Todd Unzicker has been elected as the next executive director-treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
Unzicker received a majority of votes from the 328 messengers representing North Carolina Baptist churches who gathered at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem on May 22 for a special called meeting of the state convention.
A 44-year-old native of Fairfax, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C., Unzicker has served on staff at The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham since 2012. Prior to Unzicker’s current role as chief of staff at The Summit Church, he led The Summit’s missions and church planting efforts as pastor of sending and as a campus pastor. The Summit became the top missions-sending church in the Southern Baptist Convention and the top Cooperative Program giving church in North Carolina during Unzicker’s tenure as pastor of sending.
Unzicker has also worked closely with The Summit’s lead pastor, J.D. Greear, during Greear’s current tenure as president of the SBC.
Unzicker also played a key role in mobilizing churches around recent SBC strategies such as the “Who’s Your One?” evangelism initiative, the “Go2” collegiate missions initiative and the “Caring Well” initiative to help churches prevent sex abuse and care for victims.
Previously, Unzicker served as a director of missions in Florida and as a missionary in Central America.
Unzicker earned his bachelor’s degree from the Baptist Bible College of Florida and his master of divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary. Prior to his salvation and his call to ministry, Unzicker worked as a sports reporter covering the nationally ranked University of Georgia football program. He and his wife, Ashley, have three children.
Unzicker will succeed Milton A. Hollifield Jr., who served as the state convention’s top executive for nearly 15 years. Hollifield announced his plans to retire in March 2020 and retired on Feb. 28 of this year. Longtime BSCNC staff member Brian Upshaw has led the convention on an interim basis since Hollifield’s retirement.
‘Helping churches connect’
Unzicker addressed messengers and guests following the vote and drew from Revelation 5 to share his vision for the convention.
“Humanly speaking, the gospel advances most rapidly on the two wings of relationships and resources,” Unzicker said. “If churches are God’s ‘Plan A,’ then North Carolina Baptists are going to help churches connect with other churches.”
Working to bring resources to churches will fuel missions partnerships across the state and around the world, Unzicker said.
“Every church has a role in the kingdom of God.”
Unzicker hopes to see the convention send 500 new missionaries, plant 100 churches per year and see increased diversity throughout North Carolina churches. He also wants to increase disaster relief volunteers and medical and dental care through Baptists on Mission, work with Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina to meet foster care needs and champion theological training through SEBTS and Fruitland Baptist Bible College.
“North Carolina Baptists, we know God wins,” Unzicker said. “Let’s join Him and be a movement of churches on mission together. God bless you. Let’s get to work.”
