Joseph Adams, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant and incumbent first vice president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, will be nominated for re-election to the position.
Chris Wigley, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Burleson, announced his intention to nominate Adams at Texas Baptists’ annual meeting in Waco, Nov. 15-17.
“Joseph Adams is a pastor, servant-leader, kingdom-minded co-laborer, and friend,” Wigley said.
“He is committed to the Great Commission. What I love most about him is his passion for the local church.”
Wigley cited Adams’ experience leading churches in revitalization efforts, developing cultures of evangelism, and engaging congregations in local and global missions.
“I think Joseph has outstanding qualities that make him the right candidate for re-election as first vice president,” Wigley said.
Committed and experienced
Wigley described Adams as humble, deeply committed to Scripture, and experienced in denominational service.
“He also understands the value of denominational work and has participated at all levels,” Wigley said.
“Not only has he served at the state level, he and I served together in a local association. He knows that we are better together.”
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Adams “has stepped into a church that had a long-tenured pastor, and he has done well to honor the church’s great past while boldly leading them into the future,” Wigley said. “Never an easy task, but one that Joseph has taken on with wisdom, humility, and vision.”
Wigley said the Mount Pleasant church is deeply committed to the Cooperative Program and the work of Texas Baptists.
“Joseph is a younger leader with the ability to unite generations, and that steady, unifying leadership will serve our convention well in this season,” Wigley said.
Service, unity, and cooperation
Adams said he views another term as an opportunity to serve churches and pastors and help Texas Baptists remain focused on evangelism, discipleship, and church health.
“I think it’s an honor. It’s a way for me to serve and hopefully be a blessing to our local churches in and throughout our convention. I believe God is doing some great things through our convention,” Adams said.
He said his experience serving on the Missions Funding Council and Constitution and Bylaws Committee has given him opportunities to work with leaders across the convention.
“One of my greatest accomplishments was to come alongside and help serve and encourage and support,” Adams said.
“Because of this role, pastors that I don’t know have just picked the phone up and called my church office or email me directly about situations that they’re going through. … And I think as much as they thought I was being a blessing to them, they were being a blessing to me.”
Adams said he is running to continue working with the BGCT to support churches and leadership.
“I would … just continue championing and supporting our pastors, our churches, and helping Texas Baptists remain focused on … evangelism, discipleship, and church health. And the stronger our churches are, the stronger our convention will be,” Adams said.
Adams said maintaining cooperation and unity among Texas Baptists will be among the convention’s biggest challenges.
“We are a large family of churches that are different in size, they’re different in style, and they’re different in ministry context—and we’re not going to agree on every secondary issue. We’re definitely not going to agree on every tertiary issue,” Adams said.
“We’ve got to truly understand what the primary issues are, unite around the gospel, unite around the Great Commission, and unite around the Great Commandment.”
Adams said cooperation also gives Texas Baptists strength.
“The local church has always been, and Lord willing, will always be the heartbeat of the Texas Baptists. That’s our strength,” Adams said.
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