By Staff, Baptist Message
RIDGECREST, N.C. (LBM) – During their Sept. 11-13 meeting at the Ridgecrest Conference Center near Ashville, N.C., International Mission Board trustees approved new personnel and passed the 2017-2018 budget.
The 51 missionaries who were appointed represent churches in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
The overseas missionary force totaled 3,612 as of the end of the trustee meeting, up from the 3,596 numbered at the end of 2016.
Meanwhile trustees approved a budget of $262 million, down from last year’s $270 million financial plan. The budget projects Lottie Moon Christmas Offering receipts at $153 million for 2017-18, similar to actual receipts for 2016-2017.
The budget is based on a new fiscal year, Oct. 1, 2017-Sept. 30, 2018, which aligns IMB’s financial year with other SBC entities.
Trustees also welcomed 11 new colleagues elected in June during the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Phoenix: Joel Bundick, pastor of Community of Grace church in Aurora, Colo.; Jim Crockett, president of R1 Ministries and member of First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, Tenn.; Jordan Easley, senior pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tenn.; Keith Evans, senior pastor of Pathway Church in Troutdale, Ore.; Will Gatling, associate pastor of missions of Bay Leaf Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C.; Nathan Gunter, pastor of Lansing (Kan.) First Southern Baptist Church; Kirra Kelly, an educator and member of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Fla.; Gary Mathena, a professor and member of First Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va.; Cliff Mayton, senior pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Spring, Texas; Trent Snyder, associate pastor of missions and evangelism of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky.; and Brian Zunigha, a campus minister and member of Redeemer Baptist Church in Riverside, Calif.
IMB trustees will meet via video conference Nov. 14 to approve new missionary appointees, with a Livestream Sending Celebration slated for Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. EST.
The 2017 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering launches Oct. 1. Additional information is available via IMB.org/LMCO.
Based on a release by Julie McGowan, IMB public relations leader.
