Baptist Association welcomes new Director of Missions

John Willoughby
ECB Publishing, Inc.

In late June, Middle Florida Baptist Association welcomed Rev. Robert Dixon to the Middle Florida region as the new Director of Missions.
Dixon has had a life-long background within the church, considering he played baby Jesus in a Christmas play as an infant. Though he was raised in the church, Dixon said he got saved to “avoid going to hell.” However, later in life, he realized that being saved was more than just fire insurance. It was more about service to God and others.
“It just seemed like a natural part of life to me,” said Dixon.
Born and raised in Asheville, NC, Dixon graduated high school in 1978 and graduated from University of North Carolina – Greensboro in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Municipal and Regional Recreation.
Dixon states he felt church recreation was his call to ministry. Church recreation, as Dixon describes it, is an outreach tool within a ministry to create experiences where church members can “draw in the unchurched.” This type of ministry includes crafts, camps, ball leagues, outings and other recreational church-related activities.
“[Church recreation] might make it easier for some folks to get involved in the life of a church in a less intimidating way,” said Dixon.
In 1985, Dixon graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Religious Education. Since his graduation, Dixon states he's been on a church staff in one capacity or another since graduating with his Master's degree.
His church affiliation since 1986 is as follows: youth recreation at Winstanley Baptist Church, Fairview Heights, IL (1986-1989); youth recreation at Lakeview First Baptist Church, Rossville, GA (1989-1993); education and administration at First Baptist Church of Albemarle, NC (1993-1998); education and administration at First Baptist Church of Kernersville, NC (1998-2000); education and administration, later interim pastor at Southeast Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC (2000-2003); pastor at West Side Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC (2009-2016); and service pastor at First Baptist Church of Pilot Mountain, NC (2016-2018).
“All through this, even in Winston-Salem, I still had this sense of getting into associational mission work,” said Dixon. “I just felt I had the skills, a passion and an interest in this that better suited me to do this than pastor or anything else.”
Being a people person, Dixon isn't shy about looking to help local churches within MFBA's jurisdiction.
“The people I'm most concerned about are other pastors, other ministers,” said Dixon. “I don't think you'll find a healthy church that doesn't have a good pastor; and when I say good, I don't mean the best in the world, but one who is mature in his faith, doing what he is called to do and encouraged and supported [by the church].”
The church and the pastors are Dixon's main focus as he steps into the Director of Missions. What Dixon sees himself doing is to challenge and encourage pastors to keep up their spiritual walk and to build bonds with them.
“I'm no authority over them, I'm not their boss,” said Dixon. “I don't share things with them unless they ask, then I try to share everything with them I possibly can to be of help to them.”
After being in office for almost a full month, Dixon hasn't found anything unique in the MFBA because of the attendance in Baptist churches failing; not only in Middle Florida but all over the country.
“There was a time when Baptists built a building, opened the doors and people came pouring in,” said Dixon. “That day is gone. Even here in Middle Florida.”
Through the challenges, Dixon also sees a plus-side to Middle Florida. “We have many strong family churches,” said Dixon.
Dixon is married to Kim Dixon, who is now the new principal at Madison County Central School. Both Kim and Robert met while at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Together, they have four children: Lyle (Heidi), Laura (Perry), Luke (Amanda) and Lindsey (Dylan). The Dixons also have two grandchildren: Davin and Ioanna.
A reception, hosted by Middle Florida Baptist Association, was held in honor of the Dixon's transition to Madison County. On Tuesday, Aug. 14 at Madison First Baptist Church, a meet and greet with Robert and Kim Dixon took place in the evening, and an executive committee meeting was held at the same night.