FARMERSVILLE, Texas – Bart Barber, pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, has announced his intention to nominate Matt Henslee, pastor of Mayhill Baptist Church in Mayhill, N.M., for president of the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference. The 2021 Pastors’ Conference will be held in Nashville, Tenn., in conjunction with the 2021 SBC annual meeting. The presidential election will take place at the 2020 Pastors’ Conference in June in Orlando, Fla.
In a release, Barber said Henslee grasps the highs and lows many pastors face which prepares him for this role.
“Matt combines a keen, first-hand understanding of the joys and tribulations that most Southern Baptist pastors face with solid experience in scheduling and producing high-quality content across a variety of platforms to help those pastors,” Barber said. “That’s why I’m really looking forward to the fresh, exciting content that we’ll enjoy in the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference under his leadership.”
In addition to his pastoral ministry, Henslee recently authored a book titled “Replanting Rural Churches: God’s Plan and Call for the Middle of Nowhere.” Alongside friend Kyle Bueerman, Henslee also produces “Not Another Baptist Podcast,” a weekly podcast focused on pastoral ministry.
Henslee also is managing editor of LifeWay Pastors, a division of LifeWay’s “Facts & Trends” online magazine designed to encourage and inspire pastors in the trenches.
Henslee said his time with Mayhill Baptist Church, paired with his experience in other platforms, has enabled him to see the joys and struggles of ministry every pastor faces, no matter the size of their congregation.
“My time in Mayhill has been a daily reminder that God not only cares about and does amazing work in big cities, but that He loves and does amazing work in small towns that barely make it onto a map,” Henslee said.
Henslee noted that he enjoys exploring creative mediums for ministry, in addition to direct preaching from the pulpit.
“Few things compare to using articles, podcasts, social media, phone calls, texts, and one-on-one visits over coffee with pastors in the trenches to encourage us to link and lift our arms together to advance the Kingdom and push back the darkness,” Henslee said.
Serving and encouraging pastors in the trenches is one of the greatest joys as a friend and champion of others, Henslee said.
“I believe we can put together a pastors’ conference for the guy on cloud nine, the guy barely hanging on by a thread, and everyone in between.”
Making the 2021 pastors’ conference relevant for the pastor in a rural area and the pastor in the heart of growing cities would be his goal, Henslee continued.
Encouraging unity in the midst of those differences is the attitude Henslee hopes to inspire at the conference.
“Southern Baptists are at their best when they’re worshipping together, cooperating together and advancing the Kingdom together,” Henslee said. “My prayer is for the Pastors’ Conference to be a time for all to come together in unity and endeavor to reach the world as we preach the Word.”
According to ACP records, Mayhill Baptist reported $25,571 in Cooperative Program giving with a budget of $171,561 (14.9 percent Cooperative Program giving). The church also reported a membership of 177 and average worship attendance of 114 in 2019.
Henslee holds a bachelor of arts from Dallas Baptist University, a master of divinity from The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is working toward a doctor of ministry from Southwestern.
Henslee and his wife Rebecca have four daughters.
Written by Baptist Press, the official news service of the Southern Baptist Convention.