April 20, 2024
DULUTH, Ga. – Members of the Georgia Baptist Convention’s Administration Committee chose Milledgeville Pastor Tim Oliver as their chairman on Tuesday.
“It’s an honor,” said Oliver, pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church. “I’ve never felt qualified in anything God called me to do, but He has always blessed.”
Oliver, who had been serving as the committee’s vice chairman, was the unanimous choice for the top post. He has been serving in ministry for 34 years, the last 20 of which have been at Lakeside.
“I’m excited,” Oliver said. “I’m excited about working with the Mission Board’s executive leadership team and all Georgia Baptists to reach this state, this nation and this world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Michael Wren Jr., pastor of Hephzibah Baptist Church in Hephzibah, was elected the Administration Committee’s vice chairman.
Wren, who holds a doctorate from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is a respected figure in the Georgia Baptist Convention. In addition to serving on the Administration Committee, he also serves on the Executive Committee.
The Georgia Baptist Convention has elected several other people into leadership in the past two months.
In December, David Mills, a veteran pastor, evangelist and seminary professor, was chosen as chairman of the Executive Committee.
Mills, who had previously served as the Executive Committee’s vice chairman, replaced Josh Saefkowwho completed his term as chairman and didn't seek another because he was elected president of the Georgia Baptist Convention in November.
Mills is a former assistant professor of evangelism and associate dean of applied ministries for the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he served from 2006 to 2013
Georgia Baptists elected Saefkow, pastor at Flat Creek Baptists Church in Fayetteville, as their president in an annual meeting in Augusta in November.
Saefkow, a respected denominational leader who has served in numerous roles in the Georgia Baptist Convention, was unopposed.
Saefkow, pastor at Flat Creek Baptist Church in Fayetteville, is a former vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention. He 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.
Also at the November annual meeting, Georgia Baptists elected four new vice presidents.
Rubén Torres, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Victoria en Cristo, was voted in as first vice president; Anthony Wilson, bi-vocational pastor of Church 180 in Hampton, as second vice president; Steve Taylor, lead pastor of McConnell Memorial Church in Hiawassee, as third vice president; and David Lambert, pastor of First Baptist Church in Thomson, as fourth vice president.
