Voices: ‘What makes for a good D.O.M.?’

In Baptist life, the title “director of missions” creates various images of people and responsibilities.

Urban DOMs

In urban settings, the DOM often is a mission strategist. He or she is an executive director who oversees a plan to extend the gospel among diverse people groups, a variety of economic circumstances and in a specific region. There often is a sense of executive coaching among urban DOMs.

I recall an urban DOM at a pastor’s retreat who spent two days explaining how to use various phone apps to manage time better in 15-minute increments. In a region that requires three hours to make a hospital visit, his view of time was different than ours.

In Houston, San Antonio or Fort Worth, the title “director of missions” means something very different than it does in Mexia, Pittsburg or Hico.

Rural DOMs

In rural life, the concept of a director of missions is rooted in the relationship between an individual and the churches.

In my first pastorate, I heard stories of Franklin Swanner (retired 1969), the director of missions for District Nine of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. District Nine was a vast area of West Texas. Over the years, District Nine has been served by as many as five associations.

Winifred Lee, a beloved member of First Baptist Church in Matador, said: “It was always a treat when Dr. Swanner came to check on us.”

Franklin Swanner was the primary point of contact for dozens of churches regarding the BGCT. He was the person who created connections, helped churches dream and let them know their work for the kingdom was important.

Les Griffin

When Les Griffin became the director of missions for the Caprock Plains Baptist Area in May 2011, he was tasked with working with three of the five associations in District Nine. He was responsible for the 89 churches from Paducah in the east to Farwell in the west, Tulia in the north to Hale Center in the south, and everything in between.

Little did Betty, Les’ wife, know she would travel more than a quarter of a million miles over the next 15 years.

In 2019, Les oversaw the effort to combine three associations into the Caprock Plains Baptist Association. With every position, there is an administrative component. Les met those responsibilities. He organized, reminded, publicized and did everything that goes with leadership.

However, the gist of Les’s service as a DOM was walking alongside churches, deacons and pastors.

When G.J. Walton, the pastor at First Baptist Church in Silverton’s father, passed away on a family vacation, Les stood alongside their family. Twice, Les traveled by bus with the Happy Union Baptist Church to spend a week with a sister church in Bessemer, Ala.

Les enthusiastically supported the work of Compañerismos, despite having negligible Spanish skills. Working with other DOMs, he organized an annual pastor’s retreat that was both helpful and refreshing. Les led trips to the northwestern United States, helping to form mission partnerships.

Hard times

A director of missions requires God-given wisdom and decades of experience—God’s wisdom that sees a way through and experience that promises a better tomorrow. Les has both.

Les often stood in the gap between a struggling staff member and a disappointed church. He put oil on troubled waters. He would bring direction and a path toward peace.

It is not easy work, but it is important work of trying to redeem a staff member and their family, all the while encouraging a church that has endured difficult days.

Hard decisions

Les has been involved in starting new churches in places like Friona, Muleshoe, Farwell and Plainview. However, the declining rural population often has meant walking alongside “country churches” as they make the difficult decision to discontinue their services. It is a hard decision to close a church.

Churches and schools are the anchor points of community life. However, when the school closes, difficulties quickly arise for the church. Churches may find themselves with only one or two participating families.

Les developed a caring approach with a gentle touch. He established an endowed mission fund with HighGround Advisors, enabling a church’s assets to continue supporting missions for generations to come.

‘The relationship business’

Over the years, Les Griffin wove his life into the lives of the pastors and the churches of the Caprock Plains Baptist Association. The churches returned the favor.

Betty was severely injured in an accident while walking down the street in Florence, Italy. Be aware: When the police decide to raise the traffic barricades, you may be walking on one.

Les was injured in an accident while trying to trim a wayward tree branch.

During those complicated surgeries and lengthy recoveries, the churches of the Caprock Plains Baptist Association provided in every way possible.

Les’ tenure as DOM has been a reminder of the life lesson: No matter the business you conduct, you are first in the relationship business.

‘We are grateful’

When Les became the director of missions, he sought sage advice and wisdom from his aged father Joe. Joe was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Abernathy when the legendary Franklin Swanner was director of missions.

“Dad, what makes for a good DOM?”

Joe paused and reflected. Finally, he answered, “Things were always better when the DOM left the church alone.”

Speaking on behalf of the pastors and churches of the Caprock Plains Baptist Association, we are grateful Les disregarded his father’s advice and became a part of our lives and fellowship. He and Betty have been a blessing to the churches for almost 15 years. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the service they have given, and may the Lord bless their busy retirement.

Stacy Conner is pastor of First Baptist Church in Muleshoe. The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author.