ALPHARETTA, Ga. — In November 2024, Georgia Baptists elected Steve Browning, lead pastor of First City Church in Alpharetta, as president of the state convention. With that vote, his wife Beth became the convention’s first lady.
The Christian Index asked Beth a series of questions in a Q&A this week. What follows are those questions and her responses.
Q: Can you tell us about your faith journey?
A: I was blessed to grow up in a ministry family, where Jesus was not just someone we talked about on Sundays—He was the center of everything. My parents' faith was so genuine, so deeply woven into our daily lives, that it naturally overflowed into mine. Every conversation, every decision, every moment was framed through the lens of Christ.
Yet, for all the faith surrounding me, I remember the night when I realized that I had yet to make the most important decision of my life. I was eight years old, sitting with my family during our devotional time, when my dad shared the gospel. It was a message I had heard countless times, but that night, something was different. As he spoke, the weight of my own need for a Savior settled on my heart.
I ran to my room, buried my face in my pillow, and cried—overcome with the realization of all Jesus had done for me and how I had yet to surrender my life to Him. Shortly after, my parents came in, and together, we prayed as I gave my life to Christ.
There are different views on whether a child can fully grasp salvation, but for me, it was nothing short of life-changing. From that moment on, I never doubted His love for me or my desire to pursue Him with everything I had. That decision shaped every step of my journey—through my teenage years, college, marriage, and motherhood. It was the defining moment that continues to guide me today.
Q: Can you tell us about your family growing up?
A: I was born in Oklahoma City, OK, and ministry was the backdrop of my entire childhood. My dad served faithfully in churches across Oklahoma and Ohio, eventually becoming the evangelism director for the state of Ohio—fun fact: our very own Executive Director, Thomas Hammond, worked under my dad in that role!
After more than a decade in Ohio, we moved to Florida, where my dad pastored a church in Sarasota for 24 years. My mom was an extraordinary pastor’s wife, pouring herself into the church with unwavering love and devotion. Together, my parents modeled for my brother, sister, and I what it meant to serve Christ and His church wholeheartedly.
Being a pastor’s daughter wasn’t just my reality—it was my joy. With my grandparents living far away, my church family became my extended family. I had "adopted" aunts, uncles, and grandparents, along with plenty of crazy “cousins.” The church wasn’t just a place we attended; it was home. It was the place where I learned to love deeply, serve faithfully, and see the beauty of the body of Christ in action.
Q: How did you meet Steve?
A: Steve and I met at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where we both attended college. I will never forget our first encounter—it was the last night of our freshman year, and I was busy packing up my dorm room. I ran down to the lobby to grab some cookies, and there he was, standing by the snack table. As I reached for a plate, he jumped in, eager to tell me all about the ministry things he had done that day.
I wasn’t impressed.
When he asked for my phone number, I wasn’t about to make it easy for him. Instead, I handed him my school email and told him my dad didn’t allow me to give my number to boys I didn’t know. Challenge accepted.
Steve pursued me persistently over the next several months, and as our friendship grew, God wove our hearts together. Almost three years later, he asked me to marry him.
We were married on September 30, 2006, at my dad’s church, and we wanted the entire church family to be part of it. The tuxedo rental company we used had a special offer—free wedding invitations if we rented all of our groomsmen’s tuxes from them. So, we ordered over 1,000 invitations and handed them out like candy.
On our wedding day, more than 800 people filled the church. During our unity candle lighting, we played a video we had created, sharing the gospel with our guests. Our prayer was simple: that through our love, people would fall more in love with Jesus. That remains our prayer today.
Psalm 115:1 was printed on our wedding invitations, and it still hangs in our home today: "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness."
Q: When was he called and how did you receive the news?
A: When I met Steve, his dreams were set on politics. Having grown up as a pastor’s daughter, I was more than ready for the excitement of galas and political events. But the more I watched him in ministry settings, the more I knew—God had other plans.
So, when we were on a walk one evening during our junior year, and Steve shared that he felt called to ministry, I simply smiled and said, “God already told me.” I had seen it in him long before he had spoken it aloud.
Though we weren’t yet engaged, in my heart, I knew: I wasn’t just saying yes to Steve. I was saying yes to the calling that would shape our entire future.
Q: What are the challenges of being a pastor’s wife? What are the joys?
A: The greatest challenge and the greatest joy of being a pastor’s wife are the same: loving people deeply.
I love our church family with all my heart. They have blessed our family immeasurably—walking with us, encouraging us, and standing beside us through every season.
But deep love also means deep vulnerability. And sometimes, loving deeply comes with heartbreak. There have been moments when I’ve been hurt, when I’ve poured myself out only to be left empty. In those seasons, I’ve had to cling to Jesus, asking Him to heal my heart and guard me against bitterness.
Still, I refuse to put up walls. Jesus loved the church so much that He gave His life for her. I want to love with that same kind of passion and devotion.
Q: How do you see your role in Steve’s ministry?
A: I see my role as creating a culture of love, connection, and encouragement within our church. I serve in various ministries on Sundays and lead our women’s ministry, but more than anything, I want our church to feel like home for every person who walks through the doors.
I believe in ministering to women—challenging them, walking alongside them, and helping them fall more in love with Jesus. I also invest in relationships with our staff wives and team, knowing that strong, God-honoring friendships strengthen the entire church.
At home, my role is to be Steve’s biggest encourager. I want our home to be a safe space where he can dream, process, and be refreshed—a place where he is reminded that he is not alone in this calling.
Q: Apart from Steve’s ministry, how do you see your own role in ministry and are there any causes or specific ministries that are near and dear to your heart?
A: I believe women are the heart of the home, and when Jesus captures a woman’s heart, the ripple effect is unstoppable.
I love speaking to women—bringing Scripture to life, helping them see God’s Word as active and relevant. Too often, our Bibles become just another object on a shelf, but they are living and powerful! My passion is to ignite excitement in women to engage with Scripture and allow it to transform their lives.
When I speak, I often teach through biblical narratives, unpacking the truths within them and how they apply to our everyday lives. My prayer is that the women that I speak to will leave with a deep desire to meet with the Lord every single day.
Q: What one thing about you do you wish every Georgia Baptist knew?
A: What you are doing matters.
Some seasons of ministry feel long. We pour out, day after day, wondering if we’re making an impact. We long for the miracles of Scripture, but instead, we find ourselves running on empty.
Here’s what I know: Like Elisha’s widow, God calls us to keep pouring—even when we feel empty. He doesn’t ask us to create the miracle, only to trust Him with what we have. When we keep pouring, we position ourselves for God to move in ways beyond what we could imagine.
So, if you’re weary, take heart. Empty is often where God does His best work. Keep leaning into Him—He sees you, He is with you, and He is using you, so keep sharing Him with the world around you!
And one more thing I want them to know – I am personally praying for them! I pray for all of the pastor’s wives in our state every single Monday morning. I ask God to renew their strength, to expand their influence, and to encourage their hearts. Whether they know it or not, they have a big cheerleader in me and I’m incredibly impressed by the faithful women who are fervently serving the Lord all over the state of Georgia, as the president’s wife I consider it my job to seek the Lord on their behalf every single week.
So, friends, keep going! We are not alone. We are making a difference. Let’s take the hill, together! Remember — we will reap the harvest if we don’t give up!
