Robby Foster to be nominated for president of the Georgia Baptist Convention

Robby Foster

VALDOSTA — Robby Foster, pastor of Northside Baptist Church of Valdosta, will be nominated by Jeremy Morton, pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, for president of the Georgia Baptist Convention at the annual session of the GBC at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins on Nov. 13.

The news of Foster’s potential candidacy for GBC president was first announced when Kevin Williams, pastor of First Baptist Church in Villa Rica, posted it on social media Thursday evening.

Foster was called to serve the Valdosta church in 2013 and immediately breathed new life into the fellowship. Bill Middleton, a member at Northside since 1960, explained, “Pastor Robby came to our church when we were at a low ebb and God used him to energize our church. I can’t tell you what he means to our church. He loves the Lord and he loves the people. That has translated into the people loving each other.”

Under Foster’s leadership Northside members moved into a newly expanded and renovated worship center (a $2.6 million building project) earlier this year. The project enlarged the existing worship center seating capacity from 600 to close to 1,200.

Prior to being called to Northside Baptist Church, Foster was pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church in Gainesville for more than 20 years. The GBC nominee has served Georgia Baptist churches for more than 30 years. He has not only invested his life and ministry in the churches he has served, but also in the Georgia Baptist Convention. In 2016 he served as first vice president of the GBC; and currently serves as chairman of the board of trustees of Truett McConnell University.

The Christian Index announcement regarding GBC presidential nominees requires the posting of information about the candidate’s church’s baptismal numbers and Cooperative Program giving. Northside’s baptismal record and Cooperative Program giving are as follows:

Baptisms:

2016 – 66

2017 – 62

2018 – 33

Cooperative Program Giving Percentage of undesignated gifts"

2016 - $126,396                                              9.44%

2017 – $137,885                                             9.91%

2018 – $139,231                                             9.90%

Northside also gives three percent to the Valdosta Baptist Association and has given generously to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the Lottie Moon Christmas offering during Foster’s pastorate.