Clay Smith, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Matthews, N.C., and Melanie Wallace, a member of Hephzibah Baptist Church in Wendell, N.C., were elected to serve as president and vice president, respectively, of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s (BSCNC) Board of Directors for 2019.

Clay Smith, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Matthews, N.C., and Melanie Wallace, a member of Hephzibah Baptist Church in Wendell, N.C., were elected to serve as president and vice president, respectively, of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s (BSCNC) Board of Directors for 2019.

The elections took place during the BSCNC’s fall board meeting, held Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 24-25 at Caraway Conference Center and Camp in Sophia, N.C.

Smith has served as senior pastor of First Baptist Matthews since August 2014. This past year, Smith served on the board’s Evangelism and Discipleship Committee and as an at-large member of the Executive Committee. He holds a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Smith was nominated by Rick Byrd, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C.

“North Carolina Baptists face a critical hour as both the population and spiritual lostness of our state are advancing at rapid speed,” Smith said. “I look forward to doing what I can to help lead the Board of Directors to continue impacting lostness through disciple-making.

“We have an unparalleled opportunity to share Jesus and make an eternal difference, and I truly believe our best days as a state convention are in our future.”

“We have an unparalleled opportunity to share Jesus and make an eternal difference, and I truly believe our best days as a state convention are in our future.”

Wallace was nominated by Lawrence Clapp, pastor of Elm Street Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C. This past year, Wallace served on the board’s Church Planting and Missions Partnerships Committee and as an at-large member of the Executive Committee.

“I count it a privilege to work on behalf of over 4,000 churches in North Carolina and alongside the outstanding leadership of our Baptist state convention executives as we seek to impact lostness through disciple making,” Wallace said.

“Hephzibah Baptist Church has benefited greatly from our partnership with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and I look forward to giving back in helping other churches realize how, together, through cooperation we can fulfill the Great Commission.”

Smith and Wallace will begin their terms of service at the first meeting of the BSCNC’s Board of Directors in 2019, which is scheduled for January.

Additionally, Ginger Brown was reelected as the board secretary. Brown is a member of First Baptist Church in Cary, N.C. She has served in this role since 2014.