Birmingham Metro Baptist Association’s New Leader Prepares for Southern Baptist Convention

April 24, 2019

Church Leaders

Dr. Crain met his wife Carol Owens Crain at Walker High School. They have three children ranging from twelve to fifteen years old. Carol is a special educator for St. Clair County Board of Education and a Trustee for Judson College.church leaders birmingham metro baptist association chris crain with carol carianne jackson and lauren 7x5 — Dr. Crain met his wife Carol Owens Crain at Walker High School. They have three children ranging from twelve to fifteen years old. Carol is a special educator for St. Clair County Board of Education and a Trustee for Judson College.

The churches of the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association (BMBA) have partnered together to do great work in the Birmingham community and beyond since 1833. The Association, now with 126 churches spanning the Metro Area, started Baptist Health System, launched new congregations, served the poor, and helped survivors in numerous storms and disasters.

Last year, Executive Director Dr. Mike McLemore passed away leaving a leadership void. “We loved Dr. McLemore and knew that his leadership would be missed,” said Dr. Jim Cooley, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Birmingham. On November 26, 2018, Dr. Greg Corbin of Lakeside Baptist Church and Chairperson of the Executive Director Search Team recommended to the Executive Board that the BMBA call Dr. Chris Crain to serve as the new Executive Director. Dr. Crain was elected unanimously.

Dr. Earl Tew, former BMBA Executive Director, praying for the BMBA’s new Executive Director, Dr. Chris Crain, at his installation service earlier this year.

Serving previously as Director of the St. Clair Baptist Association, Crain was officially installed as Executive Director of the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association on February 21st at the First Baptist Church of Birmingham. Dr. Greg Corbin said, “Chris steps into a great legacy of effective men of God such as Mike McLemore and Earl Tew. As we work together, we will help to ensure that the ministry of Chris Crain will be built upon the foundation that has been established. We look forward to all the Lord has in store.”

In the short time since Dr. Crain’s arrival, the Association has rebranded and embraced a mission “to encourage, equip, and engage biblically faithful churches in the Great Commission.” The BMBA will be in a prominent role in hosting the Southern Baptist Convention in Birmingham in June 2019. “The Convention has not been in the Magic City since 1941. Our goal is to welcome thousands of Southern Baptists from all over the world to Birmingham so that they can see the incredible things God is doing in this city for His glory,” Crain said.

-Toni Wall

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