups in missions. Ben does not just talk about it does it. He has been a great example for others to follow.”
Moore holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Leadership and has served in multiple churches, including two church plants. He has served as worship leader and associate pastor at Emmaus Baptist Church, and youth pastor at Salem Baptist Church. In late 2019, Moore, who is an endorsed church planter with the North American Mission Board, planted Salem Bilingual Church in partnership with Salem Baptist Church to serve both English- and Spanish-speaking communities.
Moore and his wife Courtney have been married 17 years, and have six children: Evan, 20; Chloe, 19, Gracie, 15; Arianna, 14; Corben, 9; and Emmet, 5.
In denominational life, Moore has served on the Southern Baptist Convention’s Committee on Nominations and its Subcommittee on Nominations.
If elected, Moore hopes to “inspire and equip the next generation of leaders, continue supporting church planting efforts, and foster stronger collaboration among churches. Additionally, I want to focus on discipleship, leadership development, and ensuring that our churches are reaching diverse communities with the hope of the Gospel.”
Moore praised the Southern Baptist Convention for its “collective mission to advance God’s Kingdom through the cooperative work of churches. The Southern Baptist Convention's focus on missions, through organizations like NAMB and IMB, provides incredible support and resources to share the gospel both locally and globally.”
Salem Baptist’s giving to the Cooperative Program has averaged 6.9% of undesignated receipts over the last three years. Last year, that amounted to $123,850. The church also gave more than $62,000 to mission offerings such as Annie Armstrong, Lottie Moon, and Mission Georgia. The church has reported 96 baptisms between 2021-2023.
“The unity in purpose among churches to transform lives and communities through the message of Christ is truly inspiring,” Moore said.
Ultimately, Kittle said, it’s all about the gospel. “The most important thing we can do is to win souls, and the next thing is to help others to win souls. I believe evangelism is contagious as well as missions. Ben is a true leader in both and will inspire and encourage others in these two endeavors.”
Kittle, who has known Moore for more than 10 years, said he is a servant as well as a leader. “Ben is one of the most humble men I know,” he explained. “He loves the Lord and wants to serve Him to the fullest.”
For his part, Moore said his desire is “to see more people come to know Jesus and to strengthen the efforts of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board in advancing the gospel throughout the state and beyond.”