Willingham named BGCT evangelism director

DALLAS—The Baptist General Convention of Texas has named Scott Willingham as director of its evangelism team.

Scott Willingham

In his new role, Willingham—who served as Texas Baptists’ local-church evangelism director since 2008—will seek to encourage churches in their efforts to share the gospel throughout the state and around the world.

BGCT Executive Director David Hardage said Willingham’s leadership will be critical moving forward in a crucial area. Evangelism is at the heart of who Texas Baptists are, and they are passionate about sharing Christ’s love for people, he emphasized.

“I’m excited about Scott Willingham’s willingness to accept the position as director of evangelism for our Texas Baptists family,” Hardage said. ”I have known Scott for many years and know him to be a man of spiritual sensitivity and personal integrity. Plus, he knows evangelism and practices evangelism.

“His reputation among our Texas Baptists pastors is strong. He’ll build a great team, and they will lead us well.  Nothing is more important to Texas Baptists, and Scott will lead the way forward.”

As director of congregational evangelism, Willingham facilitated the organization of CityReach events, evangelism efforts leading up to each year’s BGCT annual meeting.

Since 2011, nearly 8,000 people from 614 churches participated in events facilitated by Willingham.

He promoted the 4xfour evangelism campaign throughout the state and led many regional clinics for the curriculum, written by Greg Wallace, pastor of Woodridge Baptist Church in Kingwood.

Under Willingham’s guidance, the convention—in cooperation with local Baptist partners—launched [un]Apologetics conferences, which equipped Christian to offer defenses for their faith.

He also led in partnering with Baptist associations and churches to hold regional Engage evangelism conferences.

For Willingham, fostering a culture of evangelistic zeal begins with returning to the basics of the faith. First and foremost, Christians should want to share the gospel in their spheres of influence because it reflects the heart of God, he said.

“Lost people matter to God as evidenced by the cross,” he said. “That’s a core value.”

Discipleship and evangelism go hand-in-hand, Willingham said. Christ’s followers naturally will live out his command to make disciples. The desire to share the gospel is an outpouring of one’s relationship with God, stressed.

“Evangelism starts on the inside,” he said. “What I mean by that is if we don’t pay attention to ourselves inside, we’re not going to be evangelistic. If we’re not walking with God, living with God, we’re not going to share the gospel.”

Encouraging and strengthening Texas Baptists, Texas Baptist pastors and Texas Baptist leaders is important in cultivating evangelism throughout the state, Willingham noted, because evangelism and discipleship happen in local churches.

“We reach the state of Texas through those that hold the keys,” he said. “That is the local church.”

Willingham earned his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and his master’s degree and doctorate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His pastorates include Faith Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, First Baptist Church in Dumas and First Baptist Church in Taylor. He and his wife Lori are members of First Baptist Church in Midlothian.