Scott Barkley
ATLANTA — A group of current and former Georgia Baptist ministers – including 10 Georgia Baptist Convention state presidents – have signed up to announce the formation of the first in-state chapter of the Conservative Baptist Network.
“Georgia’s first-in-the-nation state chapter can serve as a model for others who have already joined our network and for those looking to join,” Brad Jurkovich, CBN national spokesman and pastor of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, La., said in a press release. “God is clearly moving, and these chapters across America will be dynamic and make a tremendous difference for the Kingdom and our!”
Those Georgia Baptists endorsing are:
- Robby Foster – current GBC president, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta
- Mike Stone – immediate past president of the GBC, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, immediate past chairman of the SBC Executive Committee, and former member of the SBC Resolutions Committee
- Don Hattaway – former GBC president, pastor of First Baptist Church in Douglas, and former board member for Shorter University and Brewton-Parker College
- John Waters – former GBC president, pastor of First Baptist Church in Statesboro, International Mission Board trustee, former vice president for Brewton-Parker College
- Dan Spencer – former GBC president as pastor of First Baptist in Thomasville, current pastor of First Baptist Church in Sevierville, Tenn.
- Bill Ricketts – former GBC president, retired pastor of Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens after 43 years, former member of the SBC Executive Committee, former IMB trustee
- J. Gerald Harris – former GBC president, former editor of The Christian Index, former chairman of the SBC Resolutions Committee
- Wayne Robertson – former GBC president, pastor of Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, served two terms on SBC Executive Committee
- Tony Dickerson – former GBC president, pastor of Pinehurst Baptist Church in Columbus (47 years)
- John Yarbrough – former GBC president, former member of the SBC Executive Committee, chaired the Implementation Taskforce for the SBC “Covenant for a New Century”
- Tommy Fountain, Sr. – chairman of the GBC Executive Committee, pastor of 1025 Church in Monroe
- Josh Saefkow – vice chairman of the GBC Executive Committee, pastor of Flat Creek Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GBC first vice president
- Barry Snapp – chairman of the GBC Administration Committee, pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Rockmart
- Javier Chavez – second vice president of the GBC, pastor of Amistad Cristiana Internacional of Gainesville, former member of the SBC Committee on Committees
- Derek Berry – fourth vice president of the GBC, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hiram
- Danny Henson – longtime GBC recording secretary, recently retired as pastor of New Liberty Baptist Church in Ringgold
- Tom Vann – assistant recording secretary for the GBC, pastor of Rentz Baptist Church
- Darey Kittle – assistant recording secretary for the GBC, associational missions strategist for Conasauga Baptist Association, pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Dalton
- Micah Hamrick – executive pastor of First Baptist Church in Villa Rica.
Hamrick has also agreed to be the state coordinator for CBN’s Georgia chapter. Son of the late Georgia Baptist pastor and evangelist Wayne Hamrick, he said the list of names points to the state’s commitment to the principles of the new network.
“The creation of the first state chapter is an exciting part of this new grassroots movement,” he expressed. “And for me, personally, it is an honor to continue the legacy left by my dad.”
Wayne Hamrick served as GBC president from 2005-07 and was noted in the CBN press release as “a key figure in the Conservative Resurgence in Georgia and beyond.”
Signee Mike Stone said the state chapter would exist to increase cooperation among Georgia Baptists and others of like mind.
“We are thankful for the leadership of our state executive, Mr. Thomas Hammond,” said Stone. “Just as the national CBN exists to strengthen the ministries of the SBC, this new state chapter is designed for fellowship, communication, and event promotion as we come alongside Thomas to encourage the work of Georgia Baptists. Georgia has consistently been one of the top state conventions in the SBC. With many Georgia Baptists concerned about various matters within our denomination, it is important that we strengthen that effort.”
More information on endorsing and registering with the new organization can be found here.
