Kevin Ezell, senior pastor of Highview Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky., was elected president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) in a special called meeting of NAMB trustees in Atlanta on Sept. 14.
The four-hour meeting ended with the announcement Ezell had been elected with a 37–12 vote, which was confirmed by several participants.
Alabama trustee and member of the search committee Larry Gipson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Oneonta, said he was not surprised by the vote. “Some of this is because of the fear and/or concern regarding the type of fiscal, operating and relational restructuring set forth in the GCR (Great Commission Resurgence) report,” he said. “Everything will be OK. We all need to pray and be unified in the days ahead as we reach North America for Christ.
“I am excited that Dr. Ezell has been elected as president of NAMB,” Gipson continued. “I feel within my heart that he is the man for such a time as this.”
Ezell said he is thankful for the confidence of the trustees.
“I am honored and humbled that the trustees put this confidence in me,” Ezell said. “I will do everything I possibly can to honor the Lord in this and to lead the board to a place where it is as effective as it possibly can be.”
Ezell said he sensed God’s call to the role partly because of what can be accomplished through NAMB.
“I see the potential NAMB has if its energies and resources are focused in the right direction,” he said. “I am looking forward to being able to give a very clear vision for it. You rarely have the opportunity to have this big of a Kingdom impact.”
Tim Dowdy, chairman of the entity’s board of trustees and ex officio member of the search committee, said the vote was the culmination of a 10-month process. “It has at times been discouraging and at times encouraging, but along the way God has been faithful to give us guidance,” he said. “When He introduced us to Kevin, it was evident through the interview process that this was the man.”
Dowdy, pastor of Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church, McDonough, Ga., said Ezell’s leadership abilities, integrity and passion for church planting and missions are what led trustees to him. “He has demonstrated faithful leadership and character and he has a passion for reaching the world,” Dowdy said.
Ezell has served as pastor of Highview Baptist since 1996 and was president of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference in Orlando, Fla., this past June.
After the vote, Ezell said one of his first priorities as NAMB president will be to spend time with church planters.
“They are on the front lines and I want to do everything I possibly can to free resources and direct resources to them and help them succeed,” he said. “I love church planters. I like being around people who get in the ditch and do the work. That’s who I operate best with. So I look forward to connecting and investing in them.” (BP, TAB)
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