ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Louisiana pastor Rickie Wilson has been named executive director-treasurer of the Alaska Baptist Resource Network (ABRN), according to an announcement today (Oct. 23) from ABRN President Bruce Rowell.

Wilson steps into the role following the late September retirement of Randy Covington, who had served in the position since 2016.

Messengers to the convention’s annual meeting in September voted to extend the call to Wilson following a recommendation by the search team to the convention’s executive board in August.

Wilson, who currently serves as pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Bush, La., and his family will make the move to Alaska in the coming days.

While working through all that’s involved in the move, “I am currently calling and texting pastors in Alaska to pray with them, build relationships and learn their needs,” Wilson said.

Rowell noted that the state convention staff, convention officers and executive board will be working to facilitate their move.

“Thank you to our search team who prayed and worked diligently for a year to present the recommendation to the executive board,” Rowell said. “I also extend my appreciation to the executive board for their prayerful support of the search team and the search process that ultimately led to a unanimous recommendation to the messengers of the annual meeting.

“Finally, thank you to all the messengers of our annual meeting for your participation in meeting the Wilsons and praying for God’s will to be accomplished. I hope you sense the potential of this next season in the work of Alaska Baptists.”

‘Excited and humbled’

Wilson said he is looking forward to serving the pastors and churches in Alaska as they work “to cooperate in reaching Alaska with the compassion and Good News of Jesus.”

“I’m excited and humbled at the opportunity to serve,” he said.

A self-proclaimed “military brat,” Wilson grew up in several states as well as in England. He was born in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and ended up in Florida as an older teen. He gave his life to Christ after graduating high school and began attending Navarre Baptist Church in Navarre, Fla.

That’s where Wilson said he sensed God’s calling on his life to enter vocational ministry. With the guidance of his pastor and other mentors, Wilson clarified his call and launched his educational journey.

He is a graduate of the Baptist College (now University) of Florida and received a master of divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is currently pursuing a doctorate of ministry.

Wilson and his wife, Christina, have five children and have served churches along the panhandle of Florida and Louisiana.

‘Heart for the Lord’

David Bradley, pastor First Baptist Church Valdez and member of the search committee, said, “Pastor Rickie has an extensive resumé of higher education, ministry experience, ministry credentials and most importantly a heart for the Lord.

“Pastor Rickie’s ministry objective includes his passion to help equip Christians to use their spiritual gifts and natural abilities to build up the Church and fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Bradley said. “He is definitely a pastor to the pastors.”

‘God sent’

Jack Sherman, executive board member and a long time Alaska Baptist (almost 50 years of ministry service in Alaska), said, “Over the years I have seen several new executive directors hired and each time I was glad to see the new hire.

“However, the hiring of Rickie Wilson has been one of the most exciting processes I have seen,” Sherman said. “The way prayers have been answered, the way committees came together, and the way God spoke during Rickie’s interview has made this an exciting time in Alaska Baptist history. … I believe this hire is exactly what our state has needed and is God sent.”

Rowell emphasized the challenge the search team faced because of the number of highly qualified candidates who were capable of taking on the responsibility of executive director.

“The challenge was to discern who God was sending our way at this time,” Rowell said. “When we prayed and discussed each candidate’s unique personality, skills and experiences, our team concluded Wilson was the man to lead Alaska Baptists at this time in our history with the unique opportunities that lie before us.

“His thoughts about the challenges of cooperative ministry in the 21st century, and particularly in Alaska, were insightful. … Rickie will guide us as we work to take the Gospel of Jesus to every Alaskan. We ask your prayers for him and his family as they make the exciting move to Alaska.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Jennifer Davis Rash serves as president and editor-in-chief of TAB Media Group. This article originally appeared in The Alabama Baptist.)