NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bobby Welch, strategist for Global
Evangelical Relations (GER) with the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Executive
Committee (EC) since 2007, has been named associate executive director/church
growth with the Tennessee Baptist Convention (TBC) and will continue to assist
the SBC Executive Committee in Global Evangelical Relations in a reduced role.
According to the Tennessee Baptist and Reflector, Welch, as associate executive
director/church growth, will be responsible to develop, coordinate, promote and
equip Tennessee Baptist churches in a statewide strategy of church planting,
church revitalization and evangelism. The TBC Executive Board unanimously
elected Welch to the position May 10.
In a letter to EC members, Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist
Convention’s Executive Committee, said he and Welch have been in “conversation
for quite some time about this possible new arrangement.”
“Dr. Welch came to me some months ago with the possibility of joining with
another, wholly compatible ministry,” Page said, “so that he might continue the
Global Evangelical Relations ministry on a much-reduced basis and still help
Baptists in evangelistic ministry. From the moment he spoke to me, I truly
believe that this could be a win-win situation. We have not worked out all the
details and will keep you apprised as we do so.”
Page said Randy Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, “is
fully aware and supportive” of Welch’s continued work with Global Evangelical
Relations.
“He and I have been in contact and will be working together with Dr. Welch in
the arrangement of all the details and the implementation of them in such a way
that both ministries will continue to be blessed by his courageous and
effective leadership,” Page wrote. “I know that Dr. Welch would appreciate your
prayers in these coming days. Pray for those who are involved in the GER
ministry as many will continue to help build relationships across this world
with like-minded brothers in Christ.”
The position of strategist for global evangelical relations is part of the
Executive Committee’s implementation of a vote by messengers at the SBC’s 2004
annual meeting in Indianapolis to build relationships with evangelistically
oriented Baptists and likeminded evangelicals across the globe. The SBC
initiative began with a July 2005 gathering in Warsaw, Poland, in which a
contingent of nine SBC leaders met with a dozen Baptist representatives from
Poland, Germany, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Moldova to explore ways to
partner more effectively in evangelism, church planting and theological
education.
In his four years in the position, Welch has worked on behalf of Southern
Baptists to build an overseas network of relationships with likeminded
evangelicals. He has also spoken in churches, local associations and state
conventions, urging Baptists to be active in witnessing in their family, work
and neighborhood settings. In addition, he has championed biblical stewardship
and the Cooperative Program channel of Southern Baptist support for national
and international missions and ministries.
Welch said he is looking forward to the new arrangement.
“After conversations and some adjustments on behalf of Dr. Page, Dr. Davis and
me, it is clear this combination is a fit for all and a win/win for the Great
Commission and lost souls,” Welch said. “We are confident and extremely excited
about the future outcome for both TBC and GER.”
Davis told TBC board members the creation of the new position — associate
executive director/church growth — “is a major shift that will have major
implications.”
Every Tennessee state convention division involved in evangelism, whether
Sunday School, church planting or Vacation Bible School, will report to Welch,
Davis said. Davis reminded the board that while the population of Tennessee has
doubled in the last 30 years, the number of people reached with the gospel by
Tennessee Baptists has declined by 30 percent.
Roc Collins, pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church in Kingsport, Tenn.,
served as chairman of the three-member search committee that recommended Welch.
Collins said it’s important that Welch continue serving in his GER role.
“He has created many relationships around the world that we need to maintain,”
Collins said.
Davis agreed.
“Bobby has been the face of SBC global evangelical strategy. To walk away would
be damaging to those international relationships,” Davis said.
Welch, Southern Baptist Convention president from 2004-06, served as pastor of
First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla., for 32 years. As SBC president, he
led a two-year “‘Everyone Can!’ Kingdom Challenge” calling Southern Baptists to
witness to, win and baptize 1 million people in a year. While pastor at First
Baptist Church, he was the co-creator of the FAITH Sunday School-based
evangelism strategy, which came into wide use in Baptist churches across the
country.
Asked what his new responsibilities would be, Welch said, “Dr. Davis has asked
me to specifically focus upon evangelism, baptisms and discipleship.” The TBC’s
pastors and churches “have always had a clear desire for these things, but
there is now a heartfelt expression to do more … to have more baptisms
resulting from transformed, committed lives and healthy empowered churches.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Compiled by Baptist Press staff, with reporting by Lonnie
Wilkey, editor of the Baptist and Reflector.)
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