Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home trustees last week
unani-mously elected seminary associate professor/dean Perry Hancock as the
agencys new executive director.
“God showed us this was the man – no doubt in our
minds,” said Lindsey Burns, pastor at First Baptist Church of Winnfield
and chair of the homes search committee.
Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home trustees last week
unani-mously elected seminary associate professor/dean Perry Hancock as the
agencys new executive director.
“God showed us this was the man – no doubt in our
minds,” said Lindsey Burns, pastor at First Baptist Church of Winnfield
and chair of the homes search committee.
“We believe he will be able to build on the legacy of
the home … and continue to take us on. …
“Hes the guy for a time like this.”
Hancock, 46, comes to the childrens home from New Orleans
Baptist Theological Seminary, where he has served as dean of graduate studies
and associate professor of discipleship, occupying the Broadmoor Chair of Discipleship.
“It is evident that this is where God wants us to be,
…” Hancock said, standing with his wife, Tonya. “We feel blessed,
and we are excited to be able to serve.”
Childrens home trustees elected Hancock following a closed-door
session of a little more than an hour. They met alone for about 25 minutes,
then called Hancock in to meet with the full board and answer questions.
After that 30-minute session, trustees excused Hancock. It
was just a matter of minutes before they emerged to invite him back into the
meeting and announce the vote.
The election comes almost exactly a year after John Williams
announced plans to retire as executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Childrens
Home. Williams left that post late last summer after serving 16 years.
Last week, in a brief meeting with home staff members, Warren
Eckhardt emphasized how excited the board was to make the announcement.
“Its been a great day for our trustees,” said
Eckhardt, chair of the home trustees and associate pastor at North Monroe Baptist
Church in Monroe. Eckhardt also served on the five-member executive director
search committee.
Burns then introduced Hancock to childrens home staff
members as someone who trustees elected “unanimously, enthusiastically,
joyfully.”
Hancock is a native of Bogalusa and is married to the former
Tonya Moran of Baton Rouge. They have one child, Matthew, who is a graduate
student at New Orleans Seminary and serves as associate director of enlistment.
In presenting Hancock to staff members, Burns cited the newly-elected
leaders management and administration experience at the seminary.
Hancock holds masters and doctorate degrees from New Orleans
Baptist Theological Seminary, both with emphases on administration. Prior to
that, he earned an undergraduate degree from Louisiana College in 1983.
At the seminary, Hancock served as associate dean of institutional
effectiveness and technology and chair of the Department of Christian Education
for the college of undergraduate studies from 1993 to 1999.
He then served as associate dean of the graduate faculty for
two years, before becoming dean in 2001.
Hancock also has pastoral experience, Burns noted. He had led
three Louisiana Baptist churches – Westside Emmanuel Baptist Church in
Bogalusa, First Baptist Church of Simpson and Cane Brake Baptist Church in Lottie.
He also has served in various interim positions and has contributed to several
ministerial and theological publications.
During his introduction, Burns cited Hancocks development
of Creative Ministries at the seminary as well.
“It has become a role model around the convention for
ministering to inner-city children,” he pointed out.
Hancock and his wife formed the ministry in 1997 with a focus
on ministering to children and families in need.
Its ministry projects include:
Providing supplies for children in public schools.
Providing items for poverty mothers of newborns.
Providing news shoes and clothes for children at
Easter, a ministry in conjunction with Elysian Fields Avenue Baptist Church
in New Orleans.
Providing weekend meals for children in need, also
a ministry with Elysian Fields Avenue Baptist Church.
Providing Christmas gifts for children with parents
in prison, a partnership project with the AngelTree effort.
Engaging in special needs projects, such as providing
air conditioners for senior adults in an area housing community, supplying clothes
for various Southern Baptist social ministries in New Orleans and offering food
for children in yet another New Orleans housing community.
All such efforts always are tied to gospel presentations through
the use of tracts and through providing information on local Louisiana Baptist
churches.
The ministry has earned a number of recognitions. The Southern
Baptist Convention conferred its “Champions of the Faith Award.” New
Orleans public schools, a local housing community authority and AngelTree leaders
also have issued public notices of commendation.
Hancock understands needs of children and “has been involved
with sleeves rolled up as well, …” Burns said.
“They (Perry and Tonya) will bring so much to our state.”
In his comments, Hancock then asked for the prayers and support
of staff members as the change in leadership takes place at the home. He said
he is looking forward to the new role and to creating a family-type atmosphere
among workers and administrators.
“Its an honor for God to call us to this kind of
work because this is our passion, …” Hancock said later.
“Were grateful that, for over 100 years, Louisiana
Baptists have chosen to put children first. And were just grateful to
be a part of that now. We look forward to being in the churches and to having
the churches visit us here.”
Hancock noted he and his wife have supported the work of the
childrens home for years. “But to be a part of the work
now – thats exciting,” he emphasized.
Hancock told trustees hhe plans to assume his new role by the first of July.