NAMB’s presentation at the SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis highlighted the impactful ministries of evangelism, church planting, chaplaincy, and Send Relief. NAMB President Kevin Ezell shared that Southern Baptists have planted over 11,000 churches since 2010, emphasizing the importance of spreading the gospel through church planting efforts across North America.
The partnership with NAMB and Send Network has resulted in the planting of more than 200 churches in Canada since 2010, doubling the number of churches in the CNBC. Jeff Christopherson, Executive Director of the Canadian National Baptist Convention, and Tim Patterson, Executive Director of Baptist State Convention of Michigan, shared their experiences and successes in church planting, highlighting the unity and enthusiasm among pastors in their regions.
The presentation also focused on Crossover Indianapolis, an annual Southern Baptist evangelistic outreach, which saw over 1,400 volunteers engaging with communities, sharing the gospel, and leading 185 people to make professions of faith. Additionally, Send Relief, a joint ministry between NAMB and the International Mission Board, was highlighted for its focus on providing compassion ministry rooted in the gospel, with over 162,000 people coming to Christ through their projects in 2023.
IMB President Paul Chitwood emphasized the upcoming Global Hunger Sunday and the importance of supporting the Global Hunger Relief fund to address food insecurity around the world. Chitwood underscored the urgent need to address the hunger crisis facing the world today, with funds going directly to support gospel-focused efforts to combat hunger.
The presentation also paid tribute to SBC-endorsed chaplains, recognizing their vital role in sharing the gospel in challenging environments. Chaplain Major General Doug Carver shared the impact chaplains had in 2023, with thousands of gospel conversations, professions of faith, and baptisms recorded. Major General Randy Kitchens offered a prayer for the nation and the chaplains, highlighting their essential role in serving both military and civilian communities.
Overall, NAMB’s presentation at the SBC Annual Meeting showcased the collective efforts of Southern Baptists in fulfilling the Great Commission through evangelism, church planting, chaplaincy, and compassionate ministry. The partnership between NAMB and various organizations and leaders has led to significant growth in church planting efforts and gospel impact across North America and beyond. For those interested in learning more about NAMB’s initiatives and how to get involved, visit NAMB.net for additional information.