INDEPENDENCE—Baptist Foundation of Texas President Lynn Craft received the Texas Baptist Elder Statesman Award during a recent presentation at the historic Independence Baptist Church, near Brenham.
Independence Association and the Baptist Distinctives Committee/Texas Baptist Heritage Center present the award annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to Texas Baptist life, particularly in the areas of Christian education and missions.
Baptist Foundation of Texas President Lynn Craft (left) accepts the Texas Baptist Elder Statesman Award from Bill Pitts, president of Independence Association.
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Under Craft’s leadership, the foundation—created to help Baptist churches, institutions and related charities manage their endowment and planned giving programs—has grown from $123 million total assets in 1976 to $1.9 billion in 2011.
“By longevity of service and effective executive leadership, Craft has benefited multiple institutions, churches and ministries, thus advancing causes such as Christian education and missions,” said Bill Pitts, professor at Baylor University and president of Independence Association. In presenting the award, Pitts emphasized Craft’s executive leadership skills were blended with strong Christian commitment and a wonderful sense of humor.
Craft grew up attending First Baptist Church in Dallas, where he was mentored by Sunday school teacher James Cantrell, president of the Baptist Foundation of Texas.
Craft received his accounting degree from Baylor University in 1965. After six months active-duty service with the U.S. Coast Guard, he joined a public accounting firm in Dallas and qualified as a certified public accountant in 1967.
Craft joined the Baptist Foundation of Texas staff in 1968. Continuing his education, he earned a master’s degree in banking and finance from Southern Methodist University in 1970.
In 1972, Craft became executive vice president of the foundation, and he was elected its president four years later when Cantrell retired.
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Craft and his wife, Becky, are members of First Baptist Church in Athens. They have two children and five grandchildren.
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