GREENSBORO — Rick Speas, pastor of Old Town Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, was re-elected president of the Baptist State Convention (BSC) Nov. 11 with no opposition.

Speas will begin serving his second one-year term when the BSC annual meeting ends on Nov. 12.

Kevin Brown, pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Wilkesboro, nominated Speas, who served as pastor at Mount Pleasant for nine years before moving to Old Town 10 years ago.

"Pastor Rick, as I still call him, has mentored me at Mount Pleasant," Brown said.

Brown said Speas has a heart for missions. He has led missions teams to Brazil, South Africa, India and Canada and his churches always support the Cooperative Program, Brown said.

Speas has tirelessly traveled the state from the mountains to the coast during his first term, according to Brown.

"I tell you without reservation, Rick Speas is one of the greatest servant leaders I've ever met," he said.

The election was held at 10:30 a.m., 25 minutes earlier than scheduled. Messengers took the unusual step to suspend the rules and change the time for the election, which had been a "fixed order of business" on the annual meeting program.

Other offices
In elections the afternoon of Nov. 11, Ed Yount, pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church in Conover, was elected first vice president, and Mark Harris, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, was elected second vice president. It's the first term for both. Neither faced opposition.

Leland Kerr, who had served the past year as first vice president, and Phil Ortego, who was ending the end of his first term as second vice president, both decided not to seek re-election.

Greg Mathis, pastor of Mud Creek Baptist Church in Hendersonville and a former BSC president, nominated Yount.

Mathis said Yount's is a top church in baptisms and Cooperative Program funding. Yount also "lovingly and uncompromisingly" believes in the inerrancy of the Bible, Mathis said.

Richard Hicks, pastor of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Supply, nominated Harris. Hicks said he worked with Harris early in Harris' ministry.

"God had His hand on Mark from the very beginning," Hicks said.

Tim Lowry, pastor of Balfour Baptist Church in Asheboro, was re-elected recording secretary.

Johnson Gupton, pastor of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, was re-elected assistant recording secretary. Neither had opposition.

For complete coverage, click BSC 2008.