Flat Creek Baptist pastor Saefkow nominated to head Ga. Baptist Convention

By ROGER ALFORD, The Christian Index

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Fayetteville pastor Josh Saefkow, a champion of the Cooperative Program and current chairman of the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee, will be nominated to serve as president of the Georgia Baptist Convention at an annual meeting set for Nov. 13-15 in Augusta.

Buford First Baptist Church Lead Pastor Stephen Fountain said he intends to nominate Saefkow, who has been pastor of Flat Creek Baptist Church since 2016.

“In recent years, I have become more and more convinced that the men most needed in leadership throughout our convention are the men who are the least ambitious to obtain that leadership,” Fountain said. “Josh Saefkow is that man.”

“He’s a faithful husband, a loving dad, a passionate pastor, and a dynamic preacher,” Fountain said. “His calm demeanor, humble spirit, quiet strength, and unifying presence is what Georgia Baptists need in current days. Where it’s a great temptation to have a willingness to serve the Lord with a desire to hold positions of leadership, Josh has a desire to serve the Lord with a willingness to carry the burden of leadership if needed. Today, in Georgia Baptist life, he is needed.”

Saefkow, 38, said he will be “humbled and honored” to accept the nomination.

“I want to bring Georgia Baptists together to help fan the flame of the gospel of Jesus to bring more Georgians to Christ,” Saefkow said. “I really believe God can use me to unify us in this time. This is a unique time, filled with lots of tensions. We’ve argued long enough. I want us to come together for the cause of Christ.”

Fountain said Saefkow’s gifts as a unifier have been on display in the Executive Committee meetings.

Saefkow holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Liberty University and a doctorate from Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Saefkow’s church gives 10 percent of all receipts, not just undesignated receipts, through the Cooperative Program. Last year, that amounted to nearly $188,000.

His church has had 47 baptisms so far this year.

Saefkow, who was an associate pastor at Abilene Baptist Church in Augusta before moving to Fayetteville, told the Index earlier this year that a simple, four-word prayer changed his ministry: “Lord, make me useable.”

Since then, the Lord has opened door after door for Saefkow. He became chairman of the Executive Committee earlier this year, after serving two years as vice chairman. He also has served on the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Administration Committee and the Public Affairs Committee.

“Because I was willing to take that step of obedience, it ended up leading to all these places,” Saefkow said. “I just try to be faithful.” — This article appeared first in the Sept. 19, 2022 edition of The Christian Index, a publication of the Georgia Baptist Convention.