Who are the declared nominees for SBC president?
Mike Keahbone
Mike Keahbone, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lawton, Oklahoma, and a member of the SBC's Executive Committee, was the second person to be nominated.
California Pastor Victor Chayasirisobhon announced his intention to nominate Keahbone, touting the Oklahoma clergyman's love for God and the SBC.
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"Mike Keahbone is the real deal, a leader who loves the Lord, loves the SBC, and strives every day to make it better," stated Chayasirisobhon, as quoted by The Baptist Messenger on Jan. 30. "He is a son of the SBC, and I am convinced he is more than ready to step up and step into the role of president."
"His extensive experience in Convention life and inexhaustible commitment to make our SBC a better, stronger and healthier family of churches uniquely qualify Mike Keahbone to serve as our next president."
Keahbone earned a Bachelor of Science in Ethics at Mid-America Christian University of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Keahbone is also vice chairman of the SBC's Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force and a member of the SBC's Sexual Abuse Task Force, according to Baptist Press.
Additionally, Keahbone was on the Oklahoma Baptist Board of Directors from 2015-2021, serving as vice president of the board from 2017-2021.
Keahbone, who has Comanche, Cherokee and Kiowa heritage, helped author an SBC resolution titled "On Religious Liberty, Forced Conversion, and the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report," which was adopted by SBC messengers in 2022.
