Two pastors will be nominated to be president of the 2019 North Carolina Pastor’s Conference during the Nov. 5-6 event. The president is elected two years in advance to allow flexibility in scheduling speakers.
In a press release to the Biblical Recorder, J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, announced his intention to nominate Chris Griggs, pastor of Denver Baptist Church (DBC) in Denver for the office of president.
Josh Phillips, pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Norwood and 2014 president of the conference, told the Recorder he will nominate Chip Hannah, pastor of Peace Baptist Church in Whiteville, in November.
Greear noted Griggs’ passion for and commitment to equipping pastors, particularly those serving rural and smaller churches.
Griggs runs a weekly podcast for pastors and is involved in a number of training programs to prepare them for effective gospel ministry.
Griggs has served as the lead pastor at DBC since October 2005. He holds degrees from Wake Forest University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and has served churches in North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia.
He was elected last year to serve as vice president of the 2018 pastor’s conference.
He and his wife, Tiffany, have three children.
The statement from Summit said Griggs’ passion is “to glorify God by making disciples who advance the gospel. He is a faithful, careful exegete who loves leading the staff and congregation at DBC to engage the nations.”
“I have known Chris for a long time and am honored to nominate him to be the president of the 2019 N.C. Baptist Pastor’s Conference,” Greear said.
“Chris has faithfully shepherded Denver Baptist Church for 12 years, served as a trustee at SEBTS and served as the moderator of the South Fork Baptist Association.
“I have no doubt that Chris will organize a pastor’s conference that is both encouraging and challenging for the pastors in our state.”
Hannah, has also announced his willingness to be nominated as president of the Pastor’s Conference.
“Without a doubt Chip Hannah has the heart of a pastor,” Phillips said. “He loves to be a pastor to other pastors as well as the people that God has called him to serve. As one spends a little time with Chip, they will soon see his love for the Lord and his passion to see others discover the hope and the foundation for the joy and passion that he has.”
Hannah has served at Peace for 12 years. He and his wife of 30 years, Joann, have two daughters and two grandchildren.
He graduated from The College at Southeastern and SEBTS.
Hannah has served on the steering committee for the Coastal Evangelism Conference for the past five years. The conference is held annually at Langston Baptist Church in Conway, S.C.
Hannah served on the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s Committee on Convention Meetings for the past three years and has participated in mission trips to Mexico, Russia, Argentina, Costa Rica and Mexico.
This year’s Pastor’s Conference will be at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, Nov. 5-6.
Timmy Blair, pastor of Piney Grove Chapel Baptist Church in Angier is the president, and Hannah is serving as this year’s vice president.