VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (ABP) — Reid Trulson has been nominated to become the next executive director of American Baptist International Ministries, the denomination's global missions and ministry arm.
Trulson's nomination will go to the ABC general board and international ministries board for election Nov. 15.
Ray Schooler, president of the board of international ministries, said he felt good about the committee's search process and nomination.
“The search committee members really gave themselves to this effort,” he said. “We had a very solid process and a great outcome.”
If elected, Trulson will replace Charles Jones, the acting executive director, who will move to another position within the organization.
Trulson has served more than 20 years in local church ministry and 11 years in international missions — five years as a missionary in Europe and six years as a member of the stateside staff. He served two terms as president of the board of international missions.
While a student at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., Trulson spent a year with Scripture Union in Ghana, West Africa. Scripture Union is a non-denominational charity, publisher and mission organization.
Upon returning to seminary, Trulson got involved with Friendship Baptist Church, the oldest African-American Baptist church in Pasadena, Calif. Trulson was ordained as a minister at Friendship and served there as minister of Christian education.
That ability to serve in varied congregations and locales helped separate Trulson from other candidates, board members said.
“Trulson's passion for cross-cultural ministry positions him to make a significant contribution to the internationally diverse mission of the ABCUSA,” said James Stinespring, vice president of the mission board.
The international ministry arm of the American Baptist Convention was established in 1814 and relates to more than 500 educational institutions and 125 hospitals and medical facilities worldwide.
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