September 9, 2024
DULUTH, Ga. — The Georgia Baptist Foundation honors Vice President of Development Sam Warner during the August Board meeting as he transitions to serve as President of the Tennessee Baptist Foundation (TBF) in August. Exiting TBF President Bill Gruenewald announced his upcoming retirement in February and Warner’s election as president in early July.
The Georgia Baptist Foundation welcomed Sam Warner as Director of Development for North Georgia in 2014. Warner had previously connected with the then-newly appointed President/CEO of the Foundation, Dr. Johnathan Gray, through Baptist life." Dr. Gray’s relationship with a former Lifeway Christian Ministries employee, John Burke, introduced him to the hardworking capital campaign coach on the Lifeway team, who was looking to move in a different direction as their stewardship department consolidated.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Warner spent 10 years working in his home state of Tennessee at Lifeway after working for a decade in insurance sales. Mr. Warner’s tenacity as an annual top salesman in insurance, strengthening churches by consulting on campaigns to raise millions, andactivity within Southern Baptist life made him the perfect candidate to join the Foundation’s growing ministry.
Since he joined the team, the Foundation’s assets under management have grown from $347 million to $533 million as of July 2024. That is approximately a 54% increase in assets under management with Dr. Gray and Mr. Warner’s leadership. When asked about his time working with Dr. Gray, Mr. Warner shared that “working with Dr. Johnathan Gray and the entire Georgia Baptist Foundation staff has been a blessing.” He went on to say, “Dr. Gray leads with integrity, passion, great vision, and a love for the Lord that is evident in every decision that he makes. It has been a joy to be a part of such a successful team.”
During his tenure, Warner shepherded the recruitment of Regional Development Officers Nathan Russell and John Bryan in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Nathan and John are positioned to make the transition seamless for all Foundation donors and ministry relationships as Warner takes on his new role in Franklin, Tennessee.
Mr. Warner, his wife Janece, and their children have impacted many communities throughout the last decade. From their involvement at First Baptist Church Woodstock and a private Christian school in Canton, GA, to a son graduating from Shorter University and a daughter joining the North American Mission Board (NAMB) team, Georgia Baptists have been blessed by the Warner family. Dr. Gray believes that “[Warner’s] contributions will impact Georgia Baptist churches and ministries until Christ returns.”
Dr. Gray later added, “Though I hate to see him leave our staff, I am thrilled to know that Sam will be able to use and expand his abilities to help Baptist ministry in Tennessee.” The Georgia Baptist Foundation looks forward to continued collaboration on stewardship initiatives with Warner and the Tennessee Baptist Foundation in the years to come.
