October 1, 2026
Is it time to refuel? We’ve all been there many times before. You are traveling along, and you notice the fuel gauge on your vehicle is moving toward empty. If you are like me, always on the run, you think you can squeeze out just a few more miles and a few more appointments before having to stop for gas. Soon, the “low fuel” light comes on to warn you that if you don’t stop soon… you will stop completely.
Pastor, when it comes to ministry, you are traveling great distances at great speeds. Each week you are preaching the Word, caring for your people, administering your church, and doing a multitude of other tasks. You pour out so much into the lives of others. Isn’t it time that you make time to refuel yourself?
One of the things I love most about our Georgia Baptist Annual Meeting is that it provides an intentional time for pastors to refuel for ministry. A powerful way that we accomplish this is by bringing in dynamic preachers of God’s Word, so you may be encouraged and refreshed in your calling. This year, we’re blessed with an amazing lineup of godly men:
Vance Pitman – Sunday Evening
Sunday night is a time of inspiration through worship and the Word. When I think about an inspiring leader and preacher, I think of Vance Pitman. Vance planted Hope Church in Las Vegas in the fall of 2001 with a small group of eighteen adults meeting in a living room. Over the next two decades, Hope Church grew into a thriving, multi ethnic, multi generational fellowship of more than 4,000 people. Under Vance’s leadership, Hope planted more than 75 churches throughout the western United States. Following his season at Hope, Vance served for four years as President of Send Network, the largest church planting organization in North America. He and his wife, Kristie, live in Georgia and are grateful parents of four children and grandparents to five grandchildren.
Chip Dean – Monday Evening
1 Timothy 4:16 encourages us to “pay close attention to your life and your teaching.” One of the ways that we pay attention to our lives and teaching is by considering our doctrine. Each year, we invite a Georgia Baptist pastor to come and encourage us with a doctrinal message straight from God’s Word. Chip Dean will bring this year’s doctrinal message. Known for his Christ-centered and biblically faithful preaching, Chip has served as pastor of First Baptist Church Powder Springs since 2023. He has a heart for disciple-making and has led his church into a season of rapid growth. Chip and his wife, Michelle, have four children.
Tommy Fountain, Sr. – Monday Evening
Few Georgia Baptist pastors have a greater heart for evangelism than Pastor Tommy Fountain. Since coming to pastor 1025 Church in 2013, Tommy has led the church to become a thriving multisite church in Monroe and Statham. They regularly baptize more than 100 people each year and are known as a congregation that is deeply committed to winning their community for Christ. If you want your heart set on fire for Gospel ministry, you will not want to miss his message Monday night! Tommy and Dianne have two children, Tommy Jr. and Stephen, who both serve in ministry with the Georgia Baptist Convention.
Jimmy Scroggins – Tuesday Afternoon
You won’t want to leave early because Tuesday afternoon we have the privilege of hearing from one of the most powerful voices among Southern Baptists today: Jimmy Scroggins, pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. Since coming to his church in 2008, God has used Jimmy to see his congregation revitalize and multiply into 20 locations across South Florida, reaching thousands with the Gospel. His church pioneered the 3 Circles evangelism tool that is used around the globe today to lead people into a relationship with Christ. Jimmy and Kristin have eight children and a growing number of grandchildren.
Each of these gifted leaders will be speaking on our 2026 Annual Meeting theme, Wide Open, based on 1 Corinthians 16:9: “for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” We want to make the most of the wide open door God has given us for the Gospel until it reaches every heart, mind, and soul across Georgia.
I hope to see you in November at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins! Make plans to be there and bring someone with you!
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Steve Browning is president of the Georgia Baptist Convention and lead pastor of First City Church in Alpharetta.
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