NASHVILLE — New Tennessee Baptist Convention president Jay Hardwick is “humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve and to be a part of what God is doing in Tennessee.”
Hardwick discussed his goals and dreams for the convention in an interview last week with the Baptist and Reflector.
The new president has a unique perspective. He moved to Tennessee three years ago to become senior pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville after serving as associate executive director/chief strategist of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
He noted this background allows him to see things from both a state convention and a pastor/church perspective.
In a short time, Hardwick has become acclimated and involved in Tennessee Baptist life. He served as chair of the Acts 2:17 Initiative Vision Team and is a trustee of Union University.
He is impressed with the unity he has seen among Baptists in the state and the number of churches that are involved in convention life, as evidenced with 500 churches sending messengers to the recent Summit.
Hardwick also is pleased with the massive response of Tennessee Baptists in participating in listening sessions and a survey who provided their thoughts as to the future direction of the convention, and then overwhelmingly approved the vision team’s recommendations.
“The Acts 2:17 Initiative is all about advancing the Great Commission by seizing new opportunities and addressing pain points that are barriers to Great Commission advance,” Hardwick said.
Hardwick shared his three primary goals as president during the coming year.
His first goal is to lead in the implementation of the Acts 2:17 Initiative. “We will rally together Tennessee Baptists to serve on workgroups and teams alongside our TBMB staff in order to develop the objectives for each strategic priority,” he said.
He stressed that “every” is a huge part of the Acts 2:17 vision. “I truly want to see every church and every association and every entity in Tennessee working together to reach every life in Tennessee and to send to every nation from Tennessee.”
Hardwick’s second goal is to be an “encourager” for all Tennessee Baptists, with a focus on pastors, directors of mission, and staff of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and TBC entities. “I want everyone to see the part they have to play in helping Tennessee Baptists move ahead with the Great Commission.”
His third goal is “to celebrate the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s 150th anniversary next year in Murfreesboro “really well by looking back at what God has done and the strategic roles Tennessee Baptists have played and looking ahead with hopeful excitement about what God will do in the future through Tennessee Baptists.”
Hardwick observed that Tennessee Baptists have a rich history “but we’re not done yet. We believe our best years are still in front of us.”
As he begins his new role, he expressed appreciation for his wife Lara Beth and his three daughters for their support. “We are in this together,” he said.
He also is grateful for his support from the staff and leaders at Forest Hills. Hardwick said he talked with and received counsel from leadership within the church and trusted mentors before allowing his name to be placed in nomination for the presidency.
After spending most of his life in South Carolina, Hardwick said he “is happy to be a Tennessee Baptist and be a part of what God is doing in and from our state.
“I want to serve well,” Hardwick said. B&R