SIOUX FALLS, S.D.
— Members of the Dakota Baptist Convention’s (DBC) Executive Board discussed in
a June 7 conference call Executive Director Jim Hamilton’s June 3 notice of
resignation and made plans for a transition in leadership.
After his last day of work June 17, Hamilton said he will give full attention
to a national network he has launched to strengthen and start churches and to
pastoring Journey Church, which he planted 18 months ago in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Garvon Goldon, associate executive director of the Dakota convention, has been
named interim executive director “to lead our convention in navigating these
changes,” according to an Executive Board news release. Golden also is the DBC’s
southwest regional missionary and Sharing Christ strategist.
“Dr. Hamilton has served our Convention as Executive Director for eight years,
and we appreciate his service,” Executive Board chairman Paul Young wrote in
the letter sent June 8 to the 94 churches that comprise the Dakota convention.
Young is pastor of Dakota Baptist
Church in Fort
Totten, N.D.
The impact of Hamilton’s influence on ministry in the Dakotas includes an
increase in Cooperative Program receipts six of the last seven years, and they
are on track for a year-to-date increase, DBC records show.
The 2010-11 budget calls for $265,000 to be given through the Cooperative
Program, “and we’re meeting that,” Hamilton
said. “Baptisms have been up; ACP (Dakota
Annual Church Profile) stats have been up in several categories. I think God
has done some good things in our churches and our people during the last years.
“Looking back, I think we can say we’ve seen God do something significant in
the Dakotas during the eight years I’ve been executive
director,” Hamilton continued
before explaining the reason for his resignation. “I came to the place of
recognizing that I needed to choose between my exec role and this new
direction. I’m not sure what that means yet, but I know it means shifting to
consulting and coaching roles as well as getting back to the local church as a
pastor.”
Journey Church,
started by Hamilton in late 2009 as
“a downtown church for the city,” meets in Sioux City’s
Gourley Building.
About 70 people now participate in Sunday morning worship.
Journey Church
is the third church Hamilton has
helped plant during his eight years in the Dakotas.
“For the last 20 years I’ve had a passion for planting churches,” Hamilton
said. “I think new churches reach people who are aren’t attending an
established church. Church planting equals reaching people.”
In its press release, the Executive Board requested prayer for Hamilton
and his family, for DBC staff and “for our Convention as God leads us into His
plan for our future.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Willoughby is managing editor of the Dakota Baptist
Connections, Louisiana Baptist Message and The Montana Baptist newsjournals.)