By Joan C. McKinney, director of university communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - The Rev. Darren Gaddis, president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, will be Campbellsville University's guest speaker at chapel/convocation Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Campbellsville Baptist Church.
The public is invited to the address that begins at 10 a.m.
Gaddis is pastor of Central Baptist Church in Corbin, Ky. He is in the project stage of a doctor of ministry in expository preaching degree at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
On the national level, he serves on the board of trustees for GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention (2005-present).
In January 2002, Gaddis became the senior pastor of Central Baptist Church. The church has seen significant growth since Gaddis' arrival with over 550 membership additions, 33 percent increase in Sunday School attendance and doubling of annual baptisms.
In addition to increased membership and attendance, Gaddis has led the church to begin several new ministries.
During his tenure at Central Baptist, Gaddis has served in several capacities beyond the ministry of his church. On the local level, he has served as director of evangelism (2003-present) and moderator (2005-2006) for the South-Union Mt. Zion Association, as chairman of The Celebration of the Cumberlands Crusade (2005), and as a trustee for the Laurel Lake Baptist Campground (2005-present).
On the state level, he served as president (2006-present) and second vice president (2002-2003) of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and served on the KBC Committee on Nominations (2003-2004, vice chairman in 2004), the Kentucky Ethics League Trustee Board (2004-present), the KBC Committee on Constitution and Bylaws (2005-present, chairman in 2005), the KBC High Impact Advisory Team (2005-present), the KBC Cooperative Program Study Committee (2005-present), and the University of the Cumberlands Church Advisory Board (2006-present).
Gaddis attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas from 1994 to 1997 and graduated with a master's of divinity with Biblical languages. While attending seminary, he served as pastoral intern for two years at First Baptist Church, Dallas where he conducted research on behalf of the pastor and did extensive pastoral care ministry.
Gaddis graduated from J.M. Tate High School in Pensacola, Fla. in 1987. In 1988, he received his call to the ministry while attending Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola. From 1989 to 1993, Gaddis served as interim youth minister and associate youth minister at Olive Baptist Church. In December 1993, he graduated from the University of West Florida in Pensacola with a bachelor of arts degree in communications with a specialization in radio, television and film. In January 1994, he was licensed to the gospel ministry by Olive Baptist Church.
Gaddis was born in Owensboro, Ky.; he came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday 1977 and was baptized into the fellowship of Yellow Creek Baptist Church in Owensboro.
He married Jennifer Burnette of Paducah, Ky. in September 1997. Mrs. Gaddis works
in the marketing industry for Marketing Solutions of Frankfort, Ky.
In January 1998, Gaddis became the pastor of Liberty Point Baptist Church in Cadiz, Ky. and was ordained into the gospel ministry by Yellow Creek Baptist Church. During his ministry at Liberty Point, the church achieved its highest Sunday School average ever and its highest one day attendance ever.
The church was also recognized by the Billy Graham School of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville for being a Highly Effective Evangelistic Church by being in the top four percent of churches in America for its baptism-to-member ratio.
The growth at Liberty Point led the church to establish the area's first contemporary worship service and to develop a long-range plan for relocation to a larger property. While serving at Liberty Point, Gaddis was active with the Little River Baptist Association where he served as vice moderator.
He and his wife have two children, Leah Gayle Gaddis and Ethan Kendrick Gaddis.
They are expecting their third child, Meredith Leigh, in April 2007.
For more information about chapel/convocation contact the Rev. Ed Pavy, director of Baptist Campus Ministry and chair of the university's chapel/convocation committee, at ecpavy@campbellsville.edu or at (270) 789-5227.
Campbellsville University, now celebrating her Centennial year, is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. Listed in U.S. News & World Report's “America's Best Colleges” 14 consecutive years as one of the leading Southern master's colleges and universities, Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his eighth year as president.