CBF’s Hester to retire after seven years of new church starts

ATLANTA (ABP) -- Phil Hester, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship specialist for new churches, has announced he will retire at the end of this year.

During his seven-year tenure at the fellowship, Hester helped start churches in 21 different states, including a cowboy church in Texas and an emergent church in Florida.

Hester said the experience of transforming peoples’ lives is what he enjoyed most about his job.

“The reason I came to CBF at age 60 is because, for me, there is nothing more meaningful or exciting in ministry than watching unchurched people come into relationship with Christ and relationship with the fellowship of God,” he said.

Hester also created and facilitated the annual CBF Boot Camp for Church Starts, which is held each August. The camp helps prepare church planters to start churches.

Before coming to CBF, Hester worked as an advertising agency president, professor, consultant and church starter. He lives in St. Petersburg, Fla.

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