Outgoing Alabama Baptist State Convention President John Killian understands the network of Baptist life as much as anyone might. And the opportunity to participate in board meetings and activities of all the state convention entities for the past two years has only served to enhance his understanding.
The various ministries fit together to make a more complete effort, he said. “I’ve seen the value of all the different ministries, and I see the whole benefit of the total package of ministry.”
Killian, pastor of Maytown Baptist Church, will complete his second one-year term as state convention president during the group’s annual meeting Nov. 11–12 in Birmingham.
State convention first vice president Travis Coleman, pastor of First Baptist Church, Prattville, affirmed Killian’s bird’s-eye view of the convention.
“He has presided with a great deal of knowledge about our entities and their ministries,” Coleman said.
Killian’s extroverted personality and sincere interest in people and the work being done also served him and the convention well during his tenure, Coleman added.
“John is a true southern gentleman. He meets people well … and is comfortable with all kinds of people,” he said. “He makes everyone feel special.
“I’ve learned from John to be an encourager,” Coleman said. “He’s a 21st century Barnabas. He challenges people to give others the benefit of the doubt and to be fair.”
Killian has had numerous opportunities to represent Alabama Baptists and the Christian community across the state in a variety of venues through speaking engagements, TV and newspaper interviews and as part of panel discussions.
The highlight of his year as president came in July when he was a featured speaker at the “Alabama Stands with Israel” gathering — an event co-sponsored by The Birmingham Jewish Federation and Levite Jewish Community Center. Killian was included in the program as a spokesperson for the Christian community.
He also preached at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham and at Judson College in Marion during his year as state convention president and has ongoing invitations to preach in churches.
Judson, as far as Killian is concerned, has just about the best food in the state of Alabama. He said it’s “worth a drive to Marion just to eat there.”
Killian — who serves as an adjunct professor for the Birmingham extension center of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary — will deliver his final president’s address Nov. 11. He looks forward to even more opportunities to build relationships with Alabama Baptists as he moves into the past president role.
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2014 Alabama Baptist State Convention Annual Meeting
Nov. 11–12
Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham
For more information, visit www.abscannualmeeting.org.
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