ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)—Dusty Durbin, pastor of Big Level Baptist Church in Wiggins, Miss., will be nominated for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Alabama pastor Jonathan Jenkins announced he plans to nominate Durbin at the SBC 2020 annual meeting June 9-10 in Orlando, Fla.
“Dusty at 34 years old has displayed a wise and cooperative spirit in the churches he’s led and the local and state cooperative works he has participated in,” said Jenkins, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Kinston, Ala.
“He not only participates but has led his church to give generously through the Cooperative Program and to the Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon missions offerings.”
In his 13 years of vocational ministry, and at his current church since March 2018, Durbin has embraced “the successful efforts of those who have gone before him,” Jenkins told Baptist Press, and has led “with an eye toward innovation and vision for the future of local church and kingdom ministry.”
Jenkins described Durbin as a man who “walks faithfully in grace and truth in all that he does,” and “strives to be the embodiment of a love that is not self-seeking, but rejoices in truth.”
Committed to the Great Commission
Durbin said he was hesitant to be nominated but consented after weeks of prayer.
“I am doing so for two reasons,” Durbin said of his acceptance. “Firstly, I want to be faithful in whatever God should put before me. Secondly, I am extremely thankful for and committed to the work of the Southern Baptist Convention.”
Durbin told Baptist Press he believes he can serve well.
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“My passion coincides with the reason the Southern Baptist Convention exists—the Great Commission,” he said. “Also, I believe that by serving, if elected, I would be able to represent well the untold number of faithful pastors of normative Southern Baptist churches who lead their churches to champion and generously support the work of the Southern Baptist Convention through the Cooperative Program and our strong missions entities.”
By the numbers
Big Level Baptist Church contributed 10.24 percent of undesignated receipts to the SBC Cooperative Program in 2019, or $29,580 of $288,860, according to the SBC Annual Church Profile. The church’s Great Commission Giving totaled $49,907 on the ACP profile.
The church averages 140 in attendance with a total membership of 565, according to the profile.
Before leading Big Level, Durbin was pastor of Atlanta Baptist Church in Atlanta, La., more than seven years, and served three years as a youth and education pastor at Woodhaven Baptist Church in Tickfaw, La.
Durbin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Christian ministry degree from Leavell College of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Arts in pastoral ministry degree from Louisiana College, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from North Greenville University. He and his wife Crystal have three children—Micah, Wyatt and Hallie.
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