Pastor Jim Henry is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. He received his B.A. degree from Georgetown College, the M.Div. degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and honorary doctorates from Georgetown College, Southwest Baptist University, and California Baptist University.  Jim and his beloved first wife Jeanette, who went to be with the Lord in 2019, have three grown and married children, five grandsons, and seven great-grandchildren. In 2020, he married long time mutual friend and First Baptist Orlando member Kathy Ann Siegel. She has two daughters, five grandsons, and three great grandchildren.

 

After being ordained in 1960, Jim served churches in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and after serving 29 years, is Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church, Orlando, Florida. He has held many national denominational positions, including President of the SBC Pastors Conference (1981), trustee of the International Mission Board (1978-88), trustee of LifeWay Christian Resources Board (1969-75), member of the SBC Peace Committee (1985-88), Chairman of the SBC Spiritual Awakening Task Force (1991), Co-chair of the Reach the World SBC Task Force Committee (1993), President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1994-1996), Chairman of the Baptist Worship Study Commission of Study and Research for Baptist World Alliance (1995-2000), Trustee of GuideStone Financial Services (2004-2011), inducted into the inaugural Hall Of Fame Class of the First Academy (2015), Trustee at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Trustee at Criswell College, and was honored to be added to the Georgetown College Distinguished Alumni Class of 2019.

 

He has preached on seminary and college campuses and has spoken at various state and SBC conventions, pastor’s conferences, and other special meetings, including the Billy Graham School of Evangelism and The Cove. He has made a number of television guest appearances. His writings include nine books. Jim has been active in civic affairs and honored in the list of Outstanding Young Men of America (1970), named Minister of the Year by the Greater Orlando Baptist Association (1985), Floridian of the Year, by the Orlando Sentinel (1997), awarded the M.E. Dodd Cooperative Program Award by the SBC, (2000), the Florida Baptist Convention named scholarships for theological education known as Jim Henry Funds (2002), and New Orleans Seminary designed a Jim Henry Classroom for Pastoral Excellence (2002).

 

In his leisure time, Jim enjoys jogging, reading, fishing, golfing, and grandchildren.

If you are interested in sponsoring a table, please contact Rob Collingsworth at rcollingsworth@criswell.edu.

If you are interested in discounted hotel accommodations, please let us know by March 15, 2025, by emailing Rob Collingsworth at rcollingsworth@criswell.edu.