Good skills, a great heart and a teachable spirit — “those are the characteristics of a great leader … which describes (Alabama’s) Barry Holcomb,” said Bob Reccord, president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB).
Holcomb, who led his first NAMB board of trustees meeting as chairman Oct. 5–6, “is a great guy who stepped into a challenging position and has done it with excellence,” Reccord noted.
“Serving on this board has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life,” said Holcomb, who is pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Andalusia.
Holcomb is the first Alabama Baptist to chair the board for NAMB, which was formed in 1997 as a combination of the Home Mission Board, Brotherhood Commission and Radio and Television Commission.
First elected to the board in 1998, Holcomb has served on various committees and task forces and was an officer for three and half years before being elected chairman in May.
“I’ve been a trustee long enough that I know how to be a good trustee,” Holcomb said. “I’m aware of where we’ve been (as a convention) and hopefully have a good sense of where God wants us to go.”
Bill Curtis of South Carolina, first vice chairman, said, “Barry has the full confidence of our board. He is well respected and a good leader.” Along with maintaining a good rapport with fellow board members, Holcomb also “is capable to lead through challenging issues we encounter,” Curtis added.
Gary Hollingsworth — pastor of First Baptist Church, Trussville, and NAMB trustee — agreed. “Barry (also) is encouraging and wants to hear everyone’s opinion.”
NAMB trustee Ellie Wade Ficken, a member of Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery, has served on committees that Holcomb has chaired during the years. “He does a marvelous job and is a great organizer,” she said. “We have initiated a lot of new things under his leadership.”
Described by Hollingsworth and others as a “gentle man” and “fair yet firm in his convictions,” Holcomb said he knows what he believes and he stands strong on those beliefs. He also knows that standing strong sometimes means being outspoken and he’s willing to play that role when necessary.
But even more apparent than the “gentle” yet “firm” traits of Holcomb’s personality is an intense passion for missions, fellow trustees contend.
It was on an international missions trip that “God revitalized my own spiritual life and my world view,” said the 44-year-old Holcomb, who has participated in three international missions trips since turning 40.
“I’ve heard missions sermons a lot over the years,” said Holcomb, who came to know Christ while a college student at Auburn University and was mentored by Al Jackson, pastor of Lakeview Baptist Church, Auburn. Lakeview is known for its missions focus, but Holcomb said even that environment didn’t impact him like experiencing missions firsthand.
“It takes us going to really be motivated, and I believe we have to set the pace to be motivated and mobilized,” Holcomb said, noting this holds trues for him as a pastor and as a trustee.
“If I’m going to be a pastor, I’m going to focus our church on missions,” said Holcomb, who served as pastor of North Gadsden Baptist Church in Etowah Association and Bluff Springs Baptist Church in Columbia Association prior to Bethany Baptist Church.
And he wants pastors of smaller churches to realize they can be just as involved as pastors of large churches. “I represent the grassroots Southern Baptist guys,” said Holcomb, noting Bethany Baptist averages 300 in Sunday School each week.
But Holcomb is quick to point out that he could do none of this without the support of his wife, Kathi. She helps him balance his ministry as a pastor and a trustee with their children Nathan, 11, and Abigail, 7.
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