Roy Cotton honored by African American Ministries at recent Sneaker Ball

The African American Fellowship Conference took place July 19-20 at Cornerstone Baptist Church of Killeen in Harker Heights, TX. The theme of the conference was “Legacy.”

During the Friday evening African American Ministries Sneaker Ball honoring the memory of James W. Culp, Sr., the first director of African American Ministries for the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), Roy Cotton and his wife Inez were recognized for his more than 46 years of denominational service.

Cotton served with the BGCT for 21 years before retiring and transitioning to a part-time role with the convention. He served as the fourth director of African American Ministries for the BGCT, following the leadership of the late James W. Culp, Sr., Michael Evans, Sr., and the late Charlie M. Singleton.

Following his retirement in 2020, Cotton provided direction to the Texas Baptists Ambassador Program, enlisting approximately 130 volunteers to serve as ambassadors on behalf of the convention.

Prior to his time with Texas Baptists, Cotton served the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) for 25 years. 

Concurrent to his service with BGAV and BGCT, Cotton occupied numerous ministry roles with churches in Virginia and Texas and served as the founding pastor of CenterPointe Baptist Church for the Communities in Red Oak, TX, from whom he received the distinction of “Pastor Emeritus.”

Music and arts scholarship ‘blessing’

In honor of Cotton’s decades of faithful service, Oza Jones, the current director of Texas Baptists African American Ministries, announced the creation of the Dr. Roy and Inez Cotton Music and Arts Scholarship.

The scholarship provides financial assistance to students who exhibit excellence in the classroom and possess a desire and passion for music and art. For decades, the Cotton family has been a staple in the worldwide music and arts community.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to a full-time student in the amount of $500 per semester and must be used for tuition, room and board, books and fees.

Carlyn Knight, a 20-year-old sophomore at Paul Quinn College, led worship and was awarded the scholarship as its inaugural recipient.

“African American Ministries wanted to be a blessing to Dr. Cotton by giving him a gift that would last a lifetime,” Jones said.

Praise for ‘true ambassador’ and ‘missions champion’

Leaders across Baptist life attended the Sneaker Ball and celebrated Cotton’s contributions to gospel work in Texas and beyond. 

Associate Executive Director Craig Christina and retired Executive Director David Hardage were among convention leaders present at the Sneaker Ball. Christina said of Cotton, “He is a true ambassador.” He thanked Cotton for stepping in to provide leadership of the convention’s Ambassador Program following his retirement from Texas Baptists.

Hardage, who now works with Texans on Mission but served with Cotton at the BGCT, expressed his deep appreciation for Cotton’s years of service.

“Thank you for all the work, all the ministry, all the service you have provided for the Baptist General Convention of Texas for all these years. You have been nothing but a blessing to me and to so many of us, and I just want to express that deep gratitude to you,” Hardage said. “I’ve met a lot of people in my life. I have never met anyone who makes you feel more valued than Roy Cotton.”

Current Executive Director Julio Guarneri was unable to attend in person but sent a video greeting to express his appreciation for Cotton’s ministry legacy.

Tamiko Jones, executive director of WMU of Texas, called Cotton a champion, an upholder, an advocate and a defender of the cause. She presented him with a plaque naming him “Texas Missions Champion.”

Homer Webb, senior pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Denton, TX, and other longtime friends, including Cotton’s older brother, X. L. Cotton, also shared memories and appreciation.

Following the “dinner and dialogue” portion of the program, leaders including Henry Batson, III, senior pastor of Faith Fellowship in Red Oak, TX, and president of the African American Fellowship of Texas, Edward Wagner, senior pastor of the host church Cornerstone Baptist Church in Harker Heights, TX, and Jones continued the “legacy recognition.”

Finishing strong key to believer’s legacy

Following the legacy recognition, Michael Evans, Sr., pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield, TX, delivered a sermon drawing from Haggai 2.

“Our legacy is always at stake as long as we live. Our time of commitment is at hand; our country needs us more than ever before. This is a time when God calls each of us to make an assessment of where we are and where we’re going, to say to ourselves, ‘I just want to do better,’” said Evans. “We may not know exactly what is coming or when it is coming, but something untoward is coming, and we need to be ready. At some point, it is time to take up our cross and move forward.”

Evans encouraged attendees that, like the prophet Haggai, they have a purpose, appointment and calling to continue living out. In Haggai’s day, the work had ceased, but God was instructing his prophet to speak to the people and instruct them to get back to work. Similarly, Evans said believers can get complacent and pause the work of the Lord, but their legacy depends on finishing strong.

“The past is a beautiful place, but you can’t stay there. Looking back is good for course correction but you can’t stay there. It’s good for remembrance and recognition, but you can’t park there,” noted Evans. “God wants somebody here to get to moving. Get over your past; speak now. There is still unfinished business, and this is not our final stop.”

Cotton concluded the Sneaker Ball by offering his thanks for the evening’s recognition and honored others who had served African American Ministries throughout the years. He sang a portion of the hymn “To God Be the Glory,” read Ephesians 3:20-21, and offered a benediction and challenge to attendees.

Cotton closed his prayer by saying, “We want to hear you say ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.’”

Demetrius McClendon, senior pastor of One Church in Midlothian, TX, served as the master of ceremony. Howard Anderson, senior pastor of Singing Hills Baptist Church in Dallas, TX, delivered a remembrance of the late James W. Culp, Sr.

Audio from the Sneaker Ball is available online at txb.org/playback. Learn more and make a gift to the Dr. Roy and Inez Cotton Music and Arts Scholarship fund by visiting txb.org/cotton-scholarship.