May 17, 2024
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Fayetteville pastor Josh Saefkow will seek a second term as president of the Georgia Baptist Convention with hopes of keeping churches focused on sharing the gospel.
Saefkow, elected last November, said the position has given him “a front seat to see all that the Lord is doing in Georgia.”
“I have loved seeing how God is moving all over our state, and I have loved being with our pastors, our associational missionaries, our Mission Board staff,” he said. “It has been a joy. I just want to continue to focus on the mission, that we would continue to take the gospel into our communities and cities and trust the Lord to bring a harvest.”
Longtime bi-vocational pastor Randall Culpepper who led Taylor Mills Baptist Church in Reynolds while serving in the U.S. Air Force, said he intends to nominate Saefkow for a second term at the Georgia Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in November.
Culpepper has a more intimate perspective on Saefkow in that he is not only a co-laborer in Christ but also a member of his congregation, Flat Creek Baptist Church, as well as his father-in-law.
“Josh is a phenomenal pastor to our congregation at Flat Creek, a God-honoring son-in-law to and Cindy and I, a faithful husband to our daughter, a fearless father to two of our beautiful granddaughters, an undaunted and devoted uncle to all of his nieces and nephews, a proud and happy owner of both Liberty, his loving Springer Spaniel, and Little Joe, his faithful steed, and lastly a warm friend to all he meets,” Culpepper said. “He is a faithful preacher of the whole counsel of our Lord and unafraid in offering that counsel graciously to those that our Lord has put under his care. I can think of no one better to lead our convention in the coming year, and may our Lord raise up a host of young men and women who emulate his Christ-like spirit within our churches across Georgia.”
Saefkow, 39, has served in numerous roles in the Georgia Baptist Convention. He is a former vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention and former chairman of the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee. He also has service on the Administration Committee and the Public Affairs Committee.
Saefkow holds a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees from Liberty University as well as a doctorate from Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Saefkow’s church gives 10 percent of all undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program.
Saefkow and his wife Kelsie, a nurse in Fayetteville, have two daughters, Chloe, 12, and Sophie, 10, both of whom are Christ followers.
Four pastors also are being nominated for vice president.
Stephen Dervan, pastor of Oak Hill Church in Williamson, will be nominated by Jim Perdue, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins.
Chad Rising, pastor of Blacks Creek Baptist Church in Commerce, will be nominated by Robby Foster, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta.
Garrett Grubbs, pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Valdosta, will be nominated by TJ Mauldin, pastor of First Baptist Church in Tifton.
Steve Browning, pastor of First Baptist Church in Alpharetta, will be nominated by Larry Wynn, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation and former pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula.
