Burkesville—Mark Shelton, of Burkesville, will be nominated as president of the Kentucky Baptist Pastors’ Conference Nov. 9 in Elizabethtown, immediately prior to the Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

Shelton, pastor of Burkesville Baptist Church in Cumberland County, will be nominated by Tom James, lead pastor of Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green and current president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

“God is at work doing incredible things at Burkesville Baptist where Mark (Shelton) has served for more than 17 years as their pastor,” James said. “Mark is a proven leader and pastor who has a deep love for his people.”

Calling Shelton a “committed soul-winner,” James noted that last year Burkesville baptized 57 people. Under his tenure, Sunday School attendance has grown from 35 to 277, and Cooperative Program giving has increased by nearly 25 percent to just over 11 percent of their undesignated receipts today, he added.

A graduate of Mercer University and Campbellsville University, Shelton, who grew up in Crab Orchard, has served as an adjunct professor of New Testament and evangelism at Campbellsville. He also was associate pastor or pastor of churches in Lincoln, Pulaski and Boyle counties, and has been a member of various KBC committees, such as the Mission Board and Nominating Committee. He also was instrumental in developing a new chaplain program for Cumberland County Hospital.

“Mark truly has a heart for fellow pastors and would use this position as a means to encouraging them,” James continued. “In visiting with Mark, he’s bothered by the number of pastors that are discouraged, many of whom are leaving the ministry.”

If elected as president, Shelton said his goal would be to “speak into the lives” and encourage pastors and lay people across Kentucky. “I believe with great conviction that we have never had such a time as this to spread the gospel, and that the world and current happenings have created for us a great opportunity to reach lost people for Christ.”

Shelton is the second announced candidate for the post. Jonathan Carter, pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, is expected to be nominated by Travis Farris, senior pastor of Walnut Memorial Baptist Church in Owensboro. (WR)