It seems that Marty and Micah both got the right word through the grapevine on NAMB’s Search Committee recommendation for the office of President:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2007
Geoffrey A. Hammond recommended as president-elect
Of North American Mission Board, SBC
Full board of Trustees to vote at Special Called March 20-21 meeting
ALPHARETTA, GA.—The President Search Committee of the North American Mission Board trustees today recommended that Dr. Geoffrey A. Hammond become the agency’s next president. Hammond is Senior Associate Director of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia.
NAMB’s full board of trustees will vote on the recommendation at a March 20-21 special called meeting in Alpharetta. If approved, Hammond would become NAMB’s president-elect, officially beginning his duties at the May 8-9 Board meeting and starting full-time on May 22, according to committee chairman Greg Faulls.
“Dr. Hammond has proven himself to be a successful leader, strategist, and practitioner in church planting missions and evangelism throughout his ministry career,” Faulls said. “NAMB is a Missions agency in need of a strong leader with the mind of a missiologist and with a vision to strategically mobilize an army of missionaries who will spread the gospel and plant churches throughout an ethnically diverse North America.”
Hammond, 49, was born in Nigeria to missionary parents serving with the Foreign Mission Board, SBC. He earned the equivalent of a Business Degree in Administration in Zimbabwe, passing the final examination of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators (UK). He is a graduate of Spurgeon’s Seminary in London, England, as well as earning the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, majoring in Evangelism and Missions.
He has served throughout his career as pastor, church planter, staff member of mega-churches, IMB missionary to Brazil, seminary professor, director of missions, NAMB appointed missionary, church planting strategist, and for the past five years as a Senior Associate State Executive. “Hammond understands missions at every level. He has proven skills and experience planting churches and strategically directing church planting in associations and a state convention. He is gifted in leadership and adept in the areas of business administration. He is bilingual and has a grasp of the complexity and diversity of the harvest field and clearly understands the importance and dynamics of NAMB’s relationships with her state partners,” said Faulls. “In addition he is fully supportive of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.”
Hammond and his wife, Deborah, have two sons: Timothy and Nicholas.
“Our president search committee has been thorough and prayerful in seeking God’s man for NAMB,” said Bill Curtis, Chairman of the Board. “I can say with confidence that the search committee has worked diligently on the behalf of Southern Baptists and the Board throughout this process, and they look forward to bringing a report on the journey and to presenting Dr. Geoff Hammond at the March Board meeting.”
Curtis also said, “I wish to express my gratitude to every member of the NAMB staff. During the past year I have observed our wonderful staff rise to every challenge with faith and cooperation. As we prepare to move into a new phase of NAMB’s history, I am confident that the staff and our committed missionaries will continue to rise as they work together in advancing evangelism, church planting, and the strengthening of churches throughout North America.”
“As a third generation missionary, my heartbeat has always been reaching people with the Gospel no matter where they live,” said Hammond. “I believe the North American Mission Board is the greatest missionary agency for reaching North America for Christ and it is the greatest honor of my life to be nominated for this position.”
The recommendation of Hammond follows an intense ten-month search that began with the committee’s commitment to continually pray, follow a thorough, patient process, and resist outside political maneuvers. “We determined what we were going to do was seek God’s man. There was never a predetermined person. We were faithful to follow our process and allow God to reveal His choice,” Faulls said. “We considered a wide variety of candidates from all corners of Southern Baptist life: pastors, seminary professors, state executives, missionaries, evangelists, as well as staff members of denominational agencies.”
NAMB, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention, is led by a 60-member board of trustees. Last April 2006, after the resignation of former president Dr. Bob Reccord, then board chairman Barry Holcomb appointed a nine-member search committee: Chairman Greg Faulls (KY), Vice-Chairman David Crump (OK), Dennis Culbreth (VA), Ellie Ficken (AL), Terry Fox (KA), Barbara McCormick (SC), Michael Palmer (ID), Ryan Palmer (MD), and Jeff Shirley (TX).
NAMB is the largest Missions Agency commissioned to reach North America. In partnership with State Conventions the agency appoints over 5,000 missionaries throughout the United States and Canada for the primary purpose of evangelization and church planting. Southern Baptists support the work of NAMB primarily through Cooperative Program giving and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.
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micah
on Mar 1st, 2007
@ 4:58 pm:
Art-
Just because I don’t want anyone thinking that my blog is trying to piggyback on Marty’s scoop, it should be noted that Marty got it right and I just tried to help publicize what he stated. I did speak to some other sources but not until Marty already had, and posted, the information. I know he probably won’t care but I just felt like it was important to clarify.
cb scott
on Mar 1st, 2007
@ 6:17 pm:
Art,
Good sources in Virginia say we have a greeat candidate. This comes from people that know the guy and his ministry in VA firsthand.
cb
Geoff Baggett
on Mar 1st, 2007
@ 10:17 pm:
I’m just glad it’s not another mega-church pastor … one of the “big names” in the SBC.
I can’t help but think that a culturally savvy, missions-oriented, church planting man is the right man for this job. I hear great things. I am optimistic.
Plus … he has an AWESOME first name. ;)
Geoff
Joseph M. Smith
on Mar 2nd, 2007
@ 6:38 am:
What has been his attitude toward the BGAV and its churches and leadership? I personally find this business of creating alternative conservative state conventions quite distasteful and divisive, and wonder whether someone who has participated in this kind of enterprise can serve all Southern Baptists. I have no personal knowledge, since I am on the other side of that widest of rivers, the Potomac!
volfan007
on Mar 2nd, 2007
@ 7:58 am:
i am cautiously optimistic….not ready to dance in the streets. i guess we’ll have to wait and see how he does.
david
Kevin Bussey
on Mar 2nd, 2007
@ 11:29 am:
I’m estatic as we all should be. We need to trust that the Holy Spirit led this man to the search committee. Instead of thinking the worst, lets think the best.
volfan007
on Mar 2nd, 2007
@ 2:33 pm:
i wish that i could dance in the streets, but after the way many bloggers have put down trustees and sbc leaders this past year….i have become….well, synical and suspicious of trustees and all leaders everywhere. i just cant bring myself to believe that trustees could actually do something good. i cant trust that any leader really wants to do good, but really they are all mean, gold diggers who are in it for themselves. :)
david
Art Rogers
on Mar 2nd, 2007
@ 2:37 pm:
Really, David?
That’s what you take away from the last year?
volfan007
on Mar 2nd, 2007
@ 2:42 pm:
art,
do you see the smiley face at the end? i was saying that tongue in cheek.
david
Art Rogers
on Mar 2nd, 2007
@ 2:49 pm:
David,
I admit that I did not. I read it first in the email notification and missed it. Still, it seems to be just an attempt at being passive aggressive.
Art Rogers
on Mar 2nd, 2007
@ 2:55 pm:
JMS,
Just wondering… Do you feel the same way about CBF leaders?
Kevin Bussey
on Mar 2nd, 2007
@ 2:56 pm:
Having met Bill Curtis and having several trustees e-mail me, I am very optimistic. I appreciate their service to the SBC. As a former NAMB missionary I am elated. I am excited and look forward to the future of NAMB and the SBC.
cb scott
on Mar 2nd, 2007
@ 11:54 pm:
JMS,
I realize you have no knowledge of me, but I would like to say to you that Geoff Hammond had nothing to do with the Virginia Wars. He came after the smoke cleared. He has done much to “heal the Land.”
cb
Tim Rogers
on Mar 3rd, 2007
@ 7:50 am:
Brother Art,
I am cautiously optimistic. I do not know Brother Geoff and do trust the Search Committee. I am certain that they did their background search especially after going through what they have in the past two years. I also know that you will find someone somewhere that will disagree with this recommendation, thus I would not be that concerned. I pray that we can see NAMB flourish under his leadership. Of course a person that does not know how to spell his name does remain suspect. :>)
Blessings,
Tim
volfan007
on Mar 3rd, 2007
@ 9:59 am:
art,
what’s wrong with beng passive aggressive, or using satire, etc. if you are trying to make a point? just wondering.
btw, i do trust that the trustees have picked a good man, and i pray that there will be some great days ahead for namb and the sbc with this addition. i am, like tim r., cautiously optimistic since i dont know him either. but, i am always on the optimistic side about things until shown different. i am looking forward to what the Lord will do thru this man.
david
Art Rogers
on Mar 3rd, 2007
@ 3:55 pm:
So, David, you are now saying it wasn’t a joke, after all? That you were seriously calling your brothers in Christ “rats,” just to make a point? That’s the problem with being passive aggressive. It is mean spirited but lies about it.
I hope that I am right in assuming you did not intend to be mean spirited and lie about it.
volfan007
on Mar 3rd, 2007
@ 10:21 pm:
art,
about the passive aggresive being alright to make a point comment….i was referring to the comment that i made on march 2 at 2:33 pm in this line of comments in this post. where i was talking with tongue in cheek, and you said that i was being passive aggresive. i was not referring to the other post with the rat comment. i was not calling anyone a rat. it was a joke. it was just a play on marty’s..you cant herd cats….comment. i was making a dr. seuss type of joke. good gracious, art, everything i say you go off on it….you take it wrong everytime. why? why do you read everything i write and see it with some mean spirited twist to it, and you even accused me of lying not long ago when i didnt. why? bro., what is it causing you to read me so wrong, and being so ready to jump on my back about it?
david
Art Rogers
on Mar 4th, 2007
@ 7:42 am:
David,
Hmmmm. Let’s see. I answered your question by making the point that Passive Aggressive responses claim to be light hearted and funny when they are actually mean spirited. Then I said that I assumed you were not intending to be that way yourself, and I hoped I was right.
Brother, any fair reading of our exchanges would reveal that I do not lie in wait and jump you when you comment. Any fair reading would show that I have not attacked you now.
Please forgive me for confusing the “rat” statement on the other post with this one.
Nevertheless, my observations about Passive Aggressive statements still stand.
One more thing… If I ever “jump on your back,” you will know that I have done it. I assure you, this is not it. If you doubt it, ask your friends.
This is a comment from me to you about the way what you write is coming across. There is a big difference.
volfan007
on Mar 4th, 2007
@ 10:38 am:
art,
what friends should i ask about the jumping on the back thing? i dont know who you are talking about.
also, bro., where i come from, if people insinuate or imply that someone is mean and lying, they take it personal. i mean, i’m really not used to being called mean, nor a liar. especially when i dont see how i’ve been mean, nor have i lied about anything. i mean, it seems to me that three or four statements i’ve made lately were misunderstood by you, or else you didnt like what i said, or something; but, you have implied that i was being mean or lying…when i wasnt. that feels like someone jumping on my back.
i mean, what if i responded to three or four of your comments by implying that you were lying and being mean? or, i just out and out called you a liar? would you like it? would you not take that kind of personal?
well, call me sensitive, but i dont like it. now, disagree with me all day long…thats fine. but, calling me mean and a liar is not my idea of good, christian fellowship.
anyway, art, let’s drop all this and move on…….how bout it? ok? i dont want to argue with you, nor do i want there to be anything between us. alright? i will try to be more clear with what i say, and i will try my best to not be mean. i will try to have more grace and wisdom in my words, with the Lord’s help. alright?
david
Art Rogers
on Mar 4th, 2007
@ 1:25 pm:
David,
Just what part of, “I hope I’m right in assuming that you did NOT”, etc. insinuates that you are guilty of anything? Rather, I publicly stated that I assumed you weren’t.
Ask Tim Rogers, your friend and mine, if I have “jumped on you.” I have, in the past, done that very thing to him. He can tell you what it’s really like. I can also tell you what it’s like when he does it to me. Neither are like our conversation.
I appreciate your desire to make peace. Let me say, though, that you have said I pick on everything you say and that I have insinuated that you were mean and a liar. I simply point out that neither of those things are true nor can they be supported by evidence. In light of that, I think I have been quite patient. More than you know.
If you want me to explain it further, email me.
cb scott
on Mar 4th, 2007
@ 3:46 pm:
David,
My name is Art Rogers, and I’m a meany,
On your back with a sting, sting, stingy.
Run, David, Run. Art is coming, Art is coming.
He has planned for days and days to jump on you. We are all planning to jump on you , David.
We spend all of our waking hours coming up with new ways to jump on you.
David,
Where you come from, do they use a story about “Big dogs” and staying on the porch if you can’t run with them?
Just ragging on you. You know, passive-aggressive and all that stuff:-)
cb
Kevin Bussey
on Mar 4th, 2007
@ 9:55 pm:
Back to the topic,
I’m pumped about Geoff Hammond and the direction of NAMB. I can’t wait to see how God moves in the SBC in the years to come!
volfan007
on Mar 4th, 2007
@ 10:13 pm:
cb,
i’m just a big, ole, cuddly, teddy bear.
btw, cb, just who are the big dawgs?
david
Marty Duren
on Mar 5th, 2007
@ 6:26 am:
Someone needs to go back to Poetry 101.
Tim Rogers
on Mar 5th, 2007
@ 9:16 am:
Brothers,
I am minding my own business trying to keep my blogging to a minimum, due to my wife’s insistence, and I scan the comments of a blog that is entitled NAMB News, and find my name taken in vain. :>)
Brother David,
Breathe. I do not know what you guys are speaking about, but take a deep breath and I promise, you will see it is not worth it.
Brother Art,
Breathe. See what I said to Brother David.
I am going to Rodney King you all; “Can’t we all just get along?”
:>)
Blessings,
Tim
Tim Rogers
on Mar 5th, 2007
@ 9:22 am:
Brother Art,
I almost forgot. After reading your response to Brother David, I do admit that you have not “gotten on his back” as you have mine. But, you can never hold a candle to getting on my back like some of my fellow bloggers and friends wives have. I certainly do not want to take many more hits from them :>) Ladies, Ladies, I am joking. Please do not come after me again.
:>)
Blessings,
Tim
Charlie McFarley
on Mar 11th, 2007
@ 10:15 am:
I hope the first thing the president does at NAMB is clean house.
Peace