‘Near death’ combat experience pivotal

DAYTONA BEACH (FBW)—The man who likely will be Southern Baptists’ next president points to his “near death” combat experience in Vietnam as a pivotal turning point in his life—and one that continues to shape his ministry nearly 38 years after the horrific day in Southeast Asia.

Shot at point-blank range by a Viet Cong guerrilla, reconnaissance platoon leader Bobby Welch was believed to be dead when he was piled onto a military helicopter with other casualties. After whispering a prayer of re-commitment to Christ in the days that followed the incident as he struggled to survive, Welch was later called to the Gospel ministry.

But the harrowing experience in combat—as well as the leadership training he gained from the military—remains with him today as pastor of Daytona Beach’s First Baptist Church and presumptive next president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

“The longer I live, the clearer it becomes” how much the incident has influenced his ministry, Welch said in an extensive, three-hour interview May 23 with Florida Baptist Witness.

“Ever since that day I live in the conscious state of knowing that I may not get home tonight and that drives a great sense of urgency in me. I don’t put off alot until tomorrow. … I am driven with a sense of urgency to get things done and that’s how I feel about reaching people; I’m driven with the same urgency about this Convention.”

It’s not surprising then, that a renewed commitment to evangelism will be his sole theme as SBC president.

The co-founder of the widely used FAITH Sunday School evangelism strategy will celebrate his 30th anniversary as pastor of First Baptist Church in August, shortly after he and his wife, Maudellen, will observe their 39th wedding anniversary. The Welches have two adult children and four grandchildren who all live in the Daytona Beach area.

It was under the influence of the native Alabamian’s future wife that he came to Christ as a teenager, having not grown up in a Christian home. Welch said that his wife and family are supportive of the prospect of his SBC presidency.

Other than a pastorate while enrolled at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a brief stint as associate to conservative leader Bob Mowery at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Nashville, Welch has devoted virtually his entire ministry to the Daytona Beach church.

Calling First Baptist the most “Kingdom-oriented” church he knows, the 61-year-old pastor said that although there are no plans for his retirement, “I plan not to stay too long. I’ve had 30 indescribable, great years here.”

The church’s members are equally grateful for Welch—as well as extremely supportive of his candidacy for SBC president.

Les Coggins, deacon chairman and 25-year member of First Baptist, told the Witness that Welch is a “great leader” who will give Southern Baptists “a real boost in the arm about evangelism.”

Two-year member Michael Redding said, “We just love him,” adding, “I think people will find out how genuine he is and I hope in his tenure he can help people come to the Lord. That’s his number one goal. … He’s going to go full-throttle, wide-open and build the Kingdom.”

Paula Hurt, a member of 17 years, told the Witness that Welch is a “man of God” who “lives the faith every day.”

The wife of a church staff member who has known the Welches since their seminary days together, Gail Lynn said, “I think he would be a fresh, new, wonderful, dynamic breath of fresh air” for the SBC. Noting that he has instilled a soul-winning passion in her husband and her, Lynn said Welch is a “go-getter and his heart is sold-out to soul winning and reaching the world for Christ.”

Although First Baptist Church is in the early stages of relocation to a projected 500,000 square feet $50 million new facility on more than 220 acres in the western section of Volusia County. Welch and church members said that the project will not be hampered by his presidential duties.

Like his family, the church has become accustomed to Welch’s heavy travel schedule to promote FAITH—an itinerary which will no doubt be even more packed in light of his elaborate plans to rally Southern Baptists during a month-long bus tour this fall.

A denominational leader who has served in numerous posts—including president of the Florida Baptist State Convention and a member of the search committees that recommended John Sullivan as executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention and Jimmy Draper as president of LifeWay Christian Resources—Welch is widely admired by fellow Southern Baptist leaders.

Contacted by Florida Baptist Witness for comments about Welch, leaders praised him for his church’s unswerving commitment to the Cooperative Program. The church has consistently given at least 15 percent of its undesignated receipts annually and is among the leading churches in total dollars contributed.

“He epitomizes the best in evangelism and Cooperative Program,” said Sullivan. “He is a gifted preacher and leader.”

Noting that he has known Welch for nearly 40 years, Jerry Vines, former SBC president and pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, said he will “make a good president because he will motivate Southern Baptists to evangelism, which is the heart of our work.”

Draper told the Witness, “His role in FAITH has kept him in touch with pastors and churches all over the country and will be valuable to him because of the many who have related to him in this effort.

“His thrust, however is not to promote FAITH, but to challenge Southern Baptists to … return to the focus of winning souls that once characterized our Convention.”

Expressing appreciation for Welch’s collegiality during his time of ministry in Florida, current SBC President Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, and former pastor of West Palm Beach’s First Baptist Church, said his congregation “is one of hundreds of churches whose witness and growth have been strengthened through FAITH evangelism training. I believe the heart for evangelism Bobby Welch will bring to this hour of service among Southern Baptists will be his greatest contribution.”

For his part, Welch credits the military for his own leadership qualities. Still the gung-ho soldier who was awarded numerous medals and decorations for his exemplary military service, Welch hopes to visit America’s troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He believes ministers can benefit from the military’s training program.

“It’s amazing how deeply engrained some of that stuff gets into you,” he said, adding that his time at school for officer instruction is the “best training in the world for teaching and preaching. Every seminary ought to go down there and take notes.”