Jarman Leatherwood, pastor of House of Hope and Restoration Church in Huntsville, was re-elected to a second one-year term as first vice president during the Nov. 13 morning session of the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting in Daphne. He previously served two one-year terms as the convention’s second vice president.

He was nominated by Alabama pastor Theron Hawkins, who outlined Leatherwood’s various leadership roles across the state convention and in Madison Baptist Association as well as Etowah Baptist Association. Leatherwood also serves with Samford University’s Ministry Training Institute and is working on a master’s degree through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

“Many of our recent church planters have been impacted in some way by his leadership,” Hawkins said. “He has a heart to serve.”

Leatherwood ran unopposed.

Sermon notes

During the 2023 convention sermon, Leatherwood urged Alabama Baptists to “remember your purpose” and persevere through stormy trials.

“The Word is very clear that while we are saved by grace and we love the Lord, we are not exempt from dealing with stormy days,” he said as he preached from Philippians 3:13–14.

“There are times when life happens to us and it seems our joy can be tampered with … but Paul says you can be on death row and still have joy.

“Nations are going crazy, wars are raging, situations are bad, but God is still on the throne.”

Leatherwood noted three things he believes are necessary for Alabama Baptists to joyfully continue doing the work God has called them to do.

     1. Forget the past but not our purpose.

“There are times when it’s good to look back and pull a memory from your Rolodex and celebrate the goodness of what God has done,” Leatherwood said.

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This article was originally published at TheAlabamaBaptist.org.