Stephen Fountain Elected President of Georgia Baptist Convention; Neal Dose and Lee Brewer Named Vice Presidents

Messengers to the Georgia Baptist Convention elected Stephen Fountain as president on Tuesday, according to Christian Index. Fountain, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Buford, was the only nominee. Jim Perdue, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, nominated him, and he was elected by acclamation. He succeeds Steve Browning, lead pastor of First Baptist Church Alpharetta.

Neal Dose and Lee Brewer were chosen as first and second vice presidents. Dose, lead pastor of Mansfield Baptist Church, was nominated by Brady Howard. Brewer, senior pastor of Palmetto Baptist Church, was nominated by Josh Saefkow. Christian Index reported that Palmetto Baptist has celebrated 116 baptisms during Brewer’s tenure and has doubled its worship attendance.

Earlier on Tuesday, outgoing president Browning delivered a message at Second Baptist Church during the 204th annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Christian Index reported that he preached from 1 Corinthians 16:9 and Acts 19 in a message built around the convention theme, “WIDE OPEN.”

Browning urged Georgia Baptists to recognize the opportunities God has placed before them and not to retreat when sharing the gospel becomes difficult. To illustrate keeping some doors intentionally open, he told a story about a van door left open during heavy rain. He said Christians can face hostility when sharing their faith in conversations, online, or elsewhere in the culture.

Drawing on Acts 19, Browning said that after Paul left the synagogue, he held daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus for two years. Browning’s point was that steady, faithful work continues even when the setting becomes hard, a lesson in serving the Lord wholeheartedly (Colossians 3:23).

Browning concluded his message with a direct appeal, as quoted by Christian Index: “In the face of pressure, we must not allow the door to close.”