By Staff
RUSTON, La. (LBM) — David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, announced his plans to retire during the pre-convention meeting of the Convention’s Executive Board in Ruston Monday afternoon.
“At the close of this annual meeting, I will be giving Dr. Bailey, president of the Executive Board, official notice of my intention to retire,” said Hankins.
His retirement will be effective June 30, 2019.
“The theme of this year’s annual meeting is “Marking the Next Generation,’” Hankins told the board. “I have great confidence in the future generation of leaders God will choose to lead Louisiana Baptists.”
According to the Convention’s by-laws, Hankins announcement will initiate a process in which the Executive Board will form a search committee. Once formed, the search committee will elect its own chairperson to begin a search for a new executive director.
Hankins has served as executive director since 2005.
He is a California native who was reared in Texas. He is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University as well as 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 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 Southern Baptist Convention 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 the Cooperative Program in 1998 to expand Southern Baptists’ involvement in supporting world missions and ministry. He began his tenure as executive director with Louisiana Baptists on February 1, 2005.
David and Patty Hankins have been married since 1969 and have three grown sons – Andy, Eric and Adam. He and she are members of the Philadelphia Baptist Church, Horseshoe Drive, in Alexandria.
Based on a press release by John Kyle, Louisiana Baptist communication director, and prior reporting by the Baptist Message.
