Jackson, Sawyer ticket set for MBC’s 2 top posts
Both endorsed by MBLA
By Bob Baysinger
Managing Editor
September 28, 2004
JEFFERSON CITY – Mitchell Jackson, pastor of one of the fastest-growing Missouri Baptist congregations – Miner Baptist Church, Sikeston – will be nominated to serve as president of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) in 2005.
Ralph Sawyer, who celebrated his fifth anniversary as pastor of First Baptist Church, Wentzville, on Sept. 19, will be nominated for first vice president. Jerry Williams, director of missions in Barry County Baptist Association, will be nominated for second vice president.
“Mitch has served as first vice president the last year and has done an excellent job,” said Roger Moran, research director for the Missouri Baptist Layman’s Association. “Mitch, Ralph and Jerry all have the full support of the association.
“These men are solid, conservative individuals. They all love the Lord and will continue to move the convention in the spiritual and theological direction we’ve been moving.”
Jackson has served as senior pastor at Miner Baptist since June 1, 1997. When he accepted the call at Sikeston, the church had only a part-time music director, a part-time minister of education and a secretary. Sunday School average attendance was 150, and worship attendance was less.
Miner now has seven full-time staff members with an average attendance of almost 400 in Sunday School and about 600 in the two Sunday morning worship services.
Jackson was licensed to the Gospel ministry at age 18 and ordained at the age of 20 at Lynnwood Baptist Church, Cape Girardeau. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a music education degree and later received his master’s degree in religious education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.
Jackson’s first pastorate was in Ava, Ill., where he served five years until his call to Miner.
Miner regularly leads Charleston Baptist Association in baptisms. Jackson has led the church to be a missions-minded congregation, involved actively in outreach ministry.
Sawyer is a native of Lexington, and has long been active in Missouri Baptist life.
Before his move to Wentzville, he pastored for 11 years at Hallsville Baptist Church. He currently is second vice-president on the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary board of trustees and also has served on the Southern Baptist Convention’s Committee on Nominations.
Sawyer attended Criswell Bible College in Dallas, Texas.
Williams is serving his sixth year as director of missions in the Barry County Association. He pastored Arnhart Baptist Church in the Barry County Association before beginning his current ministry.
A native of Joplin, Williams is a 1972 graduate of Southwest Baptist University. He pastored in Louisiana and also pastored churches at Steelville and Butler before moving to Barry County.
As of press time there was no nominee for recording secretary and there were no other known nominees for the convention’s four offices.