“Know that this church loves you, prays for you and encourages you,” said FBC Rome pastor Joel Snider, who delivered the charge to Nash. “And know that when you strengthen the local church, you strengthen missions. The church is the place where missions finds its energy.”
Nash, who has been a member of FBC Rome for 12 years, officially became coordinator on Aug. 1. He previously held the position of dean of the school of religion and international studies at Shorter College in Rome.
“Now, in 2006, we stand on the edge of the great missionary age of the church,” said Nash in his response. “I'm convinced this will be remembered as the age the local church took seriously its missional calling. And I have to look no further than this church to know that this is true.”
Nash spoke about the need to support full-time CBF Global Missions field personnel and the need to connect local churches with the work of those field personnel.
CBF coordinator Daniel Vestal offered the commissioning prayer, as Nash and his wife, Guyeth, sat at the front of the sanctuary, and the deacons and staff of FBC Rome gathered around him.
Nash, 47, lived 13 years in the Philippines where his parents served as Baptist missionaries. He has also studied in or made extended visits to more than 30 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America. Nash earned a master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1984 and a Ph.D. in 1989.