The urgency to increase the number of bivocational ministers in Alabama Baptist life continues to be an emphasis heralded by Craig Carlisle, immediate past president of the state convention.
During the final session of the Nov. 11–12 state convention annual meeting, Carlisle’s message garnered extra attention as he proudly handed the reins to a businessman who also serves as a bivocational pastor.
Convention president
Jarman Leatherwood, bivocational pastor of House of Hope and Restoration Church in Huntsville, is the new Alabama Baptist State Convention president. He was elected by acclamation Nov. 12.
Leatherwood previously served two one-year terms as first vice president and two one-year terms as second vice president. He also preached the convention sermon in 2023 and works with church planters across the state.
Also elected as new officers are:
First vice president — Ryan Whitley, founding pastor of CrossPoint Church in Trussville. He was elected ahead of Kenneth Wells, bivocational pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Scottsboro, with a vote of 206 to 112 with two ballots not counted.
Second vice president — Mat Alexander, pastor of First Baptist Church Gadsden. Alexander, like Leatherwood, was unopposed.
Other officers re-elected were Debbie Oliver as recording secretary and Mike Jackson as statistical secretary and registration secretary. Oliver and Jackson both serve on staff of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
Leatherwood’s ‘rising influence’
Carlisle, director of missions for Etowah Baptist Association, said, “I love Jarman Leatherwood. He is my brother in every way. In 2020, the Etowah Baptist Association called Jarman to serve on our staff as a part-time minister. During that time Jarman and I had many deep conversations about life and ministry and the impact we have upon those we serve.
“I watched Jarman build relationships in our association. I saw people respect him and seek his counsel about many things,” Carlisle shared with The Alabama Baptist. “In the course of our working together, we began to talk about his rising influence and the possibility of him serving the Alabama Baptist State Convention as an officer.
“Those conversations led to me nominating him for second vice president of our convention (in 2021), which he won without opposition. Since then, Jarman’s influence and impact have continued to grow. All of this led to what happened [last week] when he was elected to serve as our state convention president.
“Jarman is our president because he is the right man for this time. He is our president because he has proven himself to be a leader. He is our president because he is a loving pastor of his flock, and he will love Alabama Baptists well,” Carlisle said. “And did I mention Jarman is the first African-American president of our state convention in our 202-year history?”
‘Genuine commitment’
Robert Mullins, executive director of Madison Baptist Association where House of Hope and Restoration Church is a member, nominated Leatherwood for president.
“Jarman is a faithful brother in Christ who deeply loves the Lord, his family and his church. His life reflects a genuine commitment to following Jesus,” Mullins said. “He is a friend to many and an encouragement to all. …
“Above all, Jarman is a disciple of Jesus Christ. His love for the Lord is evident in everything he does, and he seeks to shine the light of Christ everywhere he goes.”
Leatherwood has served with Samford University’s Ministry Training Institute, is a graduate of Luther Rice Seminary and is working on a master of divinity degree from New Orleans Seminary.
With a background in computer information systems, Leatherwood owns Wood’s Construction, which provides HVAC services in the Huntsville area and beyond.
He and his wife, Camillus, have three children.
Share with others: