SteveTaylor
From ROGER ALFORD, The Christian Index
HIAWASSEE, Ga. — McConnell Memorial Church senior pastor Steve Taylor is expected to be nominated to serve as vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention at the November annual meeting.
“Steve is a family man who loves the Lord, his family and his church,” said Wade Lott, senior pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Hiawassee, who has announced his intention to make the nomination. “Steve also has a great love for our community. He is active and involved in supporting and meeting the needs of the community.”
The annual meeting is scheduled for November 13-15 at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta and the registration portal is open for churches to register ambassadors.
The Georgia Baptist Convention, made up of 3,600 churches with 1.4 million members, holds a business meeting in November each year. People attend from across the state, drawn by the fellowship, preaching and singing, as well as any business on the agenda.
At this meeting, Messengers will elect a new President and First, Second, Third, and Fourth Vice Presidents. The ranking of Vice Presidents is based on the number of votes they receive.
Taylor has led the Hiawassee Church for the past eight years and has served for more than 34 years. At the age of eight he became a follower of Christ.
A graduate of Western Carolina University, Taylor began his career as a public school teacher and coach before moving to the parish. With a Masters of Divinity degree from Gardner-Webb University, he has led churches in western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina and northern Georgia.
“Steve’s love for the Lord is evident in his passionate preaching and in his collaboration with the other churches in the Hiawassee Baptist Association,” said Lott. “Steve is a leader with over 30 years of faithful leadership experience in the local church. He is someone who never seeks attention for himself, but instead seeks to honor Christ through his service to others.”
At the McConnell Memorial, Taylor has led the church to donate 12.5% of its budget to Great Commission causes, including 5% — $70,000 — made available through the cooperative program last year.
Lott said Taylor’s church has baptized more than 130 people since he arrived.
Taylor is a member of the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee and Chair of the Church Membership Committee.
Taylor and his wife Desi have two children and five grandchildren.
