Trustees of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) 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’s (IMB) missionaries.
NAMB President Kevin Ezell, commenting on the Send Relief initiative, noted shortly after trustees closed their meeting in Salt Lake City, “Imagine 40,000 Southern Baptist churches engaged to meet needs in their communities and across North America. Send Relief will give churches hands-on opportunities to alleviate suffering and transform lives.”
Combat hunger, poverty
Send Relief will launch in 2016 and include compassion ministries to combat hunger, poverty, serve children through foster care and adoption, combat human trafficking, minister to migrants through international learning centers and meet inner-city needs with construction and medical teams.
NAMB trustees approved David Melber as vice president of Send Relief. Melber has led Crossings Ministries camp outreach in Kentucky since 2003.
Melber said, “Send Relief is going to be an ideal way for us as Southern Baptists to meet a real need — not only for the physical side but to proclaim the gospel, see people come to Christ and help be part of the church planting effort.”
NAMB’s disaster relief team will be part of Send Relief and continue to have its own director. The mission board will continue to serve as coordinator of national disaster relief responses.
The $4 million budget reduction will assist IMB missionaries during NAMB’s 2015–16 fiscal year. Ezell requested the action in response to the IMB’s announced reduction in personnel of up to 15 percent in order to address ongoing revenue shortfalls.
The SBC Executive Committee must approve the proposed assistance before NAMB can transfer funds to IMB.
Trustees also authorized several other position and structure changes in addition to Melber’s in Send Relief. Carlos Ferrer will serve as executive vice president, Kim Robinson will serve as vice president of marketing and ministry support and Clark Logan will serve as chief financial officer. All three men have been promoted from other roles at NAMB.
Ezell also pointed to downsizing that has allowed more resources to go to the field, better counting and tracking of Southern Baptist church plants and a tripling of resources NAMB sends to Canada.
“There are church planters all over North America who, because of your leadership, are being taken care of better than they ever have,” Ezell said to trustees.
(Baptist Press)
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