By Mickey Noah, NAMB Communications
[img_assist|nid=7373|title=Kevin Ezell|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=67|height=100]ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The North American Mission Board’s overarching strategic initiative, “Send North America,” will be the heart of its message during the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix.
NAMB will commission about 20 missionaries, including church planters and chaplains, during the Tuesday session of the annual meeting following its report to messengers.
Kevin Ezell, the mission board’s president, will explain his Send North America vision during a Pastors’ Conference luncheon at noon June 13 in Room 120 C/D of the Phoenix Convention Center.
The luncheon for pastors, church staff and other leaders also will feature Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Christian Resources and worship leader Chris Mills. Seating is limited, and tickets are available at www.namb.net/SNAluncheon for $7 each.
With its Send North America church planting strategy, Ezell has said NAMB intends to change the conversation on church planting throughout the Southern Baptist Convention.
“We plan to use this year’s annual meeting to send a message to SBC pastors and messengers that our overarching focus is on church planting,” Ezell said.
Ezell also will speak at the annual SBC Chaplains’ Luncheon slated for June 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 124 of the convention center. Reservations are required.
“It will be an honor for me to speak to chaplains representing the military, prisons, hospitals, companies and public safety,” Ezell said. “These chaplains, all endorsed by the North American Mission Board, are special people who minister in some of the most dangerous and difficult situations in the world.”
This year’s chaplains’ luncheon will recognize Maj. Gen. Douglas Carver, who is retiring this year as U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains. Based at the Pentagon, Carver is the first Southern Baptist chaplain to be promoted to the office for active duty in more than 50 years.
Also debuting June 13 will be NAMB’s Send North America Experience in the exhibit hall. The 40-foot by 50-foot exhibit will feature church planting missionaries from each of NAMB’s new five regions positioned among cityscapes depicting each region.
Visitors will experience what life is like in the regions and hear directly from missionaries serving in those locations.
“We want messengers to come to the exhibit, experience the North American mission fields and volunteer to be mobilized to be part of Send North America,” said Aaron Coe, vice president for NAMB’s mobilization group. “Folks will be able to hear in person from our church planting missionaries, who will share about the challenges, rewards and celebrations of church planting and how SBC churches can be more personally involved.”