Distinguished Leader Award

2021 Recipient

John McClendon
John is a speaker, author, and consultant in areas related to church leadership, discipleship and Sunday School. He currently serves as the Executive Director, Baptist Association of Christian Educators (BACE) and Discipleship Pastor, Northside Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He previously served at LifeWay Christian Resources as the Training & Development Manager and Lead Adult Ministry Specialist. He graduated in 1986 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, earning the Master of Arts in Religious Education degree. He has served churches in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. Learn more about John at www.johnmcclendon.com.

2019 Recipient

Jay Gordon
Since 2014 Jay has served as the Adult and Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL. His passion is to make disciples by equipping small group leaders. Jay has also served additional churches in Alabama and Arkansas. Jay has a passion for investing in and networking with other discipleship/education pastors. He sees this as paying back a debt for the time and energy others invested in him. Jay has provided significant leadership to the network of discipleship/education pastors in Alabama which is now called the Discipleship Network.

2018 Recipient

Joe Sherrer
Joe is the Associate Pastor of Discipleship at First Southern, Del City. In addition, Joe is the Ministry Based Professor of Christian Education for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Joe’s ministry passion is to help adults become “fully devoted followers of Christ.” Joe has contributed to the writing and development of Bible study curriculum, led conferences both nationally and internationally, and helped develop conferences for adult ministry. Joe has influenced and continues to influence the lives of many church leaders including students, pastors, church staff, and lay leaders.

2017 Recipient

Topper Reid
Topper currently serves as Pastor of Small Groups at Westwood Baptist Church in Alabaster, AL and as the President of Bill Taylor & Associate’s Church Coaching Division. Topper has served on church staffs for over 25 years including Hunter Street Baptist Church in Hoover, AL, where his small group ministry grew from 800 to over 3,300 in attendance. Topper has also served with Myrick Gurosky and Associates (MG&A) as Director of Church Development and continues to serve as a trainer and consultant with many churches and faith-based entities on a contract basis and is a frequent seminar leader and writer for various publications.

Topper is a graduate of Samford University and Southern Seminary.

2016 Recipients

Bruce Raley
Bruce currently serves as the Executive Pastor, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, TN. Bruce’s previous ministry experiences include:
1982-1996, Minister of Education, Walnut Street Baptist Church, Jonesboro, AR; 1996-2006 Teaching Pastor, First Baptist, Panama City, FL; 2006-2015 Director of Church Education, LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, TN

Bruce earned a Bachelors in Journalism, 1983 and a Masters in Mass Communication, 1985 from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR. In 2013, Bruce earned the Executive Leadership Certificate from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.

Daryl Eldridge
Daryl is the President of Rockbridge Seminary, a fully-online seminary built on the five purposes of the church. He has served as the Dean of the School of Educational Ministries at Southwestern Baptist theological Seminary and faculty member from 1984 through 2003.

Before seminary teaching and through his faculty career, he has served in the local church as a youth pastor, minister of education and music, and minister of spiritual development. He is the editor of the textbook, The Teaching Ministry of the Church and is the author of numerous articles and curriculum materials. He has taught internationally, including assignments in Kenya, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. He is a sought-after speaker on trends in the church, servant leadership, and spiritual development.

Daryl earned a BA (Biology and Chemistry) in 1973 from Drury College, Springfield, MO and an MARE in 1977 and a PhD (Foundations of Education) in 1985 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX.

Keith Wilkinson
Keith is currently the Director of Older Singles Sunday School, Quail Springs Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, OK. Keith’s previous ministry experiences include: 1965-1969, Pastor, Crown Heights Baptist Church, Woodward, OK.; 1969-1972, Director of Associational Missions, Chickasaw (now Grady) Baptist Association, Chickasha, OK.; 1972-1975, Director Youth Sunday School/VBS, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK.; 1981-1983, Field Services Coordinator, Sunday School, Baptist Sunday School Board (LifeWay), Nashville, TN.; 1983-1997, Director, Sunday School Department, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, Jackson, MS.; 1997-2007, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma in various positions including: Sunday School.

Past Recipients