PIKEVILLE—Nick Sandefur, pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, was elected as president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention at the organization’s annual meeting in Pikeville Nov. 13.

Sandefur defeated Tim Searcy, pastor of Allen Baptist Church in Prestonsburg, garnering —– votes to Searcy’s _____ votes, or___ percent. He was nominated by Bowling Green evangelist Don Mathis.

Sandefur said he wants to encourage churches to renew their commitment to Cooperative Program giving. “Through CP giving, every church—large and small—has the opportunity to reach the world,” he said.

He also wants to work to reverse a downward trend in baptisms. “Churches that are baptizing typically are sharing their faith more and are filled with more spiritual vitality,” Sandefur said.

Sandefur has served on the Mission Board, was a member and chairman of the KBC Nominating Committee, and was a member of a search committee that recommended Paul Chitwood as executive director. He also worked for the KBC for more than two years as a regional consultant serving about 400 churches in central and northern Kentucky.

The 5,000-member Porter Memorial Church, where he has served since for two years, contributed $150,000 of its $2.1 million in undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program last year. Under his leadership, the church has added 252 new members, with 82 coming through baptism.

Sandefur and his wife Kelley have to daughters, ages 20 and 17. (WR)