[1]CASPER, Wyo. (BP)–Randy Sprinkle began work June 1 as the new executive director of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention.
Sprinkle had been the director of the International Prayer Strategy Office at the International Mission Board in Richmond, Va., since 1994.
He succeeds interim director John Herrington and former director John Thomason, who retired Dec. 31, 2001, after 19 years in the position.
Sprinkle, 53, was elected unanimously by the Wyoming convention’s executive board April 11.
Before his work as the IMB’s chief prayer strategist, Sprinkle was appointed as a missionary to Ethiopia in 1975, where he served in rural evangelism and community development. He was assigned to Botswana in 1980, where he worked as a mission pilot and church developer. He initiated Baptist mission work in Lesotho in 1986, serving as mission administrator and church developer. He also designed and implemented the IMB’s first state/mission prayer partnership, the Missouri/Lesotho Prayer Partnership.
Sprinkle is author of the book “Until the Stars Appear: From the Hills of Middle America, the Enduring Power of Prayer Moves Mountains in Southern Africa,” published in 1994.
[2]A native of Jefferson City, Mo., Sprinkle earned the bachelor of science degree from Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield and the master of divinity, master of arts in missiology and doctor of ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
He and his wife, Nancy, have two sons, Matthew and Stephen.
Herrington told Baptist Press that Wyoming Baptists are enthusiastic about having Sprinkle as their new executive director.
“I’ve been here 38 years, and I’ve never seen people so excited,” said Herrington, who served as the convention’s evangelism and missions director before retiring and taking the position as interim executive director.
During recent years, Sprinkle has acted as a liaison between the IMB and Wyoming Baptists, Herrington said.
“He is well-known in our state, having led prayerwalking in our state and promoted it at our meetings,” Herrington said.
Sprinkle’s interest in Wyoming, Herrington said, was kindled back in his college days when he contemplated pursuing a degree in archaeology at the University of Wyoming. He ultimately chose another path but always had an affinity for the state and for the outdoors.
The executive board was 100 percent present at the meeting when Sprinkle was unanimously elected, Herrington said. They had been searching for quite some time, and Sprinkle’s name kept coming up until it was clear he was the man for the job.
“We feel that he has the vision for growth and the ability to share that vision in a way that others will catch it,” Herrington said. “We feel Wyoming has a very bright future.”
Herrington said the major focus of Sprinkle’s first months with the convention will be evangelism and church planting and development.
–30–
(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: RANDY SPRINKLE.