The Executive Pastor Search Committee has worked for more than eighteen months. We have prayed, discussed, searched, prayed, interviewed, been disappointed and frustrated, rejoiced, and prayed some more. In more than one sermon, Dr. Lewis has observed: “God is always on time.” In God’s good time, we believe God answered our prayers and led us to the person who should be executive pastor at First Baptist Nashville.
We are excited and pleased to recommend Thomas K. Crow as executive pastor. Tom has experience in a similar role in a large downtown church, loves people, and is deeply spiritual. He has been blessed with gifts we believe will help strengthen the life and ministry of First Baptist Nashville. From our first meeting, committee members were impressed with Tom and Jackie. We love them and are looking forward to sharing ministry with them in downtown Nashville.
On behalf of our committee, I want to thank you for your prayers, support, and kind words during the search process. We could not have asked for any more from you. Thank you! The members of our committee are listed here so you can express appreciation to them for their good work: Gay Campbell, Bill Chaney (co-chair), Etta Crittenden, Melanie Dunn, Annette Howse, MarIan Seward, Jim Shull, Suzanne Smitherman, and Wes Turner.
Harold S. Smith, Chair
Executive Pastor Search Committee
Tom Crow has been a personal friend and confidant of mine since 1997 when I met him in Charlotte. Over the years I have sought his counsel and advice on matters related to staff supervision and development, never dreaming that we would have the opportunity to be on the same team. We have shared a mutual commitment to effective ministry in the heart of two of America’s greatest cities.
I believe members of First Baptist Nashville will soon discover in Tom a wealth of information and a spirit of enthusiasm that will allow us to faithfully accomplish our new Mission Challenge. God has answered my prayer in bringing a man of his spiritual depth and practical insight to assist me in leading First Baptist Nashville into the future.
Dr. Frank R. Lewis
Senior Pastor
Some highlights of Tom Crow’s 15 year ministry at First Baptist Church of Charlotte include:
• Growing Sunday School average weekly attendance from 750 to 1,300
• Developing mission points in various apartment complexes
• Beginning missions partnerships in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, North Africa, and Europe and leading 16 missions to Russia
• Developing, cultivating, and maintaining a strong community, government, and media presence for First Baptist Church.
• Adding numerous ministry and mission programs including housing for the homeless, a deacon family ministry plan, and Sunday School outreach
• Growing the church budget from $1.6 million in 1991 to $4 million in 2005 and leading the church in becoming debt-free
Listen to the Search Committee Recommendation, Tom's response and our officlal vote to extend the call to Tom from the Sunday, September 10 service!
Both Tom and Jackie Crow were born and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jackie, who loves the role of homemaker, is a seamstress, teaches first grade in Sunday School, and leads the church media-library. She also works part-time in the legal profession. A few of the Crows’ favorite things include:
• Reading and discussing what God is teaching them
• Traveling internationally and in the USA, especially the West
• Eating Mexican food and barbecue
• Gardening
• Music
• Enjoying their children, Carrie and Philip, their extended family in Oklahoma and Arkansas, and their family dog, Tucker
• Fishing, boating, camping, and outdoor activities
• Born October 7, 1952, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Married Jackie Ann Duval of Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 5,1973
• Ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church, Lawton, Oklahoma, 1977
• Ordained to the Gospel Ministry at Gambrell Street Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, September 27, 1982
• Daughter Carrie, 26, is a graduate student in International Studies/Spanish at Oklahoma State University
• Son Philip, 23, recently received his undergraduate degree and MBA in Trust Management from Campbell University , and is currently seeking employment in Colorado
• Master of Religious Education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, 1980
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma, 1978
• Executive Pastor, First Baptist Church of Charlotte, North Carolina, 1991-2006 (Position title changed to Associate Pastor-Administration, June 2006)
• Minister of Education & Administration, Gambrell Street Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, 1984-1991
• Minister of Education & Outreach, Sandia Baptist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1980-1984
• Marketing Director, Emergency Medical Consultants, Fort Worth, Texas, 1978- 1980
• Chaplain’s Assistant, United States Army, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, 1973-1975
• National Association of Church Business Administration, Fellow, 1998
• Southern Baptist Church Business Administration Association, Fellow, 1998
• Baptist State Convention of North Carolina—General Board Member, 2000- 2004; Executive Committee Member, 2002-2004; Budget Committee, 2002- 2003; Budget Committee Chairman, 2003-2004
• Certified Church Pastor/Trainer—FAITH Sunday School/witnessing ministry; Continuous Witness Training; Evangelism Explosion
• Advisory Committee, Gary Cook Graduate School of Leadership, Dallas Baptist University, 2002-present
• Southern Baptist Religious Education Association
• Charlotte Metro Chapter, National Church Business Administration
