LEADERSHIP MATTERS by Roger A. Yancey, D.Min.
The partnership of Pastors and Deacons in ministering to the church family is significant to the health and well-being of every church. Time and again, the Deacons in our Association have asked when another time of training will be made available that is specific to Deacon Ministry. We are glad to share with you that this coming October 17th, you will be able to spend time with Dr. Jim Henry, one of the foremost leaders in understanding and providing training for Deacon Ministry.
Dr. Jim Henry served as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Orlando from September 1977 to March 2006, when he retired and was given the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, “Brother Jim” is a graduate of Georgetown College in Kentucky and earned his B.D., M. Div. Degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
He also pastored churches in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. He is eminently qualified in the area of deacon training. He pioneered online training of deacons by teaching the first deacon training course ever produced on videotape nearly 30 years ago. His study, Deacons: Partners in Ministry and Growth, produced in the Fall of 1997 by Sampson Ministry Resources, is now in over 7,500 churches.
Dr. Henry is one of the most respected Christian leaders of our day. He speaks for conferences and conventions throughout the world, has authored many books, serves on numerous boards and commissions, and has completed two terms as President of the Southern Baptist Convention. You can learn more about Dr. Jim Henry at the end of this article.
Come join with other Pastors and Deacons from churches throughout the TEBA for a time of fellowship and learning. The gathering will be hosted at Kingwood’s First Baptist Church, located at 3500 Woodland Hills Dr., Kingwood, TX 77339. Reserve time on your calendar on October 17th and register by clicking HERE.
Special Offer for Sr. Pastors. All Sr. Pastors who register 6 Deacons with their church will receive their own registration for free. We are committed to your church’s developing Deacon Ministry. The registration cost of $20 per person includes the materials for the training and a box lunch. We look forward to seeing you at the One-Day Deacon Retreat!
In Kingdom service,
Executive Director, AMS
More about Dr. Jim Henry…
Pastor Jim Henry is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. He received his B.A. degree from Georgetown College, the M.Div. degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and honorary doctorates from Georgetown College, Southwest Baptist University, and California Baptist University. Jim and beloved first wife Jeanette, who went to be with our Lord in 2019, have three grown and married children, five grandsons, and seven great-grandchildren. In 2020, he married long-time mutual friend and First Baptist Orlando member Kathy Ann Siegel. She has two daughters, five grandsons, and three great-grandchildren.
After being ordained in 1960, Jim served churches in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and after serving 29 years, is Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church, Orlando, Florida. He has held many national denominational positions, including President of the SBC Pastors Conference (1981), trustee of the International Mission Board (1978-88), trustee of LifeWay Christian Resources Board (1969-75), member of the SBC Peace Committee (1985-88), Chairman of the SBC Spiritual Awakening Task Force (1991), Co-chair of the Reach the World SBC Task Force Committee (1993), President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1994-1996), Chairman of the Baptist Worship Study Commission of Study and Research for Baptist World Alliance (1995-2000), Trustee of GuideStone Financial Services (2004-2011), inducted into the inaugural Hall Of Fame Class of the First Academy (2015), Trustee at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Trustee at Chriswell College and was honored to be added to the Georgetown College Distinguished Alumni Class of 2019.
He has preached on seminary and college campuses and has spoken at various state and SBC conventions, pastors’ conferences, and other special meetings, including the Billy Graham School of Evangelism and The Cove. He has made a number of television guest appearances. His writings include nine books, Heartwarmers, The Pastor’s Wedding Manual, Keeping Life in Perspective, In Remembrance of Me, The Two Shall Become One, A Treasury of Funeral and Memorial Messages, Dangerous Intersections, his autobiography Son Of A Gunn, and a book for caregivers of Alzheimer’s and memory loss called What Now. Jim has been active in civic affairs and honored in the list of Outstanding Young Men of America (1970), named Minister of the Year by the Greater Orlando Baptist Association (1985), Floridian of the Year, by the Orlando Sentinel (1997), awarded the M.E. Dodd Cooperative Program Award, by the SBC, (2000), the Florida Baptist Convention named scholarships for theological education known as Jim Henry Funds (2002), and New Orleans Seminary designed a Jim Henry Classroom for Pastoral Excellence (2002).
In his leisure time, Jim enjoys jogging, reading, fishing, golfing, and grandchildren.
