International Mission Board (IMB) trustees appointed 24 new missionaries, welcomed 23 new trustees and approved the 2019–2020 budget during the organization’s Sept. 25–26 board meeting in Richmond. Two Alabamians, James “Jim” Cooley and Charlotte Madison, were among the new trustees.
Cooley is pastor of First Baptist Church, Birmingham, and has been in pastoral leadership for the past 31 years. He holds a master of divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and a doctor of ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Madison is a retired high school Spanish teacher and the wife of Ron Madison, who retired as pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Huntsville, in 2016. Madison holds a master of religious education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has served as a trustee with Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union.
IMB trustees also adopted a balanced budget projected at $267.4 million and noted that fewer churches have been contributing to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in recent years.
“Should that trend continue over the next decade our future as a sending organization is bleak,” IMB President Paul Chitwood said. He added that IMB must prioritize mobilizing Southern Baptists to pray, give, go and send to the nations.
IMB officials noted the new budget allows for funding up to 50 more Journeymen to be sent above the normal class of approximately 100. (TAB)
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