There were no questions left to be answered when leaders of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) delivered the entity’s report June 13 at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting, according to Barry Holcomb, outgoing chairman of NAMB’s board of trustees.
“The spotlight in a negative way was not there, and our eyes are on the horizon — I really think there are bright days ahead,” said Holcomb, pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, Andalusia, in Covington Baptist Association, who rotated off the board June 13.
Roy Fish, recently named interim president of NAMB, told messengers that although the board has experienced some “extremely difficult days” recently, “this past year has been one where our missionaries … have made a tremendous impact in the lives of thousands of people.”
Just days prior to the convention, Fish was named as a temporary replacement for Bob Reccord, who resigned April 17 in the wake of a trustee investigation that found evidence of mismanagement at the mission board.
Several reports of excessive spending, heavy-handed treatment of employees and other difficulties at the Alpharetta, Ga.-based board had earlier been publicized in Georgia Baptists’ Christian Index newspaper.
“Barry Holcomb did a fantastic job working through those days,” said Bobby Welch, SBC president.
It was “very gratifying” to be able to offer a transparent and complete report to the messengers, Holcomb said, adding that though he regretted the matters had to be dealt with, now NAMB could move on.
“Through it all, your trustees have sought to be transparent with our SBC family about where we are and where we’re headed,” said Fish, distinguished professor of evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Fish particularly pointed to thousands of baptisms performed in the past year by NAMB-endorsed chaplains in the armed forces and hospitals.
That prompted a question from a messenger related to a recent controversy at the denomination’s other missionary agency, the International Mission Board (IMB). Its leaders recently decided to tighten the restrictions on baptism qualifications for missionary candidates. “Does the North American Mission Board have or do you plan to have a response to IMB regarding those baptisms, because what the IMB has done is effectively told you that every single one of those chaplain baptisms that were performed … are now null and void should one of those officials at some point later on decide to go to the international mission field,” said William Blosch, a messenger from First Baptist Church, Plantation, Fla.
“I can tell you that we do not have such a policy … nor do we intend, as far as I’m aware, to entertain that sort of policy,” answered Bill Curtis, the board’s newly elected chairman. Curtis is pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Florence, S.C.
A second question from a messenger asked if NAMB had any leads on a replacement for the “big shoes to fill” that Reccord left behind.
“The leadership’s responsibility is a daunting one,” Curtis responded. “We invite and invoke your prayers as we pursue the man God has for us.”
Holcomb said later that he believes Fish is a “great choice” for interim leader, and as far as the long-term decision goes, he said, “I don’t believe anyone is irreplaceable in the Lord’s work. The Holy Spirit will lead the board to the right man.”
NAMB is accepting resumés for the position until Sept. 1.
Messengers then heard reports from two NAMB missionaries touting the board’s work in two metropolitan areas that have often proven difficult for Southern Baptist mission work — New York City and New Orleans.
Missionary Kay Bennett thanked Southern Baptists for the dollars and volunteer hours they have provided in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction of New Orleans. Bennett runs the city’s Baptist Friendship House, located adjacent to the flood-ravaged Lower Ninth Ward.
When Bennett first returned to the city after the storm, she said she rejoiced when she saw that floodwaters stopped a block away from the Friendship House.
“I will tell you that all four of our Baptist centers in New Orleans did not receive any flooding,” she said. “God knew that we would need Southern Baptists to help our city rebuild.” (Editors’ Network)
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