When Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster announced
his 2005 retirement in May, there was an unspoken hope that a new state leader
could be introduced at the November annual meeting of messengers.
When Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster announced
his 2005 retirement in May, there was an unspoken hope that a new state leader
could be introduced at the November annual meeting of messengers.
Mission accomplished.
Former Louisiana Baptist pastor and Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee
Vice President David Hankins, 54, was elected on three unanimous votes last
week to succeed Doster as the next state convention leader.
He is scheduled to arrive in the state on January 1, 2005, and assume full
duties when Doster retires at the end of the month.
“I will make this pledge to you, if God lays it on your hearts to elect
me to this position of significant leadership,” Hankins told LBC Executive
Board members last week just before they voted to elect him to the state conventions
top post.
“I will not do you the disservice of not giving you significant leadership.
I will not stick my finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing.
I will place it into the holy Word of God (and lead) from the Spirit of God
and the written Word.
“And I will lead not from the left, not from the right, not from the middle.
I intend to lead from the front,” Hankins said to the applause of board
members.
The vote last week capped a search process that was launched when Doster announced
in May that he planned to retire early next year. As outlined by convention
guidelines, the Executive Board administrative subcommittee – plus five
appointed members – formed the search team.
As reported last week, Hankins emerged in the search process as the clear nominee
for the post, said James Law, chair of the executive director search committee
and pastor at First Baptist Church of Gonzales.
“He surfaced as the one we were to pursue, …” he said. “He
was the one on the hearts of our committee.”
Following Hankins election last week, Law reiterated his conviction.
“Dr. Hankins has been given some very special gifts,” Law said in
a statement to Baptist Press. “He is a man of vision. He has a strong pulpit
ministry. He is a skillful administrator. He understands the pastorate and the
local church. He has understanding of how Baptists do their work.
“Additionally, he understands the unique challenges of doing ministry
in Louisiana, having served here for 10 years,” Law added. “I believe
the Louisiana Baptist Convention will be blessed many times over … by his
Spirit-led leadership.”
Hankins certainly comes to his new post with a strong mandate. He was the unanimous
selection of the search committee and received a unanimous vote when presented
to the Executive Board operating committee, as required by procedure.
Then, when presented to the full Executive Board, he was approved without opposition
– and with very little discussion.
In comments prior to the vote, Hankins recounted his previous stay in Louisiana,
when he served as pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles from 1985-95.
“When we were first asked by friends from this state to pray about being
open to the possibility of coming back to Louisiana, the Lord revived a flame
in our hearts that he started 20 years ago,” he said.
Hankins recalled that when he was called to Trinity, it was “to a place
wed never been, to work with people we didnt know and eat food we
couldnt pronounce.
“But I want to tell you something – from day one in Louisiana, it
was never strange,” he emphasized. “It was as if we were home. Louisiana
is our home.
“I am now a former Texan.”
Hankins said he and his wife sought, from the start, not to pursue a return
to Louisiana but to allow God to open whatever doors he chose.
“We did not want to pursue it,” he maintained. “We wanted it
to pursue us, if, in fact, that was his will – and be comfortable with
that. I got over career trajectory a long time ago. I want to be available to
serve the Lord and his people and his churches. … And Im excited about
all the possibilities of serving (in Louisiana).”
Prior to the vote of board members, a statement of affirmation from newly-elected
Louisiana College President Malcolm Yarnell also was read. Yarnell and Hankins
both will begin their duties in the state at the first of the new year.
“I am in full and hearty agreement with the idea of David Hankins becoming
the new executive director of the LBC,” Yarnell said in a statement to
the state convention search committee.
“I can think of no better candidate for this position than David. It seems
to me that he is the perfect choice, and I can think of no one better equipped
… to lead the state in a spiritual direction and, in doing so, lead it (to
become) the exemplary state convention in all the SBC. …
“I truly believe there will be great synergy between David Hankins and
me.”
Following his election, Hankins and his wife, Patty, were introduced to the
sustained applause of board members.
“Patty and I are honored and humbled that you have demonstrated this kind
of confidence in us,” he said. “I trust you do it because you sense
Gods leadership. …
“We pledge to serve faithfully. We ask for your prayers, for your encouragement,
for your counsel, for your opinions, for your hard work in your churches and
for the churches, then, to come together for the same kind of hard work in the
convention,” Hankins urged.
“May God give us great days ahead.”
The sentiments were similar to the prayer Hankins offered at the opening of
the Executive Board meeting.
“We pray that youd bind us together, that we would commit ourselves
… to be sacrificial in your service and generous in our stewardship, to be
open and loving to people youve placed in our paths,” he said at
that time. “And I pray that, by working together, by your strength, for
your glory, we would see Louisianians one in Christ.”
Hankins is a California native who was reared in Texas. He is a graduate of
Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where
he earned both a masters and doctoral degree.
In a statement on his resume, Hankins indicates he was exposed to Christianity
all of his life. His father was a Baptist deacon – and a grandfather was
a Baptist preacher.
Hankins made a profession of faith in 1963 – at age 13. Four years later,
he committed himself to the gospel ministry and now is an ordained minister.
Hankins served a pair of Texas Baptist churches from 1971-85. He then traveled
to Louisiana, where he grew Trinity Baptist Church from 2,500 members to nearly
3,500. He also baptized more than 900 persons during that time.
Hankins also was heavily involved in state and national denominational life
during that time. He lost a bid for Louisiana Baptist Convention president in
1993 but served as president of the state Pastors Conference in 1995 and
as chair of the LBC Committee on Committees from 1989-92.
He chaired the 1991 SBC Resolutions Committee and was chair of the SBC Executive
Committee in 1991-92 as well.
Upon leaving Trinity in 1996, Hankins became vice president for convention
policy with the SBC Executive Committee. He was named vice president for Cooperative
Program in 1998 to expand Southern Baptists involvement in supporting
world missions and ministry. He was named executive vice president in September.
David and Patty Hankins have been married since 1969 and have three grown sons
– Andy, Eric and Adam.
At the LBC, Hankins will succeed Doster, who will have served eight full years
by the time of his retirement.