THOMASVILLE, N.C. — After a yearlong search, the Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) of North Carolina has a new leader for the first time in 40 years.

David Melber, a veteran executive leader in Southern Baptist life, was named BCH’s next CEO following a unanimous vote by the organization’s board of trustees during a special meeting held Friday, Oct. 11. BCH officials formally announced Melber’s appointment in a news release today (Saturday, Oct. 12).

Melber currently serves as chief operating officer/chief financial officer with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, a position he’s held since July 2020. In his current role, Melber is responsible for all of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s operations, including financial services, information technology, human resources, marketing, events and more.

Previously, Melber served as a senior vice president with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) from October 2015 to December 2019. During his tenure at NAMB, Melber developed what would become known as Send Relief, an evangelisitc compassion ministry. Send Relief was officially launched in 2016 with Melber serving as its president. In 2020, NAMB joined forces with the International Mission Board (IMB) to extend Send Relief’s reach internationally.

In a statement included in BCH’s news release, Melber said it was “humbling” to be selected as the ministry’s next CEO.

“Coming into this role at Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina is both sobering and uniquely humbling,” Melber said. “God has been preparing me for this opportunity since a visit in 2003 to an orphanage in Moldova where He opened my eyes to the plight of those in great need — particularly children — who have no voice.

“This is an opportunity to serve, to share the incredible needs, to build relationships and see the body of Christ mobilized so that lives are changed for all eternity.”

Melber is BCH’s ninth leader since the organization was founded in 1885 and its first new CEO in four decades. His predecessor, Michael C. Blackwell, began leading BCH’s ministry in July 1983 and retired in September 2023 following a nearly four-month voluntary leave of absence that began in May 2023 and coincided with an independent review of the organization’s finances. The review revealed “multiple instances” of misuse of funds “directly conflicting with both BCH policies and Blackwell’s fiduciary duties.” Blackwell has denied intentionally misusing BCH funds.

In October 2023, the BCH board of trustees appointed a seven-member Search and Transition Committee to find the organization’s next executive leader. David Powell, BCH board member and senior pastor of Lovedale Baptist Church in Sylva, served as the chairman of the search team that recommended Melber to become Baptist Children’s Homes’ next CEO. In a statement following Melber’s approval by the board of trustees, Powell thanked members of the search team and said he was “excited for the future of BCH” under Melber’s leadership.

“I am confident that David Melber will be the person to seize the opportunities that God sets before us with the help of dedicated staff and ministry partners,” Powell said. “His executive skills and extensive experience make him the ideal leader to shepherd BCH into the future. What truly sets him apart, however, is how he consistently reflects his genuine love for the Lord in both his professional and personal life.”

Powell and the search team emphasized and encouraged prayer throughout the process, and both he and current BCH board Chairman Ronnie Holman said they saw those prayers answered.

“Through God’s faithfulness and the prayers of those who love this ministry, the Lord has brought David Melber and BCH together,” said Holman, who is a member of Baton Baptist Church in Hudson, N.C. “On behalf of the board, we are grateful that David has accepted this calling, and we are looking, with expectation, at what God is going to do through his leadership.”

The BCH search team utilized the services of Vanderbloemen Search Group, a firm based in Houston, Texas, that specializes in finding executive leaders for churches, ministries, nonprofits and faith-based organizations. During the search process, Powell said the search team interviewed “multiple well-qualified candidates” for the role.

Some of Melber’s former colleagues who lead Southern Baptist Convention entities applauded the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina’s selection of Melber to lead the organization.  

“David Melber is a visionary leader — professional and highly relational — who knows how to cast a vision and mobilize others to get it done,” said NAMB President Kevin Ezell, who oversaw Melber’s work there. “He has spent many years in nonprofit ministry and knows how to navigate that lane very well.”

IMB President Paul Chitwood also praised BCH’s pick of Melber. Prior to becoming IMB president in 2018, Chitwood served as executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention while Melber served as president and CEO of Crossings Ministries, a Christian camp ministry based in Louisville, Ky. Melber also has leadership experience with other Christian camps, conference centers and church outreach centers in Kentucky.

“David has a deep and sincere faith,” Chitwood said. “I’ve had the privilege to serve with him in overseas mission work, local church ministry, relief work and camp ministry. He is a passionate, highly intelligent, intentional leader with strong skills and a unique combination of experiences. David is a high achiever who leads organizations to success.”

Melber will remain with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board until the end of the year and begin his tenure with the Baptist Children’s Homes on Jan. 2, 2025. Along with their unanimous vote, BCH trustees also granted Melber the interim title of CEO-elect until his official start date.

Melber will attend this year’s Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s annual meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 4-5 at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, N.C.

“It’s a great day to be an NC Baptist, and a new era of ministry for the Baptist Children’s Homes,” said Todd Unzicker, executive director-treasurer for N.C. Baptists. “God has uniquely prepared David Melber with leadership experience and a heart for ministry to the most vulnerable. The future is bright for our movement of churches on mission together.”

During the annual meeting, Melber will be introduced to messengers from the stage on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at approximately 10:20 a.m. Melber will also participate in two meet-and-greet events at the BCH display booth in the Imperial Ballroom exhibit hall to give annual meeting attendees an opportunity to meet him. Those times will be Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7:30-8:15 a.m. and from noon to 1:30 p.m. 

“We look forward to our NC Baptist friends not only meeting David the person but seeing the heart behind the man,” said Brenda Gray, BCH executive vice president of development and communications, who has been sharing executive leadership responsibilities with BCH COO Keith Henry on an interim basis. “I am passionate about raising support for the BCH ministry because I am passionate for every child and every person we serve to experience the unconditional love of Christ. I can say, with confidence and excitement, that this is also David’s heart.”

Henry agreed.

“It’s been a tremendous privilege serving with Brenda to oversee the ministry while God guided the committee’s search,” Henry said. “I echo her sentiments about David and his strength of character. Physically and spiritually, the children, families and individuals we serve will greatly benefit from David’s leadership.”

Melber is a native of Paducah, Ky. He earned a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering from Murray State University in 1989 and worked in business before surrendering to a call to ministry. Melber went on to earn a master of divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 2001.

Melber has been married to his wife, Tera, for 33 years. The couple has six grown children, three biological children and three children from international adoptions.

Tera Melber is a trauma care specialist and serves as the founder and executive director of Resound Trauma Education, which provides gospel-centered, trauma-informed education and resources. She’s also served as a foster care mobilizer with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, co-hosted a podcast on adoption and fostering through Send Relief from 2017-2020, and directed an adoption and orphan care ministry through her local church for several years.

“Tera and I have always prayed that God would open up a role with an organization like BCH,” Melber said. “Looking back at the journey with Send Relief, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, and the adoption of our three international children, it’s amazing to see how the Lord has worked through all of our circumstances to bring us to this point. I cannot think of anything greater to give my life to.”

The couple plans to move to Thomasville, N.C., as Melber’s office will be located at the Mills Home campus, BCH’s inaugural location that also serves as the nonprofit’s administrative headquarters. Melber and his wife desire to live on campus so they can best get to know the staff, the children and individuals who BCH serves, and the 139-year-old ministry itself.

Since its founding in 1885, the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina has grown from a single location in Thomasville, N.C., to more than 30 locations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Guatemala. The nonprofit ministry has expanded its services over the years to serve children, families, single mothers, college students, intellectually and developmentally disabled adults, and aging adults.

BCH is a separate but related entity of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and receives a portion of its funding each year through the Cooperative Program. BCH also receives funding through charitable contributions from churches and donors. 

“One of the biggest priorities for me is demonstrating — especially over time — my love of the Lord and love for my neighbor,” Melber said. “My neighbor includes the staff, who are our most valuable resource, but also includes the broader BCH family of NC Baptists, supporters and ministry partners. At the end of it all, this is not about me or my name. It is about Jesus working through His people to accomplish what only He can accomplish.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Information from the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina was included in this report.)