LENEXA, Kansas (BP) – Steve Dighton will nominate David Crowther to serve as Southern Baptist Convention first vice president at the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting. Crowther is the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita.

“David Crowther is a young dynamic leader, and one who would thrive in this position of leadership,” Dighton told Baptist Press.

“He is humble, a servant leader, a gifted preacher and a loving shepherd,” said Dighton. “He is a consensus builder and desires to see us flourish in the years to come.”

Dighton is the pastor emeritus of Lenexa Baptist Church in Lenexa.

Crowther has served as Immanuel’s senior pastor since November 2019. He previously served churches in North Carolina, South Carolina and Kentucky.

Crowther is currently serving as first vice president of the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists.

Dighton says Immanuel Church “has grown numerically, increasing baptisms, mission offerings and mission giving,” under Crowther’s leadership.

Crowther has also helped the church to increase Cooperative Program giving, according to Dighton.

In 2023, the church reported 557 people in average worship attendance and 41 baptisms, according to the SBC Annual Church Profile. The church gave $72,636 (five percent) of $1,455,921 in undesignated offerings to the Cooperative Program; $25,833 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and $992 to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.

Crowther holds a bachelor’s degree from Anderson University, a Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate in philosophy from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He and his wife Laura have three children.

He joins Michael Clary as an announced candidate to be nominated for the post.

The 2024 SBC Annual Meeting is June 11-12 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Brandon Porter serves as Associate Vice President for Convention News at the SBC Executive Committee.)