A life in service to the Lord: Don Moore, former ABSC executive director, has died

Warrior in prayer. Friend. Mentor. Encourager. Spiritual giant. Biblical scholar.  

Those are just a few of the words used to describe Bro. Don Moore, who died Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the age of 91. He lived a life in service to the Lord.  

Moore served as the executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) from 1982 to 1995. In a 1982 Arkansas Baptist News article on his election, Moore was described as a “man who loves Jesus,” who “preaches the word,” and as a man who “could raise our sights” as a state convention. During his time as ABSC executive director, it was reported that membership in Arkansas Baptist churches increased almost 50,000 while annual gifts through the Cooperative Program grew by more than $6 million.  

Prior to his ministry as executive director, Moore served 12 years as pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith. During his tenure at Grand Avenue, church membership increased 59 percent, from 1,910 to over 3,000, and Sunday School enrollment increased 70 percent, from 1,583 in 1970 to 2,697 in 1981. He led the church to the top five in the state in total giving through the Cooperative Program.  

Moore was president of the Arkansas Baptist Pastors’ Conference in 1972, served two terms as president of the state convention in 1974-1975 and was co-chairman of a 1976 statewide evangelistic campaign. He also served as a member of the state Executive Board and the Baptist Building Study Committee, was president of the BSU Advisory Committee, and served as vice chairman of the Ouachita Baptist University Board of Trustees from 1977 to 1981. He also served on the Southern Baptist Convention Committee on Committees.  

Over the years, he had the opportunity to preach at the state Pastors’ Conference, Evangelism Conference, and State Convention; the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference; the Florida Baptist State Convention; and at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also went on preaching missions to Bangladesh and India.  

Moore was born in the Fort Chaffee area of Sebastian County. He graduated from high school in Greenwood in 1951. He attended University of Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist University, where he graduated with the class of 1955, and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1958.  

He served churches in Smackover and in Oklahoma while in school and spent five years at Elliott Church in Camden before going to New Orleans, Louisiana, for a three-year pastorate at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. He returned to Arkansas in 1966 as pastor of Walnut Street Church in Jonesboro, where he remained until his call by Grand Avenue in Fort Smith.  

“Don was a pastor before he became executive director, and as I knew him and watched him as an exec, he was kind of like a pastor in that role,” said Jimmie Sheffield, who was hired by Moore to work for the ABSC in 1986. “He loved to work with pastors. He loved to help them and guide them, especially pastors of smaller churches. He was a man with a pastor’s heart, wanting to serve and help others all the time. … He was a good leader. A good supervisor to me. I admired him and appreciated him very much.”  

Honored by Arkansas Baptists in 1992 for his 40^th anniversary in the ministry, Moore received a plaque affirming “30 years of faithful and loving ministry as a pastor, leader and servant in Southern Baptist churches and 10 years of visionary leadership and ministry as executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.”  

“It will be a long time before Arkansas Baptists will be able to measure the depth of Don Moore’s service,” said former State Convention President William H. “Buddy” Sutton in a 1995 article on Moore’s retirement. “More than once we have said and will continue to say, ‘Thank you, Lord, for Don Moore.’”  

Though he retired from his executive director role in 1995, Moore remained a constant in ministry in Arkansas throughout the years, serving as prayer ambassador for the ABSC, speaking at revivals, churches and various other events, ministering to senior adults, serving as a mentor and friend to many, and much more. Moore was a frequent contributor to the Arkansas Baptist News, providing his words of wisdom and encouragement over the years to those who read the publication. 

In a 1982 Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine article outlining his goals and objectives for Arkansas Baptists, Moore shared, “I don’t know how to relate to anyone but one way – to love you, to be open, to be honest, and to be firm.”  

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, ABSC Church Planting Strategist Neal Scoggins shared, “… One of the kindest men I know. He ALWAYS made me feel seen and valued. And NEVER in a condescending way at all. … The last conversation I had with him was about the fragility of life. He was the epitome of a gospel witness. … Rest well old soldier. There are more people going to heaven because of your kindness. Prayers for his family.”  

Scoggins was one of several, who upon learning of Moore’s passing, took to social media to share thoughts and memories of Moore. They shared of Moore’s kindness, authenticity, love of God, friendship, and more.  

Kelly Jones, pastor at First Baptist Church in Monticello, on Facebook shared, “Some sad news among us Arkansas Baptists! Don Moore who served as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention from 1982-1995 and pastored various churches for 36 years, went to his heavenly home this morning. Such a jewel of a man with the sweetest spirit and a warrior in prayer! I am grateful to have known him.”  

Valley Baptist Church, Searcy Associate Pastor David Fox wrote that Moore spent his life serving the Lord and His church. “He was a spiritual giant to so many, myself included. The Lord took him home this morning, and he is already greatly missed,” he shared in a Facebook post. 

East Side Baptist Church, Fort Smith Pastor Ryan Scantling wrote in a Facebook post, “Don Moore, a great friend and encourager to many, died today. He pastored Grand Ave Baptist in Fort Smith before leading Arkansas Baptists as Executive Director. Don’s brother, Truman was the pastor of East Side from the early 70s-1990. I visited with Don before coming to East Side. As always, he had great advice and wisdom. Don is now with Jesus with thousands of others who he impacted towards heaven.”  

In the article on his retirement in 1995, Moore said, “If Arkansas Baptists will stay focused on the main issues of reaching the lost, starting and developing churches and getting the gospel out to all the world, the blessing of God will be upon us.” 

Services for Moore will be on Monday, Oct. 20, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock. Visitation is from 9:30 -11 a.m. Service at 11 a.m.  His obituary with Roller-Daniel Funeral Home can be found here.

Editor’s note: This article includes information pulled from the Sept. 30, 1982, and April 6, 1995, editions of the Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine.