Only three weeks into his new role as president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB), Geoff Hammond took his first bow for Southern Baptists June 13 during NAMB’s report to the annual convention meeting.
“One of the greatest privileges of my life is to be called to lead the North American Mission Board,” he said, noting the three main objectives of NAMB — sharing Christ, starting churches and sending missionaries.
Hammond also kept the audience on its feet in ovations as he introduced three couples serving in diverse missionary roles across North America. Another NAMB representative was presented via pre-recorded video — Brig. Gen. Douglas L. Carver.
Carver, one of the more than 2,000 chaplains endorsed by NAMB, is the current candidate for chief of chaplains in the U.S. Army, which would put him in charge of 5,000 chaplains.
“I’d like to give a heartfelt thanks to the Southern Baptist Convention, the North American Mission Board and local Baptist churches for sending the finest chaplains to serve,” he said. “This is a critical ministry during this time of war. Pray for our chaplains who pour out their very lives and the love of Christ.”
William and Teresa Johnson, church planters in Manhattan, Mont., shared about their efforts in an area with few churches and a rugged, individualistic environment.
Another couple, who cannot be named for security reasons, shared about reaching out to a Muslim community in the greater-Washington area.
“The Great Commission is coming back to North America,” Hammond said, noting the risk some missionaries take in order to share Christ in North America. “We are going to put a lot more emphasis on church planting to the people groups right here in North America. We are no longer a melting pot but a mixing pot. We have to church plant in order to assist churches in fulfilling the Great Commission.
“We have found in our studies that when a new church is started with a desire to plant a new church from the beginning, that church actually grows quicker,” Hammond said. “When you give it away, God blesses more.”
He encouraged Southern Baptists to be involved in church-planting activities, sponsoring a new church and/or birthing a new church.
Hammond also noted Southern Baptists’ ability to step up in a crisis. Whether it be at the church, associational, state or national level, NAMB-sponsored volunteers are there.
Pointing to the April shooting massacre at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, he said, “Southern Baptists showed their true colors” during that crisis.
“I want to thank Southern Baptists for their generous gifts to the Cooperative Program … and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering,” Hammond said.
“Without it, it would not be possible for us to share these stories about sharing Christ, starting churches and missionaries (proclaiming Jesus Christ).”
Other announcements made during NAMB’s report included:
- A new national evangelism strategy is being developed with NAMB and other Southern Baptist leaders with plans for the strategy to be debuted at the 2008 annual meeting.
“It will be multifaceted, a kind of plan that can be customized.”
- Roy Fish, interim president of NAMB until Hammond’s election, will remain as an ambassador-at-large for NAMB.
Bill Curtis, chairman of NAMB’s board of trustees, said, “Dr. Fish has led with grace … and ministered to our missionaries and staff. He has agreed to [continue doing some of this].
“He will be assisting in communicating the message of what we are about and how you can be involved across the country,” Curtis said.
- Curtis recognized Jim Austin, executive director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and Joseph Bunce, executive director of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, for their partnership with NAMB.
- Curtis noted the 300th anniversary of associational missions in America. “Another key area of partnership for us involves our relationship with local Baptist associations,” he said.
- Curtis noted the $58,496,633 given to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering last year and thanked Southern Baptists for their support. “Your giving has allowed us to expand our efforts in sharing Christ, planting churches and sending missionaries,” he said.
There were no questions from messengers during the NAMB report.
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