The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is the domestic missions agency of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). It is involved in Southern Baptist church planting and revitalization, coordinating one of the United States's largest disaster relief agencies through the cooperation of state Baptist relief agencies, creating evangelism resources and other programs such as chaplaincy support and pastoral training. NAMB is currently headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia.

The President of NAMB is Kevin Ezell. Vance Pitman oversees church planting as president of Send Network, and Bryant Wright oversees disaster relief as President of Send Relief.

History edit

The organization was founded in 1874 as the Home Mission Board. [1]

In 1997, the Home Mission Board merged with the Brotherhood Commission and Radio and Television Commission to form the North American Mission Board.[2]

The SBC ceased supporting the cable American Christian Television System in 2003. NAMB ceased radio production in 2005. In 2007, NAMB sold FamilyNet to In Touch Ministries.[3]

In 2021, it reported an operating budget of 99,000,000.[4] It is funded through a combination of the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Offering.

Leadership edit

The first NAMB president in 1997 was Robert Reccord.[5] Citing “honest philosophical and methodological differences,” Bob Reccord resigned as NAMB president in April 2006.[6][7]

The following president of NAMB was Geoff Hammond, who was elected by a unanimous vote in March 2007. Hammond resigned in August 2009 after an all-day closed session meeting with over 50 trustees.[8]

In September 2010, Kevin Ezell was elected president. Ezell was formerly pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, KY.[9]

Vance Pitman joined NAMB as a national mobilizer in September 2015.[10] He was then chosen as the new president of Send Network in December 2021,[11] replacing Dhati Lewis who led Send Network for three years.[12] Send Network debuted a new leadership team, new values, and a Spanish website in the fall of 2022.[13]

Bryant Wright was selected as president of Send Relief by NAMB and IMB in March 2020.[14]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2021, p. 439
  2. ^ "Southern Baptist Convention. Home Mission Board - Social Networks and Archival Context".
  3. ^ "RTVC building sale closes final chapter on Southern Baptist radio, television efforts". Retrieved 2019-03-04.
  4. ^ "NAMB trustees pass significantly reduced budget". Baptist Standard. 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  5. ^ "Bob Reccord resigns as NAMB president | Baptist Press". 13 April 2006.
  6. ^ "Bob Reccord resigns as NAMB president | Baptist Press". 13 April 2006.
  7. ^ "NAMB president, 3 associates, resign | Baptist Press". 11 August 2009.
  8. ^ "NAMB president, 3 associates, resign | Baptist Press". 11 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Ezell elected NAMB president | Baptist Press". 14 September 2010.
  10. ^ "Vance Pitman joins NAMB as national mobilizer | Baptist Press". 10 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Vance Pitman to lead NAMB's Send Network | Baptist Press". 3 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Send Network's Dhati Lewis leaving NAMB for new project | Baptist Press". 15 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Send Network unveils new values, leadership team, Spanish website | Baptist Press". 6 October 2022.
  14. ^ "IMB-NAMB name Bryant Wright Send Relief president | Baptist Press". 2 March 2020.

External links edit