Colbert-Lauderdale’s Warren retires after 17 years

Talented encourager, humble servant, influential man of the Word and outstanding leader are ways many people describe Jim Warren. With more than 42 years in Baptist ministry, he has touched the lives of countless people in Alabama and around the world. 
   
After serving 17 years as director of missions (DOM) for Colbert-Lauderdale Baptist Association, Warren recently announced his retirement, effective Feb. 28. 
   
Yet, in the future, he plans to stay busy preaching, doing missions work, pursuing theological studies and spending time with family.
   
“I’ve had the privilege for 35 years in this association of preaching the majority of Sundays. However, it has been limited to week-to-week supply preaching,” said Warren, who also serves on the board of regents for the University of Mobile and board of directors for The Alabama Baptist. 
   
“But it is my hope that the churches will use me for interim times now that I am free to do that as well as week-to-week supply preaching.”
   
On Feb. 26, 2–4 p.m., the association will honor him with a reception at his home church, Highland Baptist Church, Florence.
   
After graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in religion from Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham in 1964 and a divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1968, Warren served as pastor in various Alabama and Texas churches. 
   
In 1970, while leading Calvary Baptist Church, Russellville, he was approached about becoming director of the Baptist Student Union (now Baptist Campus Ministry) at the University of North Alabama in Florence.
   
“I loved serving God in the local church, and I thought I would always be a pastor,” Warren said. “I’ve learned through the years that God’s will for us unfolds over time.”
   
For the next 18 years, he formed many special friendships with students who now do Baptist work across the state. One such student is Sammy Wallace, pastor of York Terrace Baptist Church, Sheffield, in Colbert-Lauderdale Association.
   
“He (Warren) was influential in helping me acquire my first staff position as youth director,” Wallace said. “He helped me prepare my first resumé and told me what to expect in the interview. He’s always been a friend and confidant. I look up to him like a football player looks up to a head coach. He has always been there for me through the years.”
   
While leading the campus ministry, Warren also became deeply involved in association work, heading a two-year, 100-acre camp-building project.
   
“That experience introduced me to the full extent of how a Baptist association operates,” he said.
   
When Warren took the DOM position with Colbert-Lauderdale in 1988, he prayed for God to give him a few basic guidelines to help him be effective.
   
“The answer to those prayers focused my approach so that I have emphasized four things: strong Christ-honoring relationships between our churches, excellence in everything we undertake, priority efforts in missions and evangelism and strong ties to our state and national conventions expressed in faithful support of the Cooperative Program,” Warren said.
   
He credits gifted and dedicated leadership team and association committee members for accomplishments made over the years. 
   
In the same way, others believe his broad experience and leadership abilities have contributed to the association’s success.
   
Gary Swafford, director of the office of associational missions and church planting for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, said Warren is able to connect with many different kinds of people because of his various talents.
   
“Jim is a very creative person,” Swafford said. “He has been a Kingdom-minded leader always trying to think of how to reach people who are not yet involved in church. He has initiated all kinds of programs through the local churches to meet needs and provide opportunities for relationships so a Christian witness can be given.”
   
Warren said his view has always been that the association exists to serve the churches, which he calls a “noble purpose.”
   
“A director of missions must never feel that he has a ‘program’ for churches to support,” Warren said. “If one has that attitude, the association can be in competition with the churches.”
   
Eva Witte, who has served as clerk of the association for 11 years, sums up Warren’s life by reflecting on Galatians 5:22–23.
   
“He possesses those gracious habits that the Holy Spirit produces in a Christian life,” she said. 
   
“Brother Jim is truly going to be missed. His leadership is superb and beyond reproach,” Witte said. “He is truly a person who makes a difference in those he is around. His love for people and his work for the Lord is a manifestation and revelation of God’s hand on his life. He has worked very hard to get the association in tiptop shape.”
   
Warren’s pastor, John Brock, calls him a good friend who genuinely cares about people.
   
“He knows everybody here and has been a pastor to the pastors and a great leader,” Brock said. “He has been a model of the things that he has preached and taught. He’s been a man of integrity. He managed the affairs of the association with great grace and professionalism.”