ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Larry Wynn, who has served as vice president of evangelism at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) since early 2011, announced Tuesday (Sept. 11) he is leaving NAMB to become vice president of revitalization for the Georgia Baptist Convention (GBC).
“I whole-heartedly believe in the direction in which NAMB is headed under [NAMB president] Kevin [Ezell’s] leadership,” Wynn told NAMB trustees in a letter. “At the same time, I believe God is calling me to serve at this pivotal time in the life of the Georgia Baptist Convention.”
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Larry Wynn |
Wynn made the news public at a meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention’s executive committee Tuesday morning. Wynn’s joining the Georgia convention is part of a larger reorganization of the convention – its most far-reaching structure change since 1997 – which was also rolled out during the meeting. The GBC will align itself around its 5 Smooth Stones strategy which was approved by messengers at its November annual meeting. The reorganization is effective immediately, said convention Executive Director J. Robert White.
“Larry Wynn is one of the finest men and pastors I have ever known,” Ezell said. “We will miss his leadership at NAMB, but more than that will miss the day-to-day fellowship and friendship. I completely understand Larry desiring to connect with churches in Georgia. It’s much easier to put a name on 4,000 churches than 50,000.”
Wynn has spent all of his ministry years in Georgia, having pastored Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, Ga., for 32 years before taking the position at NAMB in early 2011. During that time, Wynn served in a number of leadership roles in Georgia Baptist life and in the broader Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). He is a past first vice president of the SBC and has twice served as president of the Georgia convention. More recently, he chaired a task force that studied the Georgia convention’s structural alignment and helped fashion its new “Five Smooth Stones” vision.
Wynn said he leaves NAMB in support of the direction in which Ezell is leading.
“I have thought for years that this is exactly the way NAMB should be going,” Wynn said. “I have personally seen Kevin’s genuine passion for impacting lostness in North America, and I have no doubt we are on the right track to do just that.”
Church revitalization, Wynn says, is key to the success of NAMB’s goal to see more church planting within the Southern Baptist Convention.
“I told Kevin that I plan to continue to be a champion for NAMB and the goals of church planting and evangelism throughout North America. I believe church revitalization will play a key role in that effort as we see the Holy Spirit re-focus and re-invigorate congregations that have become spiritually flat.”
The GBC’s “Five Smooth Stones” realignment is focused on Spiritual Awakening, Evangelism, Church Planting, stewardship and church revitalization. Wynn will begin his new role with the GBC October 1.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Compiled by staff of the North American Mission Board.)