THE HEaRT OF AN ELDER

First Baptist Church is led by elders. That’s a title that doesn’t get used very often, except in religious circles. Most organizations or movements prefer titles like leader or director or executive or president. Those are terms that command authority, influence, power, prestige. They evoke images of strength and skill, of confidence and ability.

But elder just means “old one.” It’s not about strength, but about wisdom. Elders are spiritual parents in the church who have known God for a long time, and are humbly charged with taking care of his children. They don’t do it for power, they don’t do it because they are the most skilled or the most apt leaders. Our elders are chosen by their character first, by the condition of their hearts toward God and his people.

In early 2021, we asked three elder candidates to share their hearts, whatever God had led them to teach and proclaim. With humility (and likely some trembling), this is what they shared.