E. B. Brooks retiring as BGCT missions coordinator

Posted: 10/19/05

E. B. Brooks retiring as
BGCT missions coordinator

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS—E.B. Brooks, who led the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ church missions and evangelism efforts, has retired after 27 years of ministry with the state convention.

Brooks, a Tyler native, joined the BGCT staff in 1979 as a consultant in Christian social missions and interfaith witness. Later, he became director of the convention’s church-starting effort and eventually was named coordinator of BGCT missions and evangelism ministries.

Under his direction, BGCT staff members worked with Texas congregations in church-starting efforts above and beyond other Baptist church-starting ventures, BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade said.

Since 1988, when he assumed BGCT church-starting leadership, the convention helped start nearly 3,400 congregations.

“E.B. Brooks’ retirement from the BGCT puts an exclamation mark on a life of mission achievement,” Wade said. “E.B. led Texas Baptists in one of the most successful church planting efforts in the history of any denomination. He will continue to be an effective missions advocate and strategist, and there will be many opportunities for continued partnership and involvement.”

Brooks’ insight added to the life of each person he met, Wade observed.

“I have been encouraged and challenged by the breadth of his vision and the depth of his passion for fulfilling the Great Commission,” he said.

Ron Gunter, BGCT chief operating officer/associate executive director, echoed Wade’s sentiments. Brooks diversified the convention’s church starting efforts to help reach an increasingly diverse state, he noted.

“E.B. has been a faithful servant for some 27 years with the convention,” Gunter said. “He has been an inspiration to everyone in his desire to plant churches across this state. E.B. has always been a visionary.”

Two years ago, Brooks was instrumental in launching City Core Initiative, a BGCT-supported effort to transform city centers with the gospel.

As his last official duty as part of the BGCT executive board staff, Brooks led the convention’s recent disaster response efforts in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Brooks said he enjoyed putting together a team of experts that helped Texas Baptists accomplish their mission of serving God.

“The BGCT is 5,700 churches working together with the world on their heart and willing to invest themselves in following the commands of Christ in that world,” he said.

“It’s church members committing themselves and their church to cooperation with other churches and other Christians in helping the hurting, strengthening churches, evangelizing the lost.”