November 11, 2026
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Messengers to the Georgia Baptist Convention elected Stephen Fountain as president Tuesday and selected Neal Dose and Lee Brewer to serve as first and second vice presidents.
Fountain, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Buford, was nominated by Jim Perdue, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins. He was the only nominee for president and was elected by acclamation.
Perdue said he has known Fountain for more than 20 years, dating to Fountain’s service as a 19-year-old student pastor in Carl, Ga.
Fountain has served at First Baptist Buford for 15 years, including the past 12 as senior pastor. Perdue said the church has baptized 154 people during the past three years. Fountain also serves as chaplain for the Buford High School football team and mentors at-risk students.
“Vote for Stephen because of the man that he is, the mission that he advances, and the Master that he serves,” Perdue said.
Fountain succeeds Steve Browning, lead pastor of First Baptist Church Alpharetta.
Neal Dose, lead pastor of Mansfield Baptist Church, was elected first vice president.
Brady Howard, pastor of Glen Haven Baptist Church in McDonough, nominated Dose. Howard said the two have known each other for more than 20 years, since they were high school students.
Since Dose became pastor at Mansfield, Howard said the church has baptized 81 new believers, launched 11 new Life Groups, and sent 119 people on mission trips. The church has also partnered in church planting work in Canada and carried out local evangelism efforts in Mansfield.
“Neal is truly a shepherd,” Howard said. “He loves God’s people. He loves God’s church. He loves cooperation.”
Dose and his wife, Jessica, have three children, Mary Logan, Ellie, and Charlie.
Lee Brewer, senior pastor of Palmetto Baptist Church, was elected second vice president.
Josh Saefkow, senior pastor of Flat Creek Baptist Church in Fayetteville, nominated Brewer, describing him as a third-generation Southern Baptist pastor who has served local churches for 26 years.
Saefkow said Palmetto Baptist has celebrated 116 baptisms during Brewer’s tenure and has doubled its worship attendance. He also pointed to the church’s Cooperative Program giving and Brewer’s involvement in more than 30 mission trips.
“Georgia Baptists, we need leaders who don’t just talk about reaching people, but that are actually reaching people,” Saefkow said. “And Lee Brewer is that kind of leader.”
Brewer and his wife, Emily, have two sons.
Share with others
