PHOENIX (BP) – North American Mission Board (NAMB) trustees, meeting in Phoenix, Feb. 14-15, spent time with area church planters and celebrated a new suite of resources NAMB is offering to new planters who are endorsed through its Send Network church planting arm. NAMB president Kevin Ezell and Hance Dilbeck, president-elect of GuideStone Financial Resources, shared that church planters assessed and endorsed by NAMB’s Send Network in 2022 will, for the first time, have the opportunity to … [Read more...]
NAMB trustees celebrate Boston church planters, OK collegiate ministry assignment
BOSTON – During their spring meeting May 3-4, North American Mission Board (NAMB) trustees celebrated area church planters and unanimously passed a resolution asking the Southern Baptist Convention to assign to NAMB the ministry assignment for reaching and mobilizing college and university students in North America. Prior to the full board meeting, NAMB trustees spent May 3 at several locations visiting church planters and hearing stories of how God is working through Southern Baptists to … [Read more...]
COVID-19: NAMB spending changes aimed at keeping missionaries on field
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) - The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is implementing a series of budgetary freezes and cutbacks designed to keep missionaries on the field during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. NAMB president Kevin Ezell shared information March 19 with staff and missionaries on a video conference call and in emails to state convention leaders and other mission partners. "We hope these proactive steps will allow our missionaries to continue ministering throughout the crisis, … [Read more...]
NAMB trustees meet missionaries, celebrate Annie Offering report
SAN FRANCISCO (BP) – North American Mission Board trustees gathered for their annual fall meeting Oct. 7-8 with much to celebrate as Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, announced to the group that Southern Baptists had given $62.2 million to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering in 2019. It marked an all-time high for the offering and the third consecutive year to break a record. "We are so very, very grateful for that," NAMB President Kevin Ezell … [Read more...]
Johnny Hunt to lead NAMB evangelism, leadership group
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Johnny Hunt, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church Woodstock, Ga., and past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, will join the North American Mission Board as senior vice president of evangelism and leadership. Hunt and NAMB announced the news Sunday, Aug. 26. "I want to lead Southern Baptist churches to put evangelism back on the front burner again," Hunt said. "Jesus came to seek and save the lost, we know what He is doing. We must join … [Read more...]
NAMB launches evangelism group, names Law as executive director
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is launching an evangelism and leadership group that will promote evangelism among Southern Baptist churches, provide evangelistic resources and equip pastors to help their congregations become more evangelistically active. Jim Law, who currently serves as executive pastor at First Baptist Church Woodstock, Ga., will serve as executive director of the new group. "Everything we do at NAMB is focused on sharing the hope of the … [Read more...]
FBC Sutherland Springs launches building project
SAN ANTONIO — First Baptist Church Sutherland Springs, the Southern Baptist congregation whose members were targeted by a gunman last November in what became one of the worst mass shootings in US history, will begin construction of a new worship center and education building beginning in May. Plans were announced Tues., March 27, by Frank Pomeroy, the church’s pastor. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) will accept donations for the project. If donations do not cover all of the … [Read more...]
Gospel conversation critical, Ezell tells NAMB trustees
PHOENIX (BP) – North American Mission Board president Kevin Ezell told the entity’s trustees that in order to see the kind of turnaround in baptisms that Southern Baptists desire, it will take millions of Southern Baptists having tens of millions of gospel conversations. Without decreasing NAMB’s emphasis on church planting through its Send Network or compassion ministry through Send Relief, Ezell said NAMB will “put every ounce of energy we possibly can to help our convention see the … [Read more...]
NAMB trustees approve Send Relief, IMB aid
SALT LAKE CITY (BP) – Trustees of the North American Mission Board have approved the establishment of Send Relief – a new compassion ministry to offer Southern Baptists opportunities to meet physical needs and serve underprivileged communities. Also during their Oct. 7 meeting, NAMB’s trustees approved a $4 million budget reduction so the entity can send funds to assist International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries. NAMB President Kevin Ezell, commenting on the Send Relief initiative, … [Read more...]