Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

New directors announced at Mississippi Baptist Convention Board

The Mississippi Baptist Convention Board has recently called two new staff members — John Maxey as director of church planting and revitalization and Kris Smith as director of worship ministries.
  • November 17, 2023
  • Mississippi's The Baptist Record
  • Mississippi

New directors announced at Mississippi Baptist Convention Board

The Mississippi Baptist Convention Board has recently called two new staff members — John Maxey as director of church planting and revitalization and Kris Smith as director of worship ministries. They will begin their work on Jan. 1.

Maxey has been serving as associational missions strategist for the Lauderdale Baptist Association since May 2019. Prior to that, he pastored New Prospect Church in Hamilton; was a youth pastor at Goodyear Church in Picayune; and a student pastor and worship leader at Green River Church in Waynesboro, Tennessee. He has been married to Tracy Webb Maxey for 23 years. They have one daughter, Elizabeth, 18. He was licensed to the ministry in 1995 by Cason Church in Nettleton and ordained in the same church in 2000.

John Maxey. (Photo courtesy of the Baptist Record)

Church revitalization

Maxey holds a bachelor of science degree from Blue Mountain Christian University, a master of divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a doctor of ministry degree from Temple Baptist Seminary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“Throughout my ministry as a pastor and as an associational mission strategist, I have always possessed a deep concern and passion for church revitalization,” Maxey stated. “The goal of church revitalization is to see God glorified as churches return to their mission of impacting lostness and making disciples. I hope to be a partner and a source of support for pastors and local churches to achieve that goal. Working with the mission strategists throughout our state, I look forward to assisting our partnering churches through prayer, coaching, consulting, and resourcing.”

Smith has been Pastor of worship and administration at Carterville Baptist Church in Petal since 2007. He has also served as an adjunct professor, teaching a variety of music courses at William Carey University, since 2014. He has also served as youth music consultant for the Louisiana Baptist Convention from 2006–07; minster of music at First Church, Natchitoches, Louisiana; and secondary teacher at Pineville High School, Pineville, Louisiana. 

Kris Smith (Photo courtesy of the Baptist Record)

Smith holds a bachelor of music degree from Louisiana College and a master of music in music ministry degree from Southwestern Seminary. He is married to Hope Weaver Smith. They have three children: Kennon Kristopher Smith, Kaden Timothy Smith and Katelyn Hope Smith.

Strengthening churches in worship, music

“Since moving to Mississippi sixteen years ago, I have been involved in many of the programs offered by the Worship Ministries department, and I look forward to continuing the legacy of equipping and strengthening Mississippi Baptist churches in the area of worship and music,” Smith said.

“One of the things I’m most excited about is being able to connect with and collaborate with the great worship leaders in our state to encourage and lift them up as they lead our Mississippi Baptist churches to worship the Lord. I am deeply humbled and honored to follow in the footsteps of Slater Murphy, and I look forward to carrying on the work that he has done for the past twelve years.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Tony Martin and originally published by the Baptist Record.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • When should you see a therapist?
    When should you see a therapist?
    July 13, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: 10 reasons why unchurched people may find your small group uncomfortable
    First person: 10 reasons why unchurched people may find your small group uncomfortable
    July 12, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Free training available for churches to address sexual abuse
    Free training available for churches to address sexual abuse
    July 11, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Mississippi News July 3, 2025

Obituaries Gary Fuller, former Pike associational missionary, died May 20. He was 76. David Lindsay Brooks, longtime pastor and Mississippi native, died May 21 in

‘You’re bringing the church to us’: Lord of Glory Baptist ministers through free clothes shop

A couple of years ago, Wilson Ramsey got a trailer to move his son’s furniture from Mississippi to Illinois. And when he got back home, he was trying to figure out what to do with it.

Mississippi News June 19, 2025

Events Saturday Night Alive youth worship, 7–8 p.m., Winston Association (junior high and high school students): June 28 — Poplar Flat Church July 12 —

Mississippi News June 5, 2025

Obituaries Caby Edward Byrne, who served campus ministry programs at Mississippi College and State University as well as West Point Military Academy and was a

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel