NOBTS graduate Chris Crain, executive director of the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association, was recently named the Associational Mission Strategist (AMS) of the Year by the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL).
Crain, a two-time graduate of NOBTS, was awarded this honor at the SBCAL annual meeting on June 7th ahead of the SBC Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.
“I was quite honestly shocked to receive this recognition,” said Crain, who has been leading the Birmingham Metro Association since 2019.
“For me to receive this award was humbling and it was an occasion of gratitude for me and my wife.”
The SBCAL is an official group that provides networking, resources and community to hundreds of Southern Baptist local associations across North America.
Each year the SBCAL honors one of its local association leaders, who have various titles but are referred to broadly as Associational Mission Strategists, as their award recipient.
Crain said local associations can be crucial for pastors and he is privileged to lead the Birmingham Metro association, which serves 180 churches.
“For the churches in the SBC, the local association is like your family,” Crain said.
“I have seen the rise of the importance of local associations because these are the people that we know and that we do life with on a local level. I can only see more appreciation and participation within local associations in the days ahead.”
Crain said his time as an NOBTS student helped prepare him for his current leadership role.
“Going to NOBTS was the best thing that ever happened to me in my theological education,” he said. “It meant everything to me. It was formative in my own personal life and ministry. It set the trajectory for me serving where I am today.”
Crain began with his Master of Divinity degree, which he graduated with in 1999. Professors like Jim Shaddix, President Chuck Kelley, Don Wilton, Reggie Ogea and many more inspired and equipped him for future ministry.
Of particular importance were some of his evangelism courses where he was consistently challenged to share his faith in the French Quarter and throughout New Orleans.
“Those classes helped me to gain courage and skill in sharing the Gospel with people that are from different worldviews or backgrounds,” Crain said. “That was formative for me. A huge part of what I do today as an AMS is evangelism and disciple-making.”
Years later, Crain would return to NOBTS to earn his Doctor of Ministry with a focus on leadership and administration in 2015.
He would earn this degree while pastoring a church plant in Birmingham, and church planting courses provided a pivotal resource during that time.
Once again, gracious encouragement and wise counsel from professors such as Ogea helped sustain Crain through a years-long process.
Now in his role with the association, Crain said he is proud of the relationships among NOBTS alumni within Alabama and is proud of the continued work of the seminary.
“I could not be more excited or proud of how New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has overcome challenges, navigated changes and evolved over the years,” Crain said. “It is amazing to see the caliber of students at NOBTS today, and God is really using the seminary right now.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a time in my ministry where I haven’t been able to relate back to students or leaders at NOBTS. I often point people who are looking for theological education to New Orleans. Being a local mouthpiece for NOBTS is one of the greatest honors that I have. It is a school of Providence and Prayer and it will continue to be that.”
