SBC Life Articles by Julie McGowan

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Massive cyclones in sub-Saharan Africa. Political and humanitarian crises in the Americas. Gangs among the Deaf. Police arrests in Southeast Asia. Slander in Central Asia. Even amid such difficulties, International Mission Board personnel are seeing God create opportunities for people to hear a clear Gospel witness, IMB President Paul Chitwood reported June 11 during the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- David and Zoey Lee know they can go as Southern Baptist missionaries today because Christian believers in the past sacrificed to get the Gospel to their homeland -- a truth they shared June 11 during a Sending Celebration to honor the appointment of 26 new Southern Baptist international missionaries. "Many missionaries came to Korea and laid down their lives for our people," said David Lee. "We would not be able to stand here without their obedience to God's call."

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- International Mission Board trustees approved the appointment of 26 new missionaries to take the Gospel to the nations during their May 22-23 meeting near Richmond, Va. Trustees also considered pivotal changes in ministry advancement and prayer strategies; welcomed a report from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Adam Greenway; heard recommendations related to IMB's handling of past allegations of child abuse and sexual harassment; and elected 2019-2020 officers.

RICHMOND, Va.(BP) -- International Mission Board trustees heard recommendations Wednesday (May 22) from the firm conducting an external examination of IMB's handling of past allegations of abuse and sexual harassment and IMB's present policies and practices. IMB President Paul Chitwood responded immediately with an apology to victims and a pledge for the future. Kathryn Nash, leader of the examination task force from Gray Plant Mooty (GPM), presented ...

WASHINGTON, D.C.(BP) -- Only days after witnessing Venezuelan refugees' plight on the Colombia border, and mere weeks after praying with refugees in Uganda, International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood traveled to Capitol Hill Thursday (May 16) to discuss the global refugee crises with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Chitwood and John Brady, IMB's vice president of Global Engagement, along with their spouses, met with Sen. McConnell, (R-Ky.) a longtime Southern Baptist elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984 from Louisville, Ky., in the Majority Leader's office in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- The International Mission Board's website -- IMB.org -- has launched a new home page and renovation of other online pages to make it easier for Southern Baptists to partner with the IMB in global mission praying, giving, going and sending. "Our very task as Southern Baptists' International Mission Board depends on a cooperative effort to strategically pray, give, go and send on mission," IMB President Paul Chitwood said of the mission board's improved online presence.

RICHMOND, Va.(BP)-- International Mission Board trustees unanimously elected Todd Lafferty as the 173-year-old entity's executive vice president during their Feb. 6-7 meeting in Richmond, Va. Trustees also appointed 19 new missionaries for service around the globe; affirmed Roger Alford as vice president of communication, and recognized 48 emeriti in memoriam. Lafferty, 59, most recently has served as pastor of mobilization for Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. He and his wife Susan previously served with the IMB for nearly 29 years. See related Baptist Press story.

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood announced Jan. 30 that Todd Lafferty will be presented to the entity's board of trustees as his recommendation for the IMB's next executive vice president. IMB trustees, who meet Feb. 6-7 in Richmond, Va., are responsible for electing the person who serves in the EVP role. Todd Lafferty currently serves as pastor of mobilization for Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. He and his wife Susan previously served with the IMB for nearly 29 years. "Seeking input from our IMB personnel on the field and in Richmond, and hearing from several board members and Southern Baptist Convention leaders, I was pointed again and again to Todd Lafferty, a man I've known for over 15 years," Chitwood said. "Todd's education and diverse background as an IMB missionary and staff member, along with his pastoral experiences in the local church in the U.S. and overseas, have uniquely prepared him for this significant leadership role."

RICHMOND, Va.(BP) -- The International Mission Board will install Paul Chitwood formally as its 13th president on Feb. 6 at Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. The public is invited to attend the installation service, which will include a Sending Celebration honoring the appointment of 19 new Southern Baptist international missionaries. The IMB's board of trustees unanimously elected Chitwood, 48, as president of the organization on Nov. 15 in Richmond. Chitwood, who previously served as executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, took office immediately as president of the 173-year-old entity, the largest denominational missionary-sending body among American evangelicals. More than 3,600 Southern Baptist international missionaries serve worldwide.

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- For the International Mission Board, 2018 proved to be a year of transitions -- both beginnings and endings. They elected a new president in November. And Southern Baptists continued pushing forward in sharing the Gospel with the vision of a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ. New president IMB trustees announced the election of their new president, Paul Chitwood, on November 15.