JEFFERSON CITY – Two new faces are joining the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) executive board staff, filling two positions that had been open. They are Gary Mathes, who will be the State Missionary for Pastoral Leadership and Omar Segovia who will be a church planting catalyst in the Kansas City region.
Mathes steps into the MBC pastoral care position, and will work with bi-vocational pastors, men’s ministry and the transitional pastor network. A native of Salem and a two-time graduate of Midwestern, Mathes was most recently the pastor of Christian Maturity at Green Valley Baptist Church, St. Joseph. He also most recently served on the credentials committee of the MBC.
Segovia, who is jointly funded by the North American Mission Board, will coordinate and oversee MBC church planting efforts in the Kansas City area and north.
Segoiva – who was born in Santiago, Chile – was saved at a Hispanic church after his family immigrated to Canada in the late 70s. He has served as an IMB journeyman, and pastored Central Baptist Church in Kansas City since 2007. He recently graduated from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. A Chilean who grew up in Canada and now lives in the U.S., Segovia is a diverse man and Central is in one of the most multi-ethnic neighborhoods in Missouri. In addition, Segovia and Central planted a Burundi congregation, which is soon to step out on its own as an autonomous church.
Segovia will begin Jan. 1, and Mathes begins his duties Jan. 28.