By Julie Walters, SBC WMU
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (SBC WMU) – Keith Gates, a judge and member of First Baptist Church, Winnfield, has joined the Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union staff as a ministry for consultant for Royal Ambassadors, Challengers and Youth on Mission.
“RAs changed my life as a camp staffer in the early 2000s,” Gates said. “Developing a better RA program, at least in my circle of influence, has been a passion of mine since then.”
Gates brings ample experience with RA programs in multiple churches and the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
He has served as a leader of RA chapters at First Baptist Church, Lafayette, Goldonna Baptist Church and FBC Winnfield. Gates also is on the state RA Council, where he will continue to help plan RA Congress (a weekend missions conference for first to sixth grade boys) and other activities around the state.
In addition to running Gates Law Firm in Winnfield as an attorney, he also serves as a judge for the City Court of Winnfield and adjunct professor at Northwestern State University, where he teaches in the pre-law and paralegal studies program.
“We are excited for Keith to join our team,” said Joye Smith, affinity networks manager for national WMU. “He brings a wealth of experience as an RA leader in the church as well as serving on the state RA leadership team in Louisiana. Keith has a vision for RA and in leading boys and students to grow in missions awareness and involvement.”
RAs is WMU’s missions group for boys in grades 1–6, while Challengers is for those in grades 7–12. Youth on Mission is WMU’s coed mission organization for students in grades 7–12.
