Editor’s Note: This is the final version of the officer’s story.
By Lonnie Wilkey, editor
Baptist and Reflector
ROC COLLINS
MILLINGTON – Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention unanimously elected Roc Collins, pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, as president.
Allan Lovelace, pastor of Waterville Baptist Church, Cleveland, nominated Collins for the position.
He noted that during the 10 years Collins has served as pastor of Indian Springs the church has doubled in almost every statistical category. The church gives 10 percent of its undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program. Last year the church baptized 82 people, Lovelace reported.
Collins has served as president of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference, vice president of the TBC, and served as chair of the TBC Executive Board this past year.
“I’ve never known anyone who has a heart for seeing lost people come to know Christ like his heart,” Lovelace said. “He preaches very passionately and he believes heaven is real and that hell is hot,” he continued.
Noting that with half of the state of Tennessee lost without Jesus Christ, Lovelace observed that “Roc Collins is God’s man for this time.”
When no other candidates were nominated Collins was elected by unanimous consent.
Collins addressed messengers briefly. He said he was honored to be elected to serve as president. “I believe the best days of our convention are ahead of us,” he said.
Collins exhorted Tennessee Baptists to work together and to help each other. “Let’s win Tennessee for Jesus Christ,” he said.
In the Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 10) session, bivocational pastor James Noble of Grace Fellowship Church, Memphis, was elected vice president without opposition.
Noble was nominated by Jim Collier, pastor of Kirby Woods Baptist Church, Memphis.
Collier described Noble as a servant leader who is passionate about God’s Word and sharing His Word with others. He added that Noble is passionate about God’s call. “It shapes his life.”
