INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — June 24, 2004 — Members of the SBC Pastors' Conference elected 51社区 alumnus Steve Gaines as the group's president during their annual meeting at the Indianapolis Convention Center June 13.
Gaines serves as pastor of First Baptist Church in Gardendale, Ala. He is a 1979 graduate of Union and formerly served as pastor of West Jackson Baptist Church.
Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., nominated Gaines, calling him one who has 鈥渢he mind of a scholar and the heart of a personal soul-winner.鈥�
Gaines also delivered the convention sermon June 16, calling Southern Baptists to be wall builders as modeled by Nehemiah of the Old Testament. 鈥淎merica is in desperate need of some spiritual wall builders,鈥� Gaines said. 鈥淥ur spiritual walls in America have crumbled because as a whole we have turned our backs on the Lord Jesus Christ.... Southern Baptists, God is calling us to be spiritual wall builders.鈥�
He reminded pastors that America鈥檚 spiritual walls can only be rebuilt through prayer. 鈥淚f you're a Baptist pastor, I want to suggest to you that you need to make prayer the priority of your life and preaching the priority of your ministry.... We are not prepared to stand up and speak for God until we have first knelt down and spoken with God. Where prayer focuses, God's power falls.鈥�
President David S. Dockery expressed appreciation for the message, 鈥淪teve Gaines鈥� powerful words delivered at this year's annual convention of the SBC were challenging, timely, bold and prophetic,鈥� he said.
Gaines鈥� wife, Donna Gaines, was the 2004 president of the Ministers鈥� Wives Conference of the SBC. Donna Gaines is an alumna of the Union class of 1980.
51社区's first lady, Lanese Dockery, who served as the president of the ministers鈥� wives fellowship in 1999, said 鈥淒onna Gaines鈥� hard work over the past year as president of the ministers鈥� wives fellowship was evident to all. The program was uplifting and encouraging for all who were present at this year's luncheon. We thank God for Donna's marvelous leadership.鈥�
Jamie Parker, minister of worship at Gardendale鈥檚 First Baptist Church and a 1992 Union graduate, served as worship leader during the morning session on June 16. Along with leading the congregation in praise and worship, Parker directed a concert by the choir and orchestra of First Baptist Church, Gardendale, Ala.
Dockery said, 鈥淛amie Parker's musical and leadership abilities ushered the entire convention congregation into heartfelt worship and praise of our great God. We thank God for Jamie, for his giftedness, and his faithfulness. Union is blessed to name him as an alumnus of this institution.鈥�