FBC Orlando extends call to Uth as future senior pastor

ORLANDO (FBW)–First Baptist Church, Orlando, called David Uth as co-pastor and next senior pastor May 15. He will assume leadership of the 12,500-member congregation upon the retirement of current senior pastor Jim Henry.

Uth has served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, West Monroe, La., since 1996.

During his tenure there, the church has almost doubled in membership, to 4,807. It consistently is the leader in the Louisiana Baptist Convention in baptisms and Cooperative Program and missions giving.

According to First Baptist Orlando’s Web site, the Louisiana church is one of the fastest growing congregations in the Southern Baptist Convention.

Uth, 48, is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Ark., and received the M.Div. and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.

He and his wife, Rachel, are parents to Joshua, 20; Andrew, 16; and Hannah, 14.

Jim Henry, pastor of First Baptist Church, Orlando, since 1977, asked the congregation April 18, 2004, to commission a search team to find his successor. The 12-member team began its work one month later and presented a recommendation to the church May 1.

Uth preached a sermon at First Baptist, Orlando, “Living and Dying by the Choices We Make,” May 15. He will begin his ministry in Orlando June 19.

First Baptist Orlando baptized 317 in 2004, according to the Annual Church Profile. The church consistently leads all SBC congregations in Cooperative Program giving, contributing more than $940,000 last year, according to ACP data.