Samford University names ministers of the year

Eight Alabama Baptist ministers were honored by Birmingham’s Samford University for their outstanding service Nov. 16. Presentations were made at Samford’s 2005 Minister of the Year breakfast during the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting in Huntsville. 
   
Honorees were nominated by their congregations on the basis of service as an effective and consistent model of leadership in the local church, denominational involvement and missions and evangelism support. 
   
Samford President Thomas E. Corts (front row, left) presented each a plaque recognizing their achievement. James Walters (not pictured), pastor of First Baptist Church, Mobile, and chairman of Samford’s board of ministerial mentors, assisted. This year’s honorees are (front, l to r, beside Corts): Bob Thornton, retired director of missions, Etowah Baptist Association, Metro Association category; Bobby Hopper, director of missions, Bethel Baptist Association, Town and Country Association category; Tim McCord, Greenbrier Road Baptist Church, Anniston, Bivocational Minister category; Raymond Eugene Ennis, First Baptist Church, Trussville, Retired Minister category; (back row, l to r) Bill Hand, First Baptist Church, LaFayette, and Whitt Hibbs, Arbor Baptist Church, Pell City, Less Than 300 Members category (tie); Greg Cotter, Harmony Baptist Church, Andalusia, 300–999 Members category; and James D. Moebes, Mountain Brook Baptist Church, 1,000-plus Members category. (TAB)