The topic of leadership was the focus of the President's Lunch Panel on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention's 2026 Annual Meeting at First Baptist Church Forney. SBTC President Caleb Turner hosted the panel.
Panelists were Ryan Blackwell, president of Lifeway Christian Resources, who was appointed to lead Lifeway in April, and Cory Hines, president of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, who joined the university in 2019. Blackwell credited leaders such as Ronnie Floyd with influencing him and giving him chances to lead. He said he served in pastoral roles under Floyd at Cross Church in Arkansas, and that he also pastored a small church. Hines said a youth minister in Gainesville encouraged him to lead. At age 19, he led adults on a mission trip to Minnesota.
Wisdom was described as a key part of leadership. Hines said courage is also needed. "I don't want wisdom for the sake of wisdom or courage for the sake of courageousness," he said. "That leads to recklessness." Blackwell agreed.