John L. Yeats and Jim
Wells have received nominations to repeat their roles —recording secretary and
registration secretary, respectively — for the Southern Baptist Convention
(SBC) during the June 15-16 annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.
About John Yeats
“John Yeats has a passion for the Lord Jesus Christ reflected in his continued
faithfulness to proclaim the gospel and his diligence to mobilize others for
the Great Commission,” said James B. Law, pastor of First Baptist Church in
Gonzales, La. “He stands upon the authority of God’s word and has demonstrated
integrity in his ministry, in season and out of season. He is fully acquainted
with our common labor as Southern Baptists and would continue to serve us well
as recording secretary of the convention. “
Law is a member of the 2010 SBC Resolutions Committee and of the SBC Executive
Committee.
Last year’s annual meeting in Louisville, Ky., marked Yeats’ 12th annual
meeting as recording secretary.
The SBC recording secretary is responsible for the record of the proceedings of
the Southern Baptist Convention, training volunteer pages and the final edit of
the SBC Book of Reports and the SBC Annual. He also serves as an ex officio
member of the SBC Executive Committee.
Yeats designed the process currently used for the flow of information from the
convention floor to the platform and distribution to the Order of Business
Committee, a process that has enhanced the accuracy of the official record.
Yeats currently serves as director of communications for the Louisiana Baptist
Convention, edits the LBCLive missions magazine and is interim pastor of First
Baptist Church in Rayville, La. He is a former editor of state Baptist papers
in Oklahoma and Indiana and has served churches in six states during his 40
years of pastoral ministry.
Yeats is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary.
In 2006, he received a doctor of ministry degree from
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.
Information for First Baptist Church in Rayville, La., from Southern Baptists’
Annual Church Profile survey for the most recent year, 2009, lists 12 baptisms
and primary worship service attendance of 320. The church gave $71,853, or 9
percent, through the Cooperative Program from total undesignated receipts of
$798,564. According to the ACP, the church’s total mission expenditures were
$162,870, including $8,435 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for
International Missions and $2,783 for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for
North American Missions.
About Jim Wells
Jim Locke, senior pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla., said
Wells, who is director of missions for the Tri-County Baptist Association in southwest
Missouri, has done an “outstanding” job as registration secretary since he was
first elected to the position in 2002.
“I’ve known Jim personally and professionally for over 10 years,” Locke said. “For
five of these years, I worked closely with Jim as director of missions during
my tenure as pastor of First Baptist Church in Forsyth, Mo. Jim is a Christian
leader whose heart beats for pastors. He quickly became a good friend who
offered wise counsel, personal encouragement and a Christ-like example.
“I also served alongside Jim as chairman of the Credentials Committee at the
2005 annual meeting in Nashville and witnessed first-hand his administrative
prowess and his graceful abilities with people. His consistent preparation
makes it a joy to serve any of the committees for which he’s responsible,”
Locke said. “Likewise, Jim has brought innovation to the registration process,
overseeing and implementing technological enhancements that have added ease and
effectiveness to convention registration.
“Jim’s credentials for this position are strong. In addition to his eight years
as registration secretary, he’s served as a pastor and director of missions,
and has supported denominational life at the state and national level through
service on numerous boards and agencies,” Locke concluded. “He’s fully
committed to the Bible as the inerrant word of God and reflects the character
of Christ in his daily life. Simply put, he’s one of the most capable,
committed and godly men I know. For these reasons, I am delighted to commend
him personally and recommend him publicly for another term as SBC registration
secretary.”
The Tri-County Baptist Association, which Wells has led for nine years,
received the “Church Planting Association of the Year” award in 2004 from the
Missouri Baptist Convention.
Wells, who is a member of Hopedale Baptist Church in Ozark, Mo., previously
pastored Oakwood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., for 16 years, leading the
church to increase its Cooperative Program giving from 8 percent to more than
16 percent of undesignated receipts. He was in the pastorate more than 32
years.
Wells has been a member of the Missouri Baptist Convention’s executive board
and the SBC Executive Committee.
A Missouri native, Wells holds a master of divinity degree from Midwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., along with degrees from
Hannibal-LaGrange College and Central Missouri State University.
He and his wife Judy have one daughter, Dana.
Information for Hopedale Baptist Church from Southern Baptists’ Annual Church
Profile survey for the most recent year, 2009, lists 43 baptisms and primary
worship service attendance of 350. The church gave $48,776, or 10.6 percent,
through the Cooperative Program from total undesignated receipts of $458,568.
According to the ACP, the church gave $6,855 for the Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering for International Missions and $3,609 for the Annie Armstrong Easter
Offering for North American Missions.