Dr. Ted Traylor is the pastor of the 10,000 member Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. His weekly radio and television ministry, At the Heart of Things, reaches thousands of homes along the Gulf Coast region and each week his messages are broadcast worldwide through the internet. Dr. Traylor's bold and practical preaching brings people to a fresh understanding of God's Word and challenges them to become bondservants for Christ.
He is known for his uncompromising stand on Biblical issues and strong defense of the Christian faith. In addition to serving as First Vice-President of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 and President of the Florida Baptist Convention in 1995, Dr. Traylor served as President of the Southern Baptist Convention’s 2004 Pastors’ Conference. He currently serves as a trustee of the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board.
He has preached extensively throughout the United States in conferences and revivals. Emanuel University in Oradea, Romania has honored Dr. Traylor by placing his name on the chair of Pastoral Leadership. He travels there frequently to preach and teach the Gospel in this area of Europe. Through Dr. Traylor’s leadership and vision to impact the world for Christ, Olive Baptist has sponsored international mission trips to Moscow, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Egypt, Costa Rica, India, Bahamas and Brazil. Olive is also currently partnering in church plants in Cleveland, Ohio and San Diego, California.
Dr. Traylor is the author of A Compass, a Map and a Passport: God’s Provisions for Life’s Journey and What Is a Southern Baptist? Key Denominational Distinctives.
He and his wife, Liz, have two children, Rachel and Bennett.