SEARCY, Ark. — Warrior in prayer. Friend. Mentor. Encourager. Spiritual giant. Biblical scholar.

Those are just a few of the words used to describe former Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Executive Director Don Moore, who died Oct. 14 at the age of 91.

Moore served as ABSC executive director from 1982 to 1995. In a 1982 Arkansas Baptist News article on his election, Moore was described as a “man who loves Jesus,” who “preaches the word,” and as a man who “could raise our sights” as a state convention. During his time as ABSC executive director, it was reported that membership in Arkansas Baptist churches increased almost 50,000 while annual gifts through the Cooperative Program grew by more than $6 million.

Prior to his service as executive director, Moore served 12 years as pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Ark., which saw increased attendance and increased Cooperative Program giving during his tenure.

Moore was president of the Arkansas Baptist Pastors’ Conference in 1972, served two terms as president of the state convention from 1974-1975 and was co-chairman of a 1976 statewide evangelistic campaign. He also served as a member of the state Executive Board and the Baptist Building Study Committee, was president of the Baptist Student Union (BSU) Advisory Committee, and served as vice chairman of the Ouachita Baptist University Board of Trustees from 1977 to 1981. He also served on the Southern Baptist Convention Committee on Committees.

Over the years, he had the opportunity to preach at the state pastors’ conference, evangelism conference and state convention; the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference; the Florida Baptist State Convention; and at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also went on preaching missions to Bangladesh and India.  

Born in Fort Chaffee, Ark., Moore graduated from high school in Greenwood in 1951. He attended University of Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist University, where he graduated with the class of 1955, and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1958.

He served churches in Arkansas and Oklahoma while in school and spent five years at Elliott Church in Camden before going to New Orleans for a three-year pastorate at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. He returned to Arkansas in 1966 as pastor of Walnut Street Church in Jonesboro, where he remained until his call by Grand Avenue in Fort Smith.

“Don was a pastor before he became executive director, and as I knew him and watched him as an exec, he was kind of like a pastor in that role,” said Jimmie Sheffield, who was hired by Moore to work for the ABSC in 1986. “He loved to work with pastors. He loved to help them and guide them, especially pastors of smaller churches. He was a man with a pastor’s heart, wanting to serve and help others all the time. … He was a good leader. A good supervisor to me. I admired him and appreciated him very much.”  

Honored by Arkansas Baptists in 1992 for his 40th anniversary in the ministry, Moore received a plaque affirming “30 years of faithful and loving ministry as a pastor, leader and servant in Southern Baptist churches and 10 years of visionary leadership and ministry as executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.”  

“It will be a long time before Arkansas Baptists will be able to measure the depth of Don Moore’s service,” said former Arkansas state convention President William H. “Buddy” Sutton in a 1995 article on Moore’s retirement. “More than once we have said and will continue to say, ‘Thank you, Lord, for Don Moore.’”  

Though he retired from his executive director role in 1995, Moore remained a constant in ministry in Arkansas throughout the years, serving as prayer ambassador for the ABSC, speaking at revivals, churches and various other events, ministering to senior adults, serving as a mentor and friend to many, and much more. He was also a frequent contributor to the Arkansas Baptist News.

In a 1982 Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine article outlining his goals and objectives for Arkansas Baptists, Moore shared, “I don’t know how to relate to anyone but one way — to love you, to be open, to be honest, and to be firm.”

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, ABSC Church Planting Strategist Neal Scoggins said of Moore: “… One of the kindest men I know. He ALWAYS made me feel seen and valued. And NEVER in a condescending way at all. … The last conversation I had with him was about the fragility of life. He was the epitome of a gospel witness. … Rest well old soldier. There are more people going to heaven because of your kindness. Prayers for his family.”  

Scoggins was one of several, who upon learning of Moore’s passing, took to social media to share thoughts and memories of Moore. They shared of Moore’s kindness, authenticity, love of God, friendship, and more.  

Kelly Jones, pastor at First Baptist Church in Monticello, shared on Facebook, “Some sad news among us Arkansas Baptists! … Such a jewel of a man with the sweetest spirit and a warrior in prayer! I am grateful to have known him.”  

Valley Baptist Church Associate Pastor David Fox wrote that Moore spent his life serving the Lord and His church. “He was a spiritual giant to so many, myself included. The Lord took him home this morning, and he is already greatly missed,” he shared in a Facebook post. 

In the article on his retirement in 1995, Moore said, “If Arkansas Baptists will stay focused on the main issues of reaching the lost, starting and developing churches and getting the gospel out to all the world, the blessing of God will be upon us.” 

Moore’s obituary with Roller-Daniel Funeral Home can be found here.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Mary Alford serves as creative content producer with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. This article was originally published at arkansasbaptist.org.)