When Joe Baugh, Director of Missions for Washington Baptist Association, makes a commitment, his allegiance and enthusiasm are unflagging, say pastors in his association.
When Joe Baugh, Director of Missions for Washington Baptist Association, makes a commitment, his allegiance and enthusiasm are unflagging, say pastors in his association.
That started as a tenth-grader, when Baugh surrendered to Christ. In his first year at Mississippi College, he answered the call to the ministry.
“My conversion was a life-changing experience for me,” he said. “Those first years with God were really great. When God called me [to preach], I literally had cold chills.”
Forty years later, after serving God in the same region for the duration of his ministry, Baugh said he still gets chills when he thinks about the privilege of serving His God.
The other relationship that gives him goose bumps is the one he committed to in 1965, when he married Barbara Spencer. He met her while a student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Working at his job in Maison Blanche, a building that is now part of the NOBTS complex, he served a young woman who came in to buy a present as a thank you to her parents for putting her through college. The smitten Baugh got information off her check and contacted her.
“The rest is history,” he said of his 41-year marriage.
A graduate of Clark Junior College, Mississippi College, and NOBTS, Baugh’s education gave him the tools he uses as a DOM, but only hands-on experience could prepare him for the job. He got his first experience as an associate pastor in charge of youth and education at First Baptist Church, Franklinton, where he worked for six years. He then served as a pastor at Natalbany Baptist Church for four years, followed by a 14-year tenure at Mt. Herman Baptist Church.
In 1992, he moved from the pastorate to his current DOM position. In his years in Washington Baptist Association, Baugh said his biggest challenge has been working with churches without pastors and helping them continue to accomplish their mission.
“I’ve had to train a lot of pastor search committees,” he said. “A lot of people turn to the Director of Missions for advice when the church is pastorless.”
Baugh should know. All the 36 churches in Washington Baptist Association have had at least one pastoral turnover in the last 14 years, except Gene Richardson at Hillcrest Baptist Church.
“I’ve probably had over 200 pastoral changes in my three associations,” added Baugh, who also is DOM in Two Rivers and William Wallace Baptist Associations.
Baugh considers the On Missions Celebrations in the association his biggest success. He led the association to sponsor one every five years. He is pleased that 100 percent of the churches in the parish participated in the last one.
“It’s important to expose people to foreign, home and state missions,” he said.
Another kingdom growth emphasis Baugh underscored is the annual Senior Revival. In Washington Association, two series of services are held, one on each side of the parish. “We have a lot of seniors in the parish,” Baugh said. “This is a really important experience for them.”
At the other end of the ministry spectrum, Baugh promotes youth evangelism activities from YEC to youth revivals and power teams who promote Christ.
“I love being a DOM,” Baugh said, “but my first love is youth.”
He not only served as a youth pastor in Franklinton, but since he had no youth associate at Mt. Herman, he acted as both senior and youth pastor. He still enjoys getting involved with the youth when associational activities are planned, the DOM said.
Baugh also is passionate about his commitment to the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation. He has supported the efforts of the foundation since 1969. He served two years as the foundation president under Executive Director Ken Ward.
Having served for 14 years and reached his 65th birthday, Baugh admitted that he will probably retire after he celebrates 40 years of ministry in the region in July 2008.
“Just so I have enough money for fish bait,” he said. “That’s my goal.”