A change is coming to First Baptist Church in Columbus. Longtime pastor Shawn Parker will soon leave the pulpit to take on new responsibilities as executive director-treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. He will relocate to the Jackson area and will begin new duties on Jan. 13. He will become executive director-treasurer on March 1. Parker succeeds Jim Futral, who will formally retire at the end of February after more than 21 years of service with the MBCB.
“We are going to miss the people; the family nature of Columbus and the Golden Triangle is priceless,” Parker told The Dispatch. “After being here these many years, it’s hard to go anywhere without seeing somebody you know and that you can talk to. I really am going to miss that, that family feel.”
Parker was unanimously called to the new position by the MBCB Dec. 19.
“We believe he is the Lord’s man. We believe he is a relational leader who knows how to cast a vision,” said Bobby Kirk, chairman of the search committee and member of Roundaway Baptist Church, Doddsville, in his presentation to the MBCB executive committee.
Journey to Jackson
Prior to his call to First Baptist Church, Columbus, in 2003, Parker served as senior pastor of Metairie Baptist Church in Louisiana (2001-2003); pastor of Lakeview Baptist Church, New Orleans (1993-2001); and pastor of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Milan, Tennessee (1990-1991). He holds both a Master of Divinity with languages degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in Old Testament and Hebrew degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Parker has served on the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board and the board’s executive committee, as well as the Mississippi Baptist Convention’s resolutions committee and nominating committee.
He also served as a member of the Golden Triangle Baptist Association’s executive leadership team while in Columbus, and on the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board. He served on the adjunct faculty of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary from 2000-2003, and then again from 2011 to the present.
The minister has been married for more than 29 years to wife Elizabeth, a native of Clarksville, Tennessee. They have two children: Ana Elisabeth, 22, a nurse in Columbus, and Nathaniel Nowell, 20, a student at Baptist-affiliated Mississippi College in Clinton.
In Columbus
Reflecting on his time at First Baptist, Parker commented on some notable developments. One of the most visible was the church’s decision in 2005 to purchase property on Bluecutt Road and construct new facilities. The first phase saw a Ministry and Activity Center built; construction on the second phase, a preschool and children’s facility, is nearing completion.
“Our plan is to move into building a sanctuary next,” Parker said. “When a new pastor is on board, I think things are ready to move forward.”
Parker has seen other changes in his time.
“One of the most marked changes, I think, is the fact that we’ve done a better job of reaching younger people in the last 10 years, and we’ve done a better job of reaching those that really need to connect with God — specifically I’m thinking about the recovery community.”
Through an association with Last House on the Block, First Baptist is able to offer outreach to individuals with particular needs.
“The church has really gotten plugged in to the recovery ministry, and what I love about the church these days is we have a lot of professionals, medical doctors and attorneys who are fellowshipping every week with people who are coming out of addiction, coming out of prison. To me that is a most meaningful thing.”
Transition
Ken Hester, president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention and senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Pontotoc, said, “Every man on the search committee wanted nothing less than to present the person we feel convinced that God has called to the position of the executive director-treasurer, or we would not present him. We are convinced that Dr. Shawn Parker is the man God has called to be our next executive director-treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board to shepherd us, as Mississippi Baptists, into the future.”
First Baptist Minister of Music Bobby Sanderson said, “We’re going to miss Shawn immensely at First Baptist, but we’re excited to share such a great gift with the Mississippi Baptist Convention. It’s been my pleasure and joy to serve with such a wonderful pastor and preacher. Shawn is a wise, extremely gifted leader, and I can’t think of a better person to lead Mississippi Baptists.”
After almost 17 years, the transition will be significant for minister and congregation.
“First Baptist Church has been a very loving and encouraging church family for me and my family, and we will always treasure that,” Parker said.
The Mississippi Baptist Convention is comprised of nearly 2,200 local churches and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.
Editor’s note: William H. Perkins, editor of The Baptist Record, provided some information contained in this story through a press release.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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