RAPID CITY, S.D. (BP) — Fred MacDonald, executive director-treasurer of the Dakota Baptist Convention (DBC), has announced his intention to retire in the fall of next year.

MacDonald, who has held the position since February 2020, informed the state convention’s executive board earlier this week before sending a letter to Dakota Baptist pastors.

“Serving with you for the past several years has been one of the greatest experiences of my years of ministry,” the letter said. “I am grateful to each of you for the confidence you have placed in me and for the partnership that we have enjoyed in reaching North and South Dakota for Jesus.”

During his tenure, MacDonald has kept a focus on evangelism and has established Church Relations Missionaries in an effort to combat the isolation many pastors feel in the sparsely populated Dakotas. He also continued biannual mission trips to Pretoria, South Africa — a tradition he began before taking the executive director role.

MacDonald plans to continue serving in the role until October 2026.

“I recognize that this date is more than a year into the future,” he said in his letter. “Starting this process now will enable us to complete several things as well as prepare for the 2026 annual meeting in Fargo. This will allow for a smooth transition and a solid foundation for the DBC’s future.”

MacDonald earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., a master of divinity degree from Criswell College and a doctor of ministry degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.

He served as a pastor in New Mexico and South Dakota as well as in several denominational roles, including associational mission strategist for the Pecos Valley (N.M.) Baptist Association, North American Mission Board-appointed missionary to South Dakota, and later, South Dakota state evangelism director.

He has been heavily involved in evangelistic outreach during the massive Sturgis motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D.

While he’s leaving the state convention’s lead role, he and his wife Denise do not intend to leave the Dakotas.

“I look forward to being available to the churches of the DBC for preaching, training, and encouragement as well as writing and, of course, continuing the work that we have been doing in Africa over the past nine years,” his letter said. “We are Dakotans and we are excited to discover how God is going to use us to help take the name of Jesus across the Dakotas.” 

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Laura Erlanson is managing editor of Baptist Press.)