Local Baptist Leader, Jason Ballard, Featured Speaker for Gardner-Webb Greene Lectureship 

Mission Strategist will Discuss ‘Leading Change in the Local Church’

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Jason Ballard, associational mission strategist for the Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association (GCCBA) in Shelby, N.C., is the speaker for the C.O. and Eliza Greene Endowed Lectureship on Tuesday, March 4, at Gardner-Webb University. His topic is “Leading Change in the Local Church.”

Morning and afternoon sessions will be held in Dover Chapel. The first one is from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Ritch Banquet Hall, Dover Campus Center. The afternoon session is from 1 to 2 p.m. The lectures and lunch are free. Please RSVP to Lisa Hollifield at [email protected].

“God has called us to become healthy churches that engage His Great Commission with all our passion and energy,” Ballard observed. “I can’t wait to see what He has in store for our future.”

The C.O. and Eliza Greene Endowed Lectureship was established in 1993 in honor of the Rev. and Mrs. C.O. Greene of Lawndale, N.C. C.O. Greene served for 14 years as the director of missions for the Kings Mountain Baptist Association. Prior to that ministry, he served as pastor of six churches, four within Cleveland County and two others in North Carolina. The lectureship is administered by the GWU School of Divinity’s Pittman Center for Congregational Enrichment and is funded by family members, friends, and members of churches where Greene served as pastor. Established to preserve the legacy of excellence that characterized Greene’s ministry, the lectureship addresses various dimensions of pastoral ministry.

Gardner-Webb School of Divinity Dean and Professor of Christian Theology Dr. Robert Canoy noted that inviting Ballard to speak for the Greene Lectureship is especially appropriate. “We are delighted to have him lead this year’s C.O. and Eliza Greene Lectureship, especially so, since the Rev. C.O. Greene (and wife Eliza) was long-time Director of Missions for the Greater Kings Mountain Baptist Association (now Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association),” Canoy shared. “Jason Ballard has been good for Baptists in greater Cleveland County since his arrival in 2022. His primary agenda is to help local churches serve our Lord and His Kingdom more faithfully and more successfully—particularly through times of change. He knows how diverse Baptist churches are and he has the unique ability to relate well to all kinds of Baptists.”

Ballard, a native of western Gaston County, N.C., has served GCCBA since 2022. He graduated from Appalachian State University in 2000 with a degree in biology and took a job in the biotech industry before surrendering to the ministry. In 2002, just six months after he and his wife, Laura, were married, they began his theological studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ballard studied church planting while in seminary, and upon graduation with his Master of Divinity, was called to a young church in Cold Spring, Ky., just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, as the minister of students and missions. During his time in Kentucky, he led the youth ministry of Christ Baptist Church and became heavily involved in multiple mission programs throughout the United States and in Africa.

In 2011, he was called into the senior pastor role of Christ Baptist Church where he led a revitalization effort to reorganize and reprioritize the church mission. It was also during this time that God blessed the Ballards with their three daughters—Lucy Wren (18), Tess (15), and Ruby (13).

In 2014, Ballard was called to First Baptist Church of Stanley, N.C., as senior pastor, and began the responsibility of pastoring a new congregation and leading another revitalization effort. During his time there, the church experienced transformation in staff structure, church culture and organizational emphasis.

Since beginning his ministry at the GCCBA, Ballard has led the renovation of the GCCBA building, and reoriented the GCCBA around six missional values that guide the Association in its activity and planning. He has also begun piloting new programs such as the Transitional Interim Ministry and the Foothills South Residency Project—a pastoral leadership development program for new pastors, associate pastors and aspiring ministers. In 2023, Ballard began his studies in the PhD program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in the field of Christian leadership.

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 working days prior to the event.  Please call 704-406-4270 or email [email protected] with your request.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.