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SBC DIGEST: New online tool from IMB; Fort Knox chaplain is SBTS alum

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IMB offers new online tool: Knowing the IMB

By Mary Jane Welch/IMB

The International Mission Board has introduced a new interactive tool, Knowing the IMB, that enables Southern Baptists, in less than an hour, to discover what’s unique about the IMB and what churches can accomplish together.

[2]“We’re grateful to be in partnership with you as we seek to come alongside you and serve local churches in fulfilling the mission that God has given to the church of seeing that vast multitude from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages gathered around the throne,” said IMB President Paul Chitwood. “We hope that this course will be a great benefit to you as together we serve the local church in fulfilling the Great Commission.”

Terry Sharp, who manages IMB’s convention and network relations, said all Southern Baptists are welcome to use the free resource at imb.org/training [3]. But SBC associational mission strategists, state convention staff, pastors, church planters and mission leaders may find it especially helpful.

Users will see an organizational structure that can assist church leaders in the mission and find ways the IMB and churches can partner to engage in the missionary task in a multitude of ways all over the world.

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The resource uses interactive tools, videos and infographics that can easily be broken into smaller modules.

One especially appealing feature for leaders, Sharp said, is the ability to set up a group that can interact and work through the material together. An associational missions strategist, for instance, might use a module in meetings with church leaders who wish to learn ways to work with IMB.

The tool enables the user to start a discussion, ask questions and get technical help at any point. It also links users who wish to dig deeper to additional resources.


New Fort Knox chaplain is SBTS alum

From Kentucky Today

FORT KNOX, Ky. (KT) – Col. Charles Hamlin describes himself as a man who cares deeply about soldiers. Hamlin, with nearly 40 years of experience in ministering to service members, took over the position from Chaplain (Col.) James Boulware Jan. 21.

[5]“My big thing here is to minister to the spiritual needs of our soldiers and family members, and (Department of Army) civilians,” Hamlin said. “There’s always a need for religious and spiritual growth.”

Hamlin arrived at Fort Knox about three months ago from an 18-month assignment at Fort Rucker, Ala., where he served as the senior command chaplain at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence.

Prior to that, he served as deputy command chaplain at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. He also served as the deputy command chaplain in the Military District of Washington at Fort Lesley J. McNair.

Hamlin said his desire to serve at Fort Knox is personal.

“I requested Fort Knox,” he said. “I had been assigned here active duty from ’99 to 2002. We had a lot of green suiters then, and I wanted to come back. This area of Kentucky is home.”

He and his wife have three children and seven grandchildren, all of who live in Kentucky.

“We’ve been away from here, away from them, for many years and wanted to get back and be here around them, especially not having been around our family close by,” Hamlin said. “I also went to college in Campbellsville, Ky., and then I graduated twice from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.”

Hamlin’s path into the military began in the U.S. Navy where he enlisted in 1981. After meeting his obligation, he joined the Navy Reserve while attending college. After graduating seminary, he switched over to the Army Reserve in 1994, swearing in at Fort Knox.

Read the full story here [6].