PHOENIX — David Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Mission Network (AZMN) of Southern Baptists since 2013, announced his intention to retire at the convention council meeting on March 4 in Phoenix. He said he intends to continue in his present position until the election of his successor.

“I want to express my gratitude to Arizona Southern Baptists for the trust they placed in me 12 years ago, for all their support and prayers during these years, and for the grace and love they have shown me and my family over these years,” Johnson said. “It has truly been a privilege to serve our churches and the people across our state.”

Chad Garrison, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lake Havasu City, spoke of Johnson’s character and leadership.

“David Johnson has been a blessing for Arizona Southern Baptists,” said Garrison, convention president and search committee chairman when Johnson was elected as executive director. “He has led with integrity, compassion, vision and excellence, promoting unity and mission throughout our state. We are better because of David’s leadership.”

Mark Mucklow, AZMN president and senior pastor of First Southern Baptist Church at Sahuaro Ranch in Glendale, noted Johnson’s years of service in Arizona.

“There is no way I, or anyone else, could possibly calculate what Dr. David Johnson’s contribution to Arizona Southern Baptists has been for the past 35 years,” he said.

He recalled Johnson’s history with Arizona Southern Baptists, first as pastor of 22nd Street Baptist Church in Tucson, then as pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Phoenix, followed by 10 years as director of the Arizona Campus of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (now Gateway Seminary) before becoming executive director of the AZMN.

“Arizona and Arizona Southern Baptists have been treated to a treasure and gift of God,” Mucklow said. “It is my opinion the character of this one man has meant more to Arizona Southern Baptists than all of his invaluable ministry years.”

Reflecting on his work as executive director, Johnson said, “My passion has been to cast vision for our network of churches to work together to make disciples of all peoples in Arizona and around the world through our collective mission efforts and giving to the Cooperative Program.

“It has been my joy to see the giving of our churches grow, which has allowed us to give more than ever to national and international missions through the (Southern Baptist Convention) SBC. We have also seen many churches planted in these years, but the time has come for someone else to bring new leadership and direction to our network of churches.”

Under the process outlined in Arizona Southern Baptists’ constitution, the state convention president is responsible for naming an executive director search committee. The committee is to be composed of four Convention Council members, three other Arizona Southern Baptists and the convention president, who will serve as chairman.

According to the constitution, the person recommended by the committee must “be elected by a two-thirds favorable vote of the Convention Council and approved by a two-thirds favorable vote of the messengers in annual or special session.”

“I have great confidence that our convention president will lead us capably and well through this process,” Johnson said.

Following Johnson’s retirement announcement at the convention council meeting, AZMN President Mark Mucklow named the search committee.

The four council members are Lauren Belcher, a member of Challenge Church, Flagstaff; Simone Lake, a member of Church on Randall Place, Pine; Whitney Walters, senior pastor of Willow Hills Baptist Church, Prescott; and Stephen Yee, English pastor of Northwest Chinese Baptist Church, Phoenix. The other search committee members are Fernando Amaro, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Resurrección, Scottsdale; Chad Garrison, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Lake Havasu City; and Roland Pierce, pastor of Broadway Missionary Baptist Church, Phoenix; and Mucklow.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Elizabeth Young is director of communications for the Arizona Mission Network.)