SBTC board elects Don Cass as Evangelism Director

ARLINGTON–The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Executive Board on Feb. 9 unanimously elected as SBTC evangelism director Don Cass, a former evangelism director for New Mexico Baptists and a former Baptist General Convention of Texas evangelism associate.

The board met during the SBTC’s emPOWER Conference at the Arlington Convention Center. Cass was introduced to the conference after his election and will begin March 1.

Mentored by the late Carlos McLeod at the BGCT, McLeod described Cass as “a man who lives and breathes evangelism.” Cass served New Mexico Baptists for six years and has served since last summer as pastor of Pleasant Hills Baptist Church in Tyler.

SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards recommended Cass as a man who “embodies the very essence of evangelism.” Calling him a visionary strategist, Richards said Cass is not only a soul winner, but also has the gift of administration. “For the last six years he has served with distinction in New Mexico, leading the state to have one of the premier evangelism ministries in the Southern Baptist Convention.”

Claude Cone, Baptist Convention of New Mexico executive director, praised Cass’ leadership among New Mexico Baptists where attendance at the evangelism conference grew from 350 to 1,400 and youth evangelism conference participation grew from 750 to more than 2,200. Cass has written five manuals for evangelistic outreach, 16 evangelistic tracts and directed soul-winning training on state and national levels.

SBTC board member Stan Coffey of San Jacinto Baptist Church in Amarillo, recalled Cass’ training under McLeod, serving as a BGCT evangelism associate from 1988 to 1997. “That training served him well. Carlos lighted a fire in him that still burns in his heart and he longs to see evangelism conferences like that again.”

Cass will give leadership in the development and implementation of the evangelism area of the state convention’s ministry, leading churches to cooperate to accomplish evangelistic ministry.

Total Church Life Ministries Director Darrell W. Robinson, formerly of the North American Mission Board, also praised the selection. A former Texan, Robinson wrote of the need for effective evangelistic leadership in the state. “I believe Don can do the best job of anyone I know in creating a climate for evangelism in Texas again, in helping churches in strategic evangelism, in leading God’s people to reach the multitudes for Christ, and in extending the kingdom of God and bringing glory to him.”

LifeWay President James. T. Draper called Cass “a wonderful evangelistic leader whose theology is conservative and who stands for the things Southern Baptists most cherish.” Other endorsements came from Kauf-Van Baptist Association Missions Director Jerry D. Griffin of Terrell and Georgia pastor Ernest L. Easley.

Bobby Eklund, SBTC financial ministry consultant, recalled working with Cass at the BGCT. “With Don at the helm of evangelism our convention can look forward to great advancements. He will lead out in a strong emphasis on personal evangelism, spiritual awakening, as well as other phases of evangelism,” Eklund said, commending Cass’ well-balanced strategy.

“It is our sure and firm conviction that this is God’s plan for our lives,” Cass stated. “It is our prayer that God will anoint us in leading Southern Baptists of Texas to become intentional lifestyle witnesses across this great state. I am fully persuaded that the greatest days for SBTC are just ahead of us.”

Cass has extensive experience as a pastor, having served Southcrest Baptist Church of Lubbock, First Baptist Church of Tahoka and Calvary Baptist Church of Abilene. While pursuing a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Cass led churches in Aledo and Josephine. As a college student at Wayland Baptist University, Cass served churches in Plainview and Dimmitt.

“I have sought to lead churches to focus on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission,” Cass said, referring to Matt. 22:37-38 and Matt. 28:19-20. “I am committed to building up the church through preaching the word, equipping the saints, encouraging ministry and loving the people.”

SBTC Executive Board Chairman Steve Cochran observed that “God has seen fit to work the timing” of Cass’ selection during the emPOWER Conference. “I believe God has a plan for us as a convention and the answer is evangelism. Reaching souls must be premier in all we do. I know that is true in your heart, the convention’s heart and in the heart of Don Cass.”

Richards added, “We’re going to see a renewed emphasis on revival and outreach as I believe we haven’t seen in a decade or more in Texas.” Richards said he believes God will use “a man like Cass who is totally yielded up to the Holy spirit for evangelism and spiritual awakening.”

Cass proposed a goal of 3,500 attending next year’s emPOWER Conference, which is scheduled Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at First Baptist Church of Euless.  He said he hopes it grows to 5,000 or more.  In addition to seeking input from directors of missions and local pastors, Cass said, “The strongest way to do evangelism is one on one, eye to eye and face to face.  If we can equip our people around the state to win people to Jesus Christ, we’ll win this state.  It’s a doable thing.”

Asked how he would handle leaving a church he had served less than a year, Cass said, “The most difficult thing I’ve ever done was coming to a conviction that this was the will of God–that this is the right direction for me to take.”  He spoke of the time he spent with two families of the church to pray through the matter while also asking several pastor friends to pray for discernment.  “I want this to be as positive as possible for the church,” he added.

Board members surrounded Cass and prayed for him at the meeting’s close.  Coffey thanked God for his faithfulnuss in founding the convention, the progress of the past five years and anticipation of evangelistic outreach.  “We do pray for revival, for a renewal, and ask, God, that you would come down upon us and once again have a fire in our hearts and souls and beings to reach folks for Christ, to see people as Jesus saw them.”