NC Baptist board highlights baptisms, missions at spring meeting

Celebrating rising baptism numbers, increased missions giving and expanding missions engagement, members of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s board of directors gathered May 18-19 at Fort Caswell to reflect on recent milestones and prepare for a busy summer of ministry.

Speaking near the fifth anniversary of his election as N.C. Baptist executive director-treasurer, Todd Unzicker highlighted several encouraging ministry trends during his address to board members, including increases in baptisms, missions giving and engagement in missions efforts.

Unzicker shared that more than 750 baptisms were reported from approximately 100 churches during last month’s “Fill the Tank” emphasis. He also noted that N.C. Baptist churches reported 18,461 baptisms in 2025, marking a 26% increase from 2024. The total was also the fourth highest among state conventions nationwide.

Unzicker shared highlights from recent mission trips by N.C. Baptist churches through the state convention’s missions engagement initiative that was launched late last year. Unzicker said more trips are planned for this summer and beyond.

During his remarks, Unzicker also recognized five college students who are part of the initial 11-member Go Collective cohort. Members of the cohort will spend their summer serving in missions assignments at nine locations around the world. Board members gathered around the students to pray and commission them.

“Brothers and sisters, this is what it means to be on mission together,” Unzicker said after praying over members of the cohort.

Additionally, Unzicker and board members prayed for the three N.C. Baptist camp locations at Caswell, Caraway and Truett, which are expected to host thousands of students and youth this summer through camps and other ministry events.

Financial report and actions

Alongside reports of ministry growth, board members reviewed the convention’s financial health and approved several business items during the two-day meeting.

Unzicker and convention leaders reported a strong start to the year in missions giving. Through April 30, Cooperative Program receipts totaled nearly $9.9 million, which was more than $747,000 or about 8.2% more than the same time period as last year. The giving total also marked the highest four-month start to a year in a decade, officials said.

Gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American missions totaled more than $2.6 million, while gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions totaled more than $9.8 million. Both totals reflected year-over-year increases through the same time period.

Gifts to the North Carolina Missions Offering totaled more than $390,000, which is about $119,000 less than the same time period as last year. However, the offering’s emphasis month takes place in September.

Board members accepted and approved the state convention’s 2025 financial audit report, which Jared Richard, chairman of the N.C. Baptist Operations Special Committee and senior pastor of Bay Leaf Baptist Church in Raleigh, described as “squeaky clean.”

The board also approved a motion to transfer 20% of the net profit of the state convention’s 2025 operations to contingency reserves. The amount totaled approximately $4,300.

The board also approved a motion that authorized the state convention to purchase a 1-acre parcel of land located in the heart of the Truett Camp property that is not currently owned by the camp. The sale is not to exceed $15,000, plus reasonable closing costs and other fees.

BR study committee recommendations

Board members heard a preliminary report from a study committee that was appointed late last year to explore a more permanent relationship between the Biblical Recorder (BR) and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The committee was formed at the request of the BR board.

The committee’s proposal, which was presented separately to the BR board on May 18, recommended that the Biblical Recorder dissolve as a separate entity and integrate its operations with the Baptist state convention. Under the proposal, the BR would retain its brand identity and continue to function as a news source for N.C. Baptists. The proposal also calls for the establishment of a BR subcommittee that would be part of the N.C. Baptist board as a way to ensure editorial freedom for the Recorder.

Neither the BR nor the state convention board took any action on the proposal. The proposed recommendations are subject to approval by the BR board, the state convention’s board and ultimately by messengers at an N.C. Baptist annual meeting.

The Biblical Recorder has served as the news journal for N.C. Baptists since 1833 and has historically operated as a separate, but related entity to the convention. In 2022, the BR’s board negotiated and signed a management agreement with the state convention. In September 2025, the BR’s board requested the formation of the study committee to “look into a permanent relationship between the BR and the N.C. Baptist state convention that retains the identity and editorial freedom of the BR.”

Fruitland updates

Three N.C. Baptist board members were appointed to the Fruitland Baptist Bible College nominating committee. They were: Justin Alexander, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Hendersonville; Robert Hefner, lead pastor of Pleasant Garden Baptist Church; and Twinkle Poindexter, member of Collide Church in Yadkinville.

The N.C. Baptist board was also briefed on Marty Jacumin’s appointment as Fruitland’s interim president and the formation of a search committee to recommend the school’s next permanent leader.