John Killian said he’s tried to make it to every Alabama Baptist board of trustee meeting he possibly could in 2013, and it’s kept him busy.
But Killian, president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention, has been pleased with what he’s seen.
“I have enjoyed the sense of missions exhibited in our entities,” he said, noting that he hopes during the 2013 annual meeting entities can “make their case for the missions aspect of what they do” so that Alabama Baptists can be encouraged that their dollars are making an impact from a missional standpoint.
“Alabama Baptists are doing good work, and that should be celebrated, commended and expanded upon,” he said.
Killian, pastor of Maytown Baptist Church, said he’s proud of the way Alabama Baptists have kept cooperation and Southern Baptist identity as high priorities.
“Every level of our missions involvement together is voluntary, and I’m thankful we have made it clear that we are Southern Baptist and that our missions cooperation is Southern Baptist,” he said. “Alabama Baptists are by far No. 1 in support of Southern Baptist work. I hope we don’t chip away at that — I don’t think we will.”
Killian said he has seen that the average pastor in Alabama Baptist life “is a good man who wants to see Baptist life move forward but doesn’t want to be encumbered” by the business side of things.
He encouraged pastors to come to the state convention annual meeting at Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville, Nov. 12–13, and see how supporting the business side of the convention keeps the missions efforts going that are most important to them.
Scott Slayton, pastor of Chelsea Village Baptist Church, announced Oct. 1 that he plans to nominate Killian for re-election during the annual meeting.
“John is a good friend to me personally and is a friend and mentor to countless other young pastors,” he said. “He takes a genuine interest in young men who are beginning to serve in the ministry and is willing to offer help whenever he is called upon. He listens to the opinions of younger pastors in convention life and desires for them to have an active part in the future of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.”
And theologically, Slayton said, Killian “stands on the historic doctrines of the Christian faith as they are revealed in God’s Word.”
Killian said any wish he has for Alabama Baptists can be boiled down to that core thought.
“I want to influence the state to be more faithful to Scripture,” Killian said. “I want to see us take the strongest stance possible on the Bible.”
He hopes one day that stance will include having missionaries of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) affirm the Baptist Faith and Message.
“It would make a strong statement about who we are,” Killian said.
He’s been encouraged by the work he’s seen going on in the state’s three Baptist colleges, in entities such as the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries and in ministries provided across the state by the SBOM.
“I’m encouraged by the (SBOM’s) focus on church planting, and I’ve enjoyed fellowship with Rick Lance (SBOM executive director),” Killian said.
“He’s a humble man who has a servant’s attitude in all he does.”
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