LEXINGTON—Nick Sandefur, pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church for two years, will be nominated for president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention when it meets in Pikeville Nov. 13.

He will be nominated by evangelist Don Mathis, of Bowling Green, who endorsed Sandefur as “a godly man whom I know, who has been pastor to my family, a servant leader, and a man who will be an outstanding KBC President.”

Mathis said he had come to know Sandefur during his 13-year ministry as senior pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church in Hopkinsville, where he had been pastor to most of Mathis’ family. 

“I have had the privilege of observing Bro. Nick’s ministry on KBC committees and as church pastor,” Mathis said, “and am impressed that he will speak his convictions and opinions, but is equally quick to listen to those of others.” 

Describing Sandefur as “a Bible-believer,” Mathis added, “He preaches the word … loves the Lord, loves people.”

Sandefur has been a member of the KBC Mission Board, served on its Nominating Committee, and on a search committee that recommended Paul Chitwood to become executive director.

He also has been a KBC consultant for the North Central Region, working with more than 400 churches. In that role, he developed a regional leadership network involving 140 ministers, conducted numerous training events, and preached in many area churches. 

“In short, Bro. Nick (Sandefur) knows Kentucky Baptists from both a convention viewpoint, but more important in our churches,” Mathis said.

As pastor of Porter Memorial, Sandefur is leading the Lexington congregation to increase Cooperative Program giving from 7 percent to at least 10 percent by raising it .25 percent each year. Thus far, after being increased three times, the CP percentage now stands at 7.5 percent, Mathis said, noting that worship attendance also has increased by 200, with 82 coming by baptism.

 During Sandefur’s tenure at Edgewood, average worship attendance increased from 235 to 778, as 459 baptisms were recorded, and giving grew from $295,000 to more than a $1 million. He also led the church through a relocation effort involving $5.2 million dollars. “Even with their debt, Edgewood never gave less than 11 percent though the Cooperative Programs,” Mathis noted.

In accepting the nomination, Sandefur said, “If Kentucky Baptists were to ask me to serve them as president, my goal would be to promote the value of cooperative missions, to champion the wisdom of the cooperative program, to get younger leaders engaged in convention life and to highlight the urgency of reaching a growing lost population in Kentucky.” (WR)