FBC JAX to vote Feb. 19 on Brunson as new pastor

Feb 12, 2006
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

JACKSONVILLE (FBW) – Members of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville will vote on a new pastor for the first time in more than 65 years Feb. 19 when Mac Brunson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, will preach in view of a call, the Jacksonville congregation’s pulpit committee chairman announced Feb. 12.

The announcement comes only five days after Jerry Vines – pastor of First Baptist Jacksonville for more than 23 years – preached his final sermon to the congregation which has been led by a series of co-pastors, starting with Homer Lindsay Sr., and continuing with Homer Lindsay Jr. and Vines.

“These are exciting times in our church and next Sunday is going to be an historical day in the life of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville,” said Judson Whorton, chairman of the pulpit committee, in the 10:30 a.m. worship service. “This will be the first time that our members will have the opportunity to vote on a new pastor, and this has not been done in more than 65 years. So it truly will be historical.”

Without giving any biographical information about Brunson, Whorton told the congregation the Dallas pastor would “preaching in view of a call” in both morning and evening services and the church would hold a special business meeting following the morning service to vote on him.

“We want you to be much in prayer for that service, we want you to invite people and we want you to be here,” he said.

“The pulpit committee wants to thank each of you for your prayers and the faithfulness you have shown over these several months. And we know that God has heard you prayers and He’s answered your prayers and we look forward to next Sunday morning,” Whorton concluded the brief announcement of less than two minutes.

No timetable was given for when Brunson would begin his ministry in Jacksonville, although Rodney Brooks, the minister of music, followed Whorton’s announcement by telling the congregation: “From here until the time the Lord calls our new pastor that we have some wonderful Bible preachers and teachers lined up for us every Sunday.” Brooks named some of the guest preachers – O.S. Hawkins, Paige Patterson, Jimmy Scroggins, Anthony George and David Allen.

Brunson, 48, who has been senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas since 1999, where he also serves as chancellor of the church’s Criswell College, made announcements about the call of the Jacksonville church in each of the his church’s three morning worship services Feb. 12.

Previously, Brunson was pastor of Green Street Baptist Church in High Point, N.C., and served as president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

Brunson was one of the featured speakers at this year’s Pastors’ Conference at First Baptist Jacksonville, and Vines called him out of the audience to pray at the beginning of the Feb. 7 service in which Vines preached his last sermon. While never mentioning any future plans, some viewed the act as an implicit signal of Brunson’s future call to Jacksonville after months of speculation in Florida and Texas that Brunson would be Vines’ successor.

“Dr. Brunson is a terrific preacher, and we hate to lose him,” longtime First Baptist Dallas leader Jack Pogue told Fort Worth Star Telegram Feb. 11. “If they like good preaching in Jacksonville, they have picked a wonderful man for the job.”

Brunson and his wife, Debbie, have three children. He is a graduate of Furman University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Email this Article Print this page