Officers elected this year include Laramie LeQuieu, pastor of Harvest Baptist Church in Paragould, as first vice president, Brad Lewter, pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist Church, as president, and Wade Totty, associational missionary of Liberty Baptist Association, as second vice president.
JONESBORO, Ark. – Messengers at the 2023 Annual Meeting in Jonesboro elected Fort Smith pastor Brad Lewter to serve as president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC).
Lewter is replacing Woodland Heights Baptist Church Pastor Larry D. White, who has served the previous two years.
Lewter, who has been pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist since 2013, was nominated by Nettleton Baptist Church Senior Pastor Brady Canright. No other nominations were made.
“For me, Brad has been a friend, a help and support in my time here in Jonesboro as senior pastor. He is the guy who picks up the phone. He has always made himself available. He will serve and represent Arkansas Baptists well. It is my honor to nominate him to serve as our next Convention president,” Canright said.
Under Lewter’s leadership, Grand Avenue gives 8.85 percent in undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program. Last year, that amounted to approximately $258,606.
“My posture with any denominational work has always been, I don’t seek it, but if I am called upon then I am willing to do my part. I’ve always been willing to do whatever I can do to help our convention grow stronger and if that means a leadership role like this, I am happy to do it,” Lewter said. “For me, it is just a love for our state and our convention, and I want to serve it and do everything I can to help.”
In addition to Lewter, messengers elected Laramie LeQuieu, pastor of Harvest Baptist Church in Paragould, as first vice president and Wade Totty, associational missionary of Liberty Baptist Association, as second vice president.