July 31, 2002
JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Baptists are likely to find out who the new executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) will be later this month when the MBC Executive Board meets in special session to hear from — and vote on — a recommended candidate for the position.
An announcement went out July 31 summoning all MBC Executive Board members to a special-called meeting Aug. 27 to consider the replacement for Jim Hill, who resigned last October.
The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. in the Gold Room of the Baptist Building at 400 East High St. It will begin with an introduction of the candidate and some brief remarks from the individual being considered. The vote will take place after a question and answer session in the afternoon.
The MBC Executive Board’s executive director search committee brings the unanimous recommendation after more than seven months of earnest prayer and thorough searching and investigation of several potential candidates for the position, said Kenny Qualls, committee chairman, MBC first vice president, and pastor of Springhill Baptist Church, Springfield.
"I have complete peace that this candidate is God’s choice for this position," Qualls said. "God has moved in the hearts and minds of committee members and shown us His will for Missouri Baptists."
The candidate’s name will be revealed to the members of the executive board a few days prior to the meeting through an information packet that will mailed out Aug. 20. The identity of the candidate will not be publicly known until the Aug. 27 board meeting.
"I am excited about the future of our state convention, and I am convinced that the executive board will share in our excitement once they meet the man," said David Tolliver, search committee member, MBC recording secretary, and pastor of Pisgah Baptist Church, Excelsior Springs.
Qualls asked all Missouri Baptists continue to pray for the search committee, the potential MBC executive director, members of the executive board, and all Missouri Baptists.