FORT COLLINS, Colo. (BP) – Former Colorado pastor Mike Proud was named to be next executive director of the Colorado Baptist Convention at that state’s annual meeting Oct. 11-12 in Fort Collins.
Proud, officially announced to the role on Monday (Oct. 11), has been in his current position as director of missions for the Orange County Southern Baptist Association in southern California since August 2011. His first day as Colorado Baptists’ executive director will be Dec. 1.
Proud grew up in the Denver suburb of Lafayette, where he was saved at Mountain View Southern Baptist Church. Prior to his service in Orange County, he was a pastor to Southern Baptist churches in Missouri, Colorado and California, in addition to serving as director of discipleship at the Mile High Baptist Association from 1999-2003.
On Oct. 11, Proud took part in a question-and-answer session with annual meeting attendees prior to delivering that evening’s message. During the Q&A, he commented on his goals, highlighted by encouraging a strong sense of partnership and fellowship among Colorado Baptists.
“Strategy is the key,” he said, adding that through his role in Orange County, he witnessed those from various cultures rally under the vision of a singular mission.
“People began to partner together,” he said. “We put in place several different ministry approaches that brought pastors together on several projects. They found that as they walked together, prayed together and met with one another that their relationships as pastors have been [strengthened]. It has created a cooperative spirit among their churches.”
Later in a conversation with Baptist Press, Proud reiterated that hope. “I’m excited to be about helping Colorado Baptists for kingdom causes,” he said.
Proud earned a Bachelor of Arts in Christian leadership from Colorado Christian University in 1991 and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Sally, a Boulder native, have four grown children and two grandsons.
