IMB, NAMB request day of prayer
for presidential searches

Richmond, Va.—As the Southern Baptist Convention’s two mission boards continue their respective searches for presidents, they are asking Southern Baptists to set aside Aug. 28 as a day of prayer and fasting to ask God to direct the entities’ paths. Officials with the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board said they are making progress in their searches for the two men who will oversee their organizations. Each has interim presidents in place—Clyde Meador at the IMB and Richard Harris at NAMB. Spokesmen for the organizations declined to pinpoint any timetable for their presidential selections but noted they are entering important phases in the process.

FILLING IN Richard Harris (left) and Clyde Meador are serving as interim presidents at the North American Mission Board and International Mission Board, respectively. The search committees for both entities have asked Southern Baptists to set aside Aug. 28 as a day of prayer.

“This is a critical moment for these two organizations,” said IMB presidential search committee chairman Jimmy Pritchard. “It is a critical time for our convention as we find God’s man for IMB and (the right man for) NAMB.”

Pritchard said there’s nothing special about Aug. 28 other than it is “always a good time to ask God to speak clearly about who is His choice.

“The search has gone well, and we’re making some good progress. … We’ve met with a number of quality men,” added Pritchard, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Forney, Texas, who oversees IMB’s 15-member search committee.

“Of course our timetable would have been to already have made that selection, but we’d rather be correct than quick,” he noted.

Mike Ebert, communications team leader for NAMB, added that its search committee is “getting close” and hopes to have a decision in the near future.

IMB trustees will meet Sept. 14-15 in Tampa, Fla., while NAMB’s next full board meeting will be Oct. 19-20 in Los Angeles.

“We are excited about joining with our IMB brothers and sisters for a much needed and timely prayer emphasis,” Ebert said.

“There’s no better way to demonstrate cooperation and partnership with IMB than to join our hearts in prayer in this way.” (BP)

Western Recorder issue date: August 24, 2010.