Baptist Briefs: IMB president presents strategy

David Platt, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board, outlined his strategic plan during his first trustee meeting as head of the mission agency. Platt presented what he considers five biblical goals—exalt Christ, mobilize Christians, equip the church, facilitate church starting and help fulfill the Great Commission. Those goals led Platt to suggest four practical steps—shape culture, streamline strategy, simplify structure and solidify leadership at the IMB. At Platt’s recommendation, trustees approved Sebastian Traeger, an entrepreneur based in Washington, D.C., as the agency’s executive vice president, and Zane Pratt, a 21-year IMB veteran who most recently served as theological education strategist for Asia, as vice president for global training.

Louisiana Baptist editor named UMHB development director. Kelly Boggs, editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message, accepted a position as development director at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Kelly BoggsBoggs has been editor of the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s news journal since January 2006. He also served as director of the office of public affairs for the Louisiana convention the past two years. For 14 years, he also wrote a weekly column for Baptist Press, the Southern Baptist Convention’s news service. Boggs served previously as pastor of churches in Leander, Copperas Cove and Burnet, as well as in McMinnville, Ore. He is a 1985 graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and a native of Georgetown.

BWA seeks nominations for human rights award. The Baptist World Alliance is accepting nominations for the Congress Quinquennial Human Rights Award, to be presented during the 21st Baptist World Congress in Durban, South Africa, in July 2015. Deadline for submission is Jan.16, 2015. The BWA presents this lifetime achievement award to an individual who has shown significant accomplishments in global advocacy for human rights and the pursuit of social justice and peace within the local, national or wider global community. The nomination form and its instructions are available on the BWA website at www.bwanet.org. Past winners include former President Jimmy Carter, former BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz, Lauran Bethell of American Baptist Churches USA for her work with exploited women and children in Thailand, and Saw Simon from Myanmar for his work in refugee camps.