By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor
ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Foundation Executive Director Wayne Taylor informed the entity’s trustees July 30 of his intention to retire.
He has been the chief executive of this Louisiana Baptist ministry since July 1995.
Taylor told the Baptist Message he had a peace about the next phase of life he felt that God was ready to unfold for him and his wife Joanna.
“My experiences of ministering and sharing the Gospel in Belarus have revealed a new passion for me,” he said, indicating he plans to engage even more in missions and ministry, including a young adult discipleship group he currently leads at his home church.
He has made multiple mission trips to the former Soviet satellite country that is about 41 percent agnostic and atheistic with only two percent of the population professing Christ as Savior. He leverages his professional expertise to share about Christ with elite groups, using his platform in the financial sector to speak at Belarusian universities and business forums. He also has been active in the distribution there of the Good and Evil Illustrated Bible, a graphic-novel-style presentation, which has a 43 percent return on investment in that more than 4 people repent for salvation for every 10 copies given away.
Taylor came to the Foundation after serving 12 years in finance, most immediately as an investment broker with First Commerce Investment Services (formerly the Rapides Bank) in Alexandria. Since arriving at the Foundation he has made an emphasis on educating Louisiana Baptists about how they can use assets accumulated in a lifetime to continue to expand the Gospel through trusts and bequests to the missions and ministries they have always loved and supported.
When Taylor was elected executive director in 1995, he told the Baptist Message he felt called to the Foundation in order “to help people and further the work of the Lord through Louisiana Baptists.”
During his tenure, assets under management have soared by $100 million, and another $94 million has been distributed to Baptist causes, according to Baptist Message reports and LBF records.
The Foundation provides crucial resource management for the cooperative missions and ministries supported through the various departments within the Louisiana Baptist Convention, as well as for the ongoing work of LBC entities (Louisiana College, Children’s Home and Family Ministries, Baptist Message) and many churches.
Gray Kitchens, a Minden attorney and the president of the LBF trustees said his time with the LBF “has been a great experience,” noting in particular that “Getting to know Wayne Taylor and working with him has been both a learning opportunity and a special time.
Describing Taylor as “extremely knowledgeable,” Kitchens said, “We will miss him in all respects.”
Taylor and his wife have been married 38 years and have two adult children, Katherine and Will, living in California and Lafayette, Louisiana, respectively.
Wayne and Joanna are active members of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria.