BIRMINGHAM (TAB) — Alabama Baptist David Platt has been elected the new president of the International Mission Board (IMB). The vote took place this morning by the IMB board of trustees meeting in Richmond, Va.
Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills since 2006, has gained international prominence for his commitment to missions and disciple making. He is a well-known author, speaker and Bible teacher.
Platt will follow retiring IMB president Tom Elliff, who has served in the role since 2011. Elliff announced his plans to retire in February and asked the board to find his successor quickly but carefully.
A 15-member search committee was named and chaired by David Uth, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla. Among the committee members was Jay Wolf, pastor of First Baptist Church, Montgomery.
The church released a statement Aug. 27 — “As The Church at Brook Hills, everything we do is ultimately for the sake of God’s glory among all nations. While we are saddened that David Platt will no longer be our senior pastor, we wholeheartedly support his decision to serve as president of the IMB. We know of no one with greater passion and zeal for seeing Christ preached where He has not yet been named.
“For many years, the IMB has been one of our primary partners in sending members of our faith family to make disciples around the world, and we look forward to this relationship continuing under David’s leadership there. We are deeply grateful for the season God has allowed David to shepherd The Church at Brook Hills. We now gladly pray for the Platt family as they transition to a new assignment and begin the work of mobilizing thousands of churches to accomplish the Great Commission.
“By God’s grace, Brook Hills will continue to be a vibrant disciple-making church. We trust God’s sovereign plans for our faith family and are confident He will continue to lead us in the months and years ahead.”
Platt says on the church website, “I believe that God has uniquely created every one of His people to impact the world. Some may count it as idealistic, but I believe it is thoroughly biblical, rooted in Psalm 67:1–2, yet covering Scripture from beginning to end. God is in the business of blessing His people so that His ways and His salvation might be made known among all people.”
Platt holds a bachelor of arts and bachelor of arts in journalism from the University of Georgia and a master of divinity, master of theology and doctor of philosophy from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He previously served at New Orleans Seminary as dean of chapel and assistant professor of expository preaching and apologetics, and as staff evangelist at Edgewater Baptist Church, New Orleans. He is the author of “Radical — Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream,” “Radical Together — Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God” and “Follow Me: A Call to Die, A Call to Live.” He also founded Radical, a resource ministry, dedicated to serving the church by making disciples of all nations.
Platt and his wife, Heather, are Atlanta natives and have four children. They lived in New Orleans until they were displaced by flooding following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Other articles on David Platt’s election as IMB president:
To read an article on Platt’s election, click here.
To read an article on Platt addressing new missionaries at appointment service, click here.
To read an article on Platt’s view of cooperation among Baptists, click here.
To read an article on SBC leaders’ affirmation of Platt as IMB president, click here.
To see other articles in the news related to Platt’s election, click here.
To read a letter from Platt to The Church at Brook Hills, and see a video message from him, click here.
To read an article about Platt’s message to The Church at Brook Hills his Sunday back after the election and to hear the message, click here.
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