By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
New TBC President Steve Freeman was joined by his wife Leigh Ann, right, and daughter Katie following his election. His son Cole was unable to be present due to work and school obligations.
SPRINGFIELD — Just like his predecessor, new Tennessee Baptist Convention President Steve Freeman has a heart and passion for evangelism.
Freeman, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, was elected by acclamation at The Summit in November to succeed Roc Collins as convention president. Collins has since resigned as pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church to become director of evangelism for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, effective in January. See story.
In an interview with the Baptist and Reflector Nov. 22, Freeman expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in him by Tennessee Baptists.
He acknowledged that he prayed about the decision to allow his nomination and talked with leaders at Grace Baptist for several months. “It’s a huge responsibility that does require time to do things well,” he noted.
Freeman also sought the blessing of his family that includes wife Leigh Ann and children Katie and Cole. “I won’t do anything without the Lord’s guidance and my wife’s validation,” he said.
In 2016, Collins introduced “16 in 16” to encourage every Tennessee Baptist church to baptize at least 16 people during the year.
Freeman will continue that with “17 in 17.”
“We want to see every Tennessee Baptist church baptize and average of 17 people across the board next year,” he said. Freeman acknowledged that some churches will baptize more and some less.
While the ultimate goal is to see 50,000 people annually saved, baptized, and set on the road to discipleship by 2024, Freeman noted it would be “a huge step” to achieve 30,000 baptisms in 2017.
Theoretically, he continued, if every church did baptize 17 people, “we would surpass 50,000. That would be monumental.”
Freeman plans to be a hands-on president. His goal is to visit as many associations across Tennessee as possible in 2017 to meet with pastors for dialogue on the goal of accomplishing those 17 baptisms in every church.
The new president also would like to be able to chart progress throughout the year and to chart it each month and report it through the Baptist and Reflector and other communications outlets. “If people can see tangible results each month, we can celebrate those victories,” he said.
Freeman stressed that each baptism represents more than a number. It represents a person who gets to go to heaven through the gospel of Jesus Christ, he said.
As part of his 17 in 17 emphasis, Freeman said he would like to see an increased emphasis on Vacation Bible School. “VBS is the most effective evangelistic effort we can do in a year’s time,” he observed.
Freeman said he will ask every church in Tennessee to host a VBS in 2017. And for those churches that do not have the financial or people resources to do it alone, he will ask other churches to partner with them to provide a VBS in their community.
The TBC president also advocates the use of vocational evangelists who he described as “a gift to the church that is under-utilized.”
Freeman encouraged every church in the state to have a “harvest day” in 2017 and to use a vocational evangelist. “There are those who God has gifted in drawing the net. … Evangelists can come and reap the harvest that God gives, remembering He is the Lord of the harvest,” he said.
“I don’t think there is a pastor in the state of Tennessee that does not want to reach this goal, but we will have to pull together to make it happen,” he stressed.
Freeman said he is accessible to anyone in the state. He can be reached at sfreeman@gbcspringfield.org.
