Less than a week after bidding farewell to retiring pastor Jerry Vines, First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Fla.-one of the country's largest congregations-was expected to nominate Dallas pastor Mac Brunson as his successor.
The Jacksonville church posted a simple announcement on its website Feb. 9: “Please join us this Sunday, Feb. 12, for an announcement from the pulpit committee.” Several well-placed Baptists in Jacksonville said Brunson would be announced as the candidate.
Brunson already fills one of Christianity's most legendary pulpits-First Baptist Church of Dallas. But the Dallas church has lost some of its luster-and membership-in recent years. With about 10,000 total members, it is about a third the size of the Jacksonville church, which counts 28,000 members and occupies nine blocks of downtown.
Brunson has long been mentioned as a candidate for the Jacksonville pastorate. He asked the Dallas congregation Jan. 8 to pray for him concerning a major decision about his future.
Associated Baptist Press