Kaunitz to be nominated as SBTC president

HOUSTON Jarrett Stephens, pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, has announced his intention to nominate Todd Kaunitz, pastor of New Beginnings Baptist Church in Longview, as convention president during the SBTC annual meeting in November. Kaunitz has served New Beginnings since 2010. 

Stephens formerly served as teaching pastor for Prestonwood Baptist Church and came to know Kaunitz while in that role. “What I love most about him is his passion for the local church,” Stephens told the TEXAN. “Todd is about evangelism. His church has grown from averaging 450 to nearly 2,500. He has baptized 1,400 people there during his tenure at New Beginnings. He is passionate about church planting. I think they partner with about six other churches and have planted 25 churches
internationally.

“He understands the importance of denominational work at all levels, from the local level to the national level,” Stephens added, noting that Kaunitz “at his core is about relationships. He is about making sure that churches are partnering together for the purpose of reaching people for Christ.”

Kaunitz is a current member of the SBTC Executive Board and is the board’s elected secretary. He has been a speaker at multiple SBTC training events during his time at New Beginnings. He is a graduate of East Texas Baptist University. Kaunitz and his wife, Adrian, have three children.  

New Beginnings contributed $90,783 through the Cooperative Program in 2019. The church’s 2020 CP giving was $103,217.  

“[Kaunitz] is a younger leader in the SBC,” Stephens added, “He is just so faithful to the Scripture. He is passionate about the local church, missions and evangelism … that’s what we’re about. I think it’s time for a guy like Todd.”