Jerry Spencer elected SBC 2nd vice president
--By Don Hinkle
   ATLANTA, June 15--Jerry Spencer, pastor of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Dothan, Ala., was elected second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 15. He defeated Paul Russell, pastor of Sunridge Baptist Church, Seabring, Fla., by a vote of 1,817 (52%) to 1,706 (48%).
    Spencer, who also serves on the SBC Executive Committee, was nominated by Stan Coffey, pastor of San Jacinto Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas.
    Coffey said when Spencer became pastor of Ridgecrest Baptist Church 10 years ago the congregation averaged about 400 in Sunday school and had about 1,000 members. It now averages 1,400 in Sunday school attendance and has a membership of approximately 3,000.
    "He spent 27 years in full-time evangelism, winning the lost, building the church, encouraging pastors, thrilling the hearts of many people with his vibrant loving spirit and his compassion for people," Coffey said. "He's put his arms around that city."
    Spencer is a graduate of Union University, Jackson, Tenn., the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.
    Russell was nominated by Zach Zevendon from Briarwood Baptist Church, Ringgold, Ga.
    "He pastors a growing congregation of 200, the size of which represents the vast majority of Southern Baptist churches," Zenvendon said. He added that Russell's congregation supports the Cooperative Program with 15 percent of its undesignated offerings, and 22 percent of its total budget goes to missions. Russell also has pastored churches in Mississipppi and other parts of Florida.

top of page

back to newsroom