Grant Gaines announced today to Baptist Press that he will be nominating his father, Steve Gaines, for a second term as President of the Southern Baptist Convention when we convene next month in Phoenix, Arizona.
This is expected news, but is certainly worth noting. I look forward to hearing Grant’s nomination speech. Surely it will be a special moment for both father and son. Grant Gaines mentioned three reasons that he plans to nominate his father for a second term as SBC President:
First…
“First, he has been a consummate statesman in a year full of political and moral turmoil in our nation. Through his example, he has shown us all how to combine both a prophetic voice when need be, as well as wise restraint when certain comments might not be helpful,” Grant Gaines wrote.
Second…
“Second, through his emphasis on prayer, he has encouraged thousands of Southern Baptists to a deeper prayer life. Anyone who knows Steve Gaines knows him as a man of prayer, and I would love to see his passion for this spread to even more people and churches over the coming year.
And third…
“Third, his emphasis on personal evangelism has been a needed reminder in our convention,” Grant Gaines wrote. “It’s important that we be reminded that without personal evangelism, church planting and global missions cannot be effective.”
This is the only expected nomination for the office of SBC President. SBC Presidents are elected to a 1 year term but are eligible for reelection to a second term. In recent years, sitting SBC Presidents have run for reelection unopposed.
