NASHVILLE (BP and local reports) – Dusty Durbin, pastor of Big Level Church, Wiggins, will be nominated for second vice-president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) at the 2021 annual meeting in Nashville in June. Jonathan Jenkins, pastor of First Church, Kinston, Ala., has announced his intention to make the nomination.
Jenkins characterized Durbin, age 35, as having “a wise and cooperative spirit in the churches he’s led and the local and state cooperative works he has participated in. He not only participates but has led his church to give generously through the Cooperative Program and to the Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon missions offerings.”
Big Level Church contributed 10.3% of its undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program in 2020. That’s $29,580 of $288,536, according to the SBC Annual Church Profile. The church also recorded $59,495 in Total Mission Expenditures for 2020, and 150 in average worship attendance for last year along with 559 total members.
“Over his 14 years in vocational ministry in average-sized churches, Dusty has shown himself to be a person that builds fruitful relationships, and that there is no service that he is not ready, willing, and able to offer to those around him in need,” Jenkins said. “He serves in such a way that not only embraces the successful efforts of those who have gone before him but with an eye toward innovation and vision for the future of local church and kingdom ministry.
“Most importantly, Dusty has shown himself to be a person who walks faithfully in grace and truth in all that he does. He strives to be the embodiment of a love that is not self-seeking, but rejoices in truth, who only after much prayer and wise counsel allowed his name to be placed in nomination.”
Jenkins further described Durbin as “a tremendous servant of our convention who would not only serve well as an individual but as a representative of untold pastors who serve across our convention.”
In 15 years as a minister, Durbin has served at Big Level Church since March of 2018. Previously, he was pastor of Atlanta Church, Atlanta, La., for seven years. and youth and education pastor for three years at Woodhaven Church, Tickfaw, La.
Durbin cited three reasons for which he allowed himself to be nominated:
— A desire to be faithful and obedient to God’s calling.
— His commitment to the work of the SBC.
— A desire to represent normative-size Southern Baptist churches like Big Level Church that “give generously and serve faithfully through the cooperative efforts of the Southern Baptist Convention.”
“I came to faith in Christ and surrendered to the Gospel ministry in a Southern Baptist church,” he said. “I was trained in Southern Baptist schools and I have had the privilege of serving Southern Baptist churches in pastoral ministry since 2006… My passion coincides with the reason the Southern Baptist Convention exists, the Great Commission [Matt. 28:18-20].”
Durbin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Christian ministry degree from Leavell College of New Orleans Seminary; a Master of Arts in pastoral ministry degree with an emphasis in expository preaching from Louisiana College in Pineville; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from North Greenville University in Tigerville, S.C. He and his wife of 12 years, Crystal, have three children: Micah, age nine; Wyatt, age seven, and Hallie, age three.
Durbin was set to be nominated for second vice-president at the 2020 SBC Annual Meeting in Orlando, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He may be contacted at biglevelpastor@att.net. Podcasts of his sermons can be found at https://www.biglevelbaptist.com/podcast.
