Amy Whitfield

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) -- Meredith Cook has been named chair of the 2020 Southern Baptist Convention Committee on Committees, SBC President J.D. Greear announced today (March 11). Greear also announced his appointment of Marty Jacumin, pastor of Bay Leaf Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., as vice chair.

RALEIGH, N.C. (BP) -- On Dec. 18, Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board (IMB), visited the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area to meet with leaders from five area churches that also happen to be among the top 10 missionary-sending churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. JD Greear, SBC president and pastor of the Summit Church, hosted the meeting at the Capital Hills campus of the Summit Church in Raleigh.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Willie McLaurin has been named vice president for Great Commission relations and mobilization at the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee -- a new position created to maximize resources and Gospel impact at the EC. "Willie McLaurin is a highly relational, disciplined, gifted and growing leader," said Ronnie Floyd, EC president and CEO. "At 46 years of age, he is a powerful preacher that inspires people to follow Christ passionately. Willie loves people, and it is more than evident when you are around him.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Peter Yanes has been named executive director of Asian American relations and mobilization at the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. The new role is a partnership, jointly funded by the EC and the North American Mission Board with the primary focus of bringing more Asian American churches into the Southern Baptist family. "Peter Yanes comes highly recommended from across Southern Baptist life," said Ronnie Floyd, EC president and CEO. "He has a strong knowledge of who we are as Southern Baptists, has been engaged with us for years in serving and leading, and has a great passion for God to use him to fulfill our vision of relating to and mobilizing Asian American churches to reach the world for Christ."

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (BP) -- The 71st annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society focused on the theme "Christ in All Scripture" and gave an opportunity for scholars to engage the whole Bible and its witness to Jesus as the heart of scriptural revelation and the Christian faith. According to a count by Baptist Press, 193 of the presentations were given by Southern Baptist scholars. Among those in ETS leadership, R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, served as vice president. Gregg Allison, also of SBTS, served as secretary.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Julio Arriola has been named executive director of Hispanic relations and mobilization at the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. The new role is a partnership, jointly funded by the EC and the North American Mission Board with a primary focus to bring more Hispanic churches into the Southern Baptist family.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee president and CEO Ronnie Floyd announced Friday (Nov. 1) the addition of three full-time EC staff positions focusing on increasing diverse engagement and mobilization. Building on the foundation laid by retiring vice president for Convention advancement Ken Weathersby, these positions will focus on relations and mobilization for African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. The EC is already actively searching for the right leaders to fill the positions.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)--Eight teens have been selected as 2007 National Acteens Panelists by Woman’s Missionary Union based on their missions commitment and involvement in their school, community and church.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)--A small tent church where 50 adults cared for 25 AIDS orphans in South Africa helped spark his wakeup call to the HIV/AIDS crisis, Rick Warren says in the spring edition of Missions Leader, published by Woman’s Missionary Union.

RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP)--When lives get turned upside down by tragedy, missionaries at the Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans have seen that God has a way of opening new doors.