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Wells to be re-nominated regis. secretary
Baptist Press
June 08, 2011
3 MIN READ TIME

Wells to be re-nominated regis. secretary

Wells to be re-nominated regis. secretary
Baptist Press
June 08, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jim Wells, the Southern Baptist

Convention’s (SBC) registration secretary, will be re-nominated for another

one-year term during the June 14-15 annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., a

Missouri pastor announced June 7.

Neil Franks, lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Branson, Mo., said Wells,

who is director of missions for the Tri-County Baptist Association in southwest

Missouri, has what Southern Baptists need “more of.”

“When I moved to Branson over four years ago, Jim was among the first to

welcome me, encourage me and pray for me,” Franks said. “He continues to be a

confidant both to me and any pastor who will receive his friendship. Ten years

into his leadership of Tri-County Association, instead of simply maintaining

the status quo, he led us through a transition of becoming a more ‘local church

focused’ association. This change has led to a more effective ministry where

relationships have been strengthened among the churches. Even more important

than that, greater resources have been devoted to helping local churches

accomplish their God-called tasks in their communities with less focus on

building larger denominational structures. We need that type of leadership in

the SBC.”

Wells also is a role model for reaching out to and encouraging younger leaders

and embracing innovative new technologies, Franks added. “I could say much more

about Jim and his effectiveness in ministry, but here is what you need to know:

Jim has a heart for all types of people — the lost, the saved, the church

member, the pastor, the staff member, and we need that energy toward caring and

concern more than ever in the SBC.”

The Tri-County Baptist Association, which Wells has led for 10 years, received

the “Church Planting Association of the Year” award in 2004 from the Missouri

Baptist Convention. He has been a member of the Missouri Baptist Convention’s

executive board and the SBC Executive Committee.

A member of Hopedale Baptist Church in Ozark, Mo., Wells 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. He has

served SBC registration secretary since 2002.

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.

Wells and his wife, Judy, have one daughter, Dana.