Looking back on 2015, the North American Mission Board released a list of the year’s highlights – spotlighting churches and individuals whose sacrificial giving and “life on mission” actions are changing lives and impacting North America with the gospel.
The following list for 2015 includes a brief description with each headline.
Send North American Conference
More than 13,500 people gathered for the Send North America Conference in Nashville. NAMB and the International Mission Board called on churches and Christians to live life on mission every day, wherever God has placed them.
Photo by John Swain More than 13,500 people attended the Send North America Conference in Nashville. The August event was one of NAMB’s 2015 highlights. |
NAMB announces formation of “Send Relief”
NAMB president Kevin Ezell introduced a new ministry area – Send Relief – for trustees at their October gathering in Salt Lake City. Trustees approved the ministry and a vice president, David Melber, to lead it. Ezell said NAMB will officially launch Send Relief at the June 2016 Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis.
Ezell outlines “NAMB Phase II”
At the entity’s June trustee meeting, NAMB president Kevin Ezell outlined a vision for stepped up focus and quality related to NAMB church planting recruitment, assessments, training and coaching, as well as a more streamlined structure for how NAMB’s ministers are organized.
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NAMB church planters join healing effort in Baltimore
After Baltimore erupted in violence when 25-year-old African American Freddie Gray died of injuries sustained while in police custody, local NAMB church planters were among the first to step forward with efforts to help the city heal.
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Historic flooding in Houston, South Carolina among Southern Baptist Disaster Relief responses
Hundreds of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers responded with hot meals, warm showers, reconstruction and the love of Christ when residents of Houston and South Carolina were devastated by record flooding in 2015. The responses were among several Southern Baptists undertook in multiple states.
NAMB releases Spanish version of 3 Circles resources
Less than a year after its English language release, NAMB published a Spanish version of the 3 Circles Life Conversation Guide and related materials. The resources are designed to help believers turn everyday conversations into conversations about the Gospel.
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Platt, Ezell explore “What if?” at Send North America luncheon
IMB president David Platt and NAMB president Kevin Ezell hosted a special luncheon for more than 2,600 pastors and other attendees at the 2015 SBC Pastors Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Ezell and Platt cast a vision for a new level of partnership between their entities with the goal of helping pastors encourage church members toward life on mission for Christ.
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10 years past Hurricane Katrina Baptist Relief leaders look back
At the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, leaders looked back on how Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts impacted New Orleans residents and changed how Southern Baptists carry out relief initiatives today.
Luter, Pitman help NAMB call churches to spiritual needs of North America
To aid in the effort to keep Southern Baptists focused on the great spiritual needs of North America, NAMB named Fred Luter and Vance Pitman as special ambassadors who will speak and lift up the need for every church and every individual to live life on mission.
Engage 24 becomes evangelistic rallying cry for churches
What started as a student movement has now spilled over into a church-wide effort to make “Engage 24” a one-day evangelism emphasis designed to help believers realize that faith-sharing can become an everyday way of life.
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(EDITOR’S NOTE – This story was submitted by the North American Mission Board.)