Scott Foshie was elected to serve as the 12th executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association by the IBSA board of directors meeting in Springfield on Dec. 9. He will succeed Nate Adams, who will retire April 1 after 20 years’ service. Foshie will serve as executive director-elect until then, allowing for an extended period of training and onboarding by Adams.
“I really do believe in the last few years the Lord has led us to this new mission,” Foshie said of the statewide ministry that focuses on revitalization and development of meaningful processes for church change that he is inheriting from Adams. Foshie has served as church health director under Adams, joining the IBSA staff in 2019 after five years as pastor of Steeleville Baptist Church. But Foshie also sees the need for awakening. “We need a vision of impacting lostness with the light of the gospel together,” he said in introductory remarks to the board. “We are all burdened by our (state’s) need for revival,” he said. “Our vision should not be to manage our state’s decline.”
‘Visionary shepherd’
Foshie outlined three areas of focus for his incoming administration: pastoral posture, relational depth and diligent executive leadership.
“I am a visionary shepherd,” Foshie said of his leadership style, one that depends heavily on relationships. “I will serve our pastors and churches from a pastoral position,” he said. Pastors and engagement with local associations are high on his list of priorities.
“We need to go beyond surface level relationships,” Foshie said. “I am committed to ever-deepening relationships and leading our IBSA team to do that.” And he encouraged the board with his intent to collaborate on future direction.
“We know that if God is going to bring revival, we must be intentional. We need to let God guide our planning, don’t we?” he said. “We need to employ diligent stewardship as we take Spirit-led risks.”
Foshie commended Adam’s record of effectiveness in executive leadership, while expressing enthusiasm for moving the network of 900 Illinois Baptist churches forward.
What others are saying
Adams expressed appreciation for Foshie’s election. “I’m especially pleased to have a close friend and brother stepping into this role, and one who is already well-acquainted with the organization’s mission, values, strategies and challenges as he leads our network into its next chapter.”
Jeff Logsdon of Island City Baptist Church said, “Scott has a heart for Illinois Baptists.” Logsdon, who chaired the search committee that brought Foshie’s nomination, called Foshie “beloved in Illinois,” as he has traveled widely encouraging churches and pastors in revitalization. “He has a heart for churches in Illinois. He has a heart for leading churches in Illinois. Following Nate’s vision, however, he has his own direction and vision for how God has been leading.”
Ministry experience
Foshie comes to the position with a wide range of ministry experience.
Foshie has served as IBSA church health team leader, specializing in church revitalization, refocusing ministries for 23 of IBSA’s 33 local associations, and developing a team of 50 coaches and pathfinders to work with local pastors in strengthening their ministries. Foshie served as Nine Mile Baptist Association mission strategist, while also serving as pastor of Steeleville Baptist Church. He led the church through a period of rapid growth that resulted in a significant building project. Foshie’s service to the Steeleville congregation (2015–2019) was his first ministry in Illinois and his first lead pastorate. The Tennessee native served three churches in his home state as associate pastor in worship and education.
Foshie holds four degrees: Bachelor of Music Education from East Tennessee State University; Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Southern Baptist School for Biblical Studies in Jacksonville, Florida; and most recently Master of Theological Studies in Leadership from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Foshie is married to Audra, his wife of 24 years. They have three teenage children, Lydia, Levi and Liz. The Foshies are active members of Chatham Baptist Church.
‘Warm, engaging, energetic’
Search committee member Jennifer Damotte, minister of worship and education at First Baptist Church of Morton, said, “I find Scott to be warm and engaging and energetic. He has a lot of plans that God has been working out with him, and I am very confident in his leadership as we go into the next few years.”
While no one can predict the future, Logsdon said the committee was aware in this selection that they could be setting up IBSA for another lengthy tenure, equaling or surpassing that of Adams.
“We believe the Lord is leading us into the future with Scott’s election,” he said. “And we have set the state association in a good direction for the next decade, maybe two.”
The vote by the full board was also unanimous, as was the nomination. “In moving forward with candidates, with eliminating candidates, we were united all the time,” Logsdon said. The search committee will continue meeting with Foshie over the next year, offering encouragement and insight on “how his new ideas are being received.”
National-level service
Foshie’s involvement in Southern Baptist life has included active participation in the local associations of every church he has served. And since 2018, he has served as a trustee for the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. He currently chairs the ERLC board of trustees. ERLC is engaged in its own search for executive leadership.
Foshie has been instrumental in navigating the ERLC’s ongoing recovery after the departure of former presidents Russell Moore and Brent Leatherwood. He led a bylaw reform work group to improve transparency and board communication with the president. And as chair, he helped preserve the entity during a movement to abolish it. He most recently led the call of an interim ERLC president with the purpose of rebuilding trust relationships with pastors and churches that felt distanced from ERLC’s recent direction.
First 100 days
Foshie’s tenure as IBSA executive director officially begins April 1. But as of Jan. 1, he has a plan for his first 100 days. “In my apprenticeship season with Nate, which I am grateful for, I am also going to be in a deep listening season,” Foshie said. “I am committed to hearing from Illinois Baptists and connecting with them over their joys and understanding their burdens for the people God has called them to reach.”
The Illinois Baptist State Association is a network of approximately 900 churches advancing the gospel in Illinois. It is one of 41 state Baptist conventions associated with the Southern Baptist Convention. IBSA was founded in 1907. The IBSA Building is located in Springfield with staff stationed across the state.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was written by Eric Reed, editor of IBSA Media, and was first published by the Illinois Baptist.
