A missionary on all levels of Baptist life, Gary Swafford retired Jan. 31.
Swafford most recently served as director of the office of associational missions and church planting for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM).
Swafford, a Huntsville native, began his missionary service in Pennsylvania with the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board) in 1967 where he started a new church.
He then traveled overseas, serving from 1969–1991 in Malawi with the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board). Swafford planted 11 churches and trained national leaders during his time in the African nation. While there, he also served as a church development consultant, media director, publications supervisor, building designer/consultant and administrator of the Baptist Mission.
When Swafford and his wife, Carolyn, moved to Alabama, he served as director of missions for Butler Baptist Association (1992–1995) before joining the SBOM staff in 1995. He was elected director of the office of associational missions and church planting in 2005.
“During his tenure at the SBOM, Gary has given guidance to associational missions coordination, building services consultation and church planting efforts,” said Rick Lance, executive director of the SBOM. “His commitment is one marked by a ‘beyond the call of duty’ type sacrifice. In essence, Gary … has been a pastor to the DOMs in our state. They see him in that light and they appreciate his pastoral care and concern for them. He has made a world of difference in their lives.”
Swafford noted how valuable the partnership with the associational missionaries was and how they have been his “family in ministry.” He also noted working with Lance, the SBOM executive office and leaders from across the state has been extremely rewarding, adding that he views the opportunity for his family to have continued their missionary calling in the family of Alabama Baptists “the icing on the cake.”
And while he may be retiring from full-time ministry, he said he and his wife intend to move to Huntsville sometime within the year, where they will remain involved in ministry opportunities. “I have always said I will retire ‘to,’ not ‘from,’ ” he said.
The Swaffords are members of First Baptist Church, Montgomery. They have four daughters and eight grandchildren.
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