EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is an expanded article based on the 2020 Cooperative Program Prayer Guide for Oklahoma Baptists. For more information, please visit www.oklahomabaptists.org/cp.

Joe Ligon had been the pastor of Marlow, First when Executive Director-Treasurer Hance Dilbeck selected him in early 2019 as Oklahoma Baptists’ senior associate executive director.

“He casts vision,” Ligon said of Dilbeck. “I do the things behind that, things that free him up to do the things he needs to do.”

With the new direction of Oklahoma Baptists, this includes overseeing the staff and operations as well as all other aspects of the state convention’s organization.

Ligon, born in Wewoka, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at East Central State University in Ada, and a doctorate in educational ministries from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

During his time at Marlow, First, Ligon led the church to grow to three campuses with as many as 1,500 people participating in Sunday worship, and to giving 18 percent of undesignated offerings to missions through the Cooperative Program.

“I’ve been able to preach almost every Sunday,” Ligon said of his new ministry role. “That helps me not miss pastoring as badly as I probably would.”

His pastoral skills also are used when Ligon travels to churches and associations across the state, which gives him one-on-one time with pastors and directors of missions in between preaching/speaking opportunities.

“We enjoy a lot of unity and camaraderie as Oklahoma Baptists,” Ligon said. “We share a genuine purpose as Oklahoma Baptists. We are all broken people in some form and fashion, and we are surrounded by broken people. The Gospel is the only thing that puts broken people back together.”

Ligon and his wife Gayla—they’ve been married 36 years—have two grown sons, both of whom live in Oklahoma.

The senior associate director’s recreational activities include waterfowl hunting—ducks and geese in winter—riding ATVs in Colorado in the spring or fall, and golf when the weather cooperates.

Because of the generous giving of Oklahoma Baptists through the Cooperative Program, an amazing array of ministries are supported. This unified giving encourages fellowship with other believers all over the world. Collectively, Oklahoma Baptists are advancing the Gospel together. Learn more at www.oklahomabaptists.org/CP