Tommy Puckett, director of men’s ministries and disaster relief for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) for almost 20 years, has announced he will retire June 1.
To prepare a successor for the many details involved in coordinating disaster relief efforts, the SBOM executive committee elected Mel R. Johnson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Geraldine, as associate for disaster relief and construction, effective Feb. 9.
Johnson will serve in the office of global missions, where Puckett serves as co-director with Reggie Quimby, director of the office. Also serving as associates in the office are Scotty Goldman, who works with missions partnerships and collegiate summer missions, and Steve Stephens, who works with Royal Ambassadors and Challengers and will oversee all of men’s ministries after Puckett retires. Stephens will also share sports evangelism with the office of evangelism.
Puckett’s other responsibilities will be redistributed to the office of discipleship and family ministries (lay renewal) and the office of collegiate and student ministries (World Changers and Missions Serve).
Quimby will continue overseeing missions volunteers.
“When Tommy retires in mid-2009, we’ll be losing from our staff a choice servant of our Lord with many years of experience,” Rick Lance, SBOM executive director, said. “Tommy has provided highly effective and tireless leadership, especially in the area of disaster relief.
“In serving alongside Tommy for the next few months, Mel will gain invaluable insights and training in this strategic area of ministry and missions,” Lance said, praising Johnson as someone who brings a strong track record of practical skills, local church leadership and missions involvement and passion.
“His giftedness and experience in a variety of ministry, missions and vocational settings will serve all Alabama Baptists well,” he said.
Quimby agreed.
“Mel brings a lot of expertise in construction, as well as a missions heart, missions vision and experience in global missions,” he said. “Tommy has led this effort well, and Mel will bring a pastor’s heart to help motivate even more people toward involvement in this special kind of hands-on ministry.”
Johnson, who was elected during the executive committee’s meeting Jan. 22, has served on the committee since 2004 and on the SBOM board since 2003. He participated in the committee’s meeting, except for the discussion and eventual unanimous vote on his employment.
Johnson also previously served as pastor of Ivalee Baptist Church, Attalla, 1996–2001; plant manager and vice president of Johnson’s Machine and Tool Inc. in Boaz, a business he founded with his father in 1976; and tool and die maker for the Mueller Company in Albertville.
Johnson is currently moderator of DeKalb Baptist Association and has served the association as a member of the disaster relief team and pastors conference chairman.
His other denominational and ministry experience includes: chairman of the global missions subcommittee for the SBOM executive committee; registrar and faculty adviser for the Marshall Baptist Institute of Samford Extension; registrar and faculty adviser for the Etowah Christian Institute, a New Orleans Seminary extension center; and chaplain and service coordinator for the Etowah Baptist Association Mission Center.
He and his wife, Gwen, have two sons: Melvin Lloyd Johnson, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, and Stewart Burke Johnson, minister of students at First Baptist Church, Albertville, and a student at New Orleans Seminary extension in Birmingham.
Noting Johnson is a trained disaster relief and chaplaincy volunteer, Puckett said, “I think Mel is going to be a great fit for Alabama Baptists.
“He was a former lay minister in the working world that can relate well to laymen. He is a pastor who can relate well with pastors. He also has a humble heart and displays excellent leadership ability.” (SBOM, TAB)
Share with others: