Why I will nominate Dr. Frank S. Page for Southern Baptist Convention president

By Forrest Pollock, Senior Pastor, Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Brandon, Fla.

Published June 5, 2006

I intend to nominate Frank Page for president of the Southern Baptist Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Forrest Pollock

Not only do I sense a profound leading of the Lord to do so, but like so many other Southern Baptists, I’m deeply concerned about the direction of our Convention. My heart is burdened because the crown jewel of worldwide evangelical work is showing signs of decline. We are declining in terms of baptisms (down 4 percent last year), declining in terms of investment through the Cooperative Program (down from 10.6 percent to 6.66 percent since 1984). In the local church, there is a decline in respect for our agencies and the great work they do as Southern Baptists watch trustee boards squabble. And most troubling for the future, there is a decline in involvement of the next generation of young people.

We can’t go on accepting the status quo.

As Frank Page has stated, “This is not a personality contest. It’s not theological.” I have only the utmost respect and admiration for Ronnie Floyd and Johnny Hunt. Both are friends. However, I believe a president is only effective at encouraging CP giving when his own church is giving sacrificially.

As South Carolina Executive Director Carlisle Driggers has remarked, “Frank Page is a proven champion of the CP.” He has led Taylors First Baptist Church to give 12.4 percent to the Cooperative Program.

Frank and I became good friends as members of the Large Church Roundtable. We also currently serve on the SBC Resolutions Committee. Frank is a conservative Bible-believing inerrantist. He also is a strong leader, as evidenced by his church’s phenomenal growth (1072-2352 average attendance since 2000).

Frank Page has a bold vision for the future that involves the next generation of leaders. He is calling for adding passion, revival, soul-winning and missions to the convention’s 30-year concentration on doctrinal purity.

Southern Baptists deserve a choice.

I choose Dr. Frank S. Page.

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