Alabama pastor elected to faculty at New Orleans

Steven Franklin Echols, former pastor of First Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove, was elected as associate professor of leadership and director of professional doctoral programs at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) during the trustee executive board’s December meeting.

Echols has served as pastor of churches in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, including his most recent position at First Baptist, Pleasant Grove, where he led the congregation to several Sunday School growth awards since 1993.

He also served at Bethel Baptist Church, Moody, 1988-1993; Zoar Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, La., 1986-1988; First Baptist Church, Kentwood, La., 1983-1986; and Thompson Baptist Church, Smithdale, Miss., 1981-1983.

He served in various leadership roles, including the Louisiana Baptist Convention executive board and numerous positions in associational work. Since 1994 he has served as member of the board of trustees, member of executive committee and chairman of the missions and ministries committee for the Baptist Health System associated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

Echols has served as an adjunct professor at NOBTS’s Birmingham extension center since 1991, in Samford University’s department of religion 1992-1997 and at Samford’s Beeson Divinity School since 1997.

He also served as a field supervisor for the doctor of ministry program at Beeson 1994-1996.

“Dr. Echols brings a fabulous wealth of pastoral experience and outstanding training in leadership to the task of equipping pastors in our doctor of ministry program,” said NOBTS President Church Kelley.

Echols earned the bachelor of arts in religion from Mercer University’s Atlanta campus in 1976, the master of divinity in biblical studies at NOBTS in 1979 and the doctor of theology in preaching from NOBTS in 1983.

He completed his doctoral of ministry degree in administration and leadership from Beeson in December and has completed additional courses toward a master of arts in public and private management from Birmingham Southern College.

(BP)