Dr. Jim Futral Announces Retirement
Letter to Members of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board
February 28, 2019
My Dear Fellow Board Member,
On behalf of the Executive Committee and our Executive Director, I wanted you to be one of the first to receive the information by the quickest possible means to let you know that Dr. Jim Futral, Executive Director-Treasurer, of the Convention Board in his 21st year announced today that he will be concluding his service October 31, 2019. The following is the letter given to the Executive Committee today.
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Announcement of Availability
In the summer of 1998, the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board extended an invitation for me to become Executive Director-Treasurer of the Convention Board. It was affirmed by the full board; I accepted, and on September 1, 1998, began my service with the Convention. While I was and am and will forever be a pastor, it has been my joy to seek to shepherd the greater flock across our state.
In Galatians 4:4, Paul tells us that in the “fullness of time” or when the time was just right, Jesus came. For me, the fullness of time has come…to go. All beginnings have an end and all endings have a beginning, so today I announce I will be concluding my service as Executive Director-Treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board on October 31, 2019.
The decision to leave my church and come here to serve was one of the most difficult callings I had ever faced, but oh the joys I have received. I love Mississippi. I love the people, and I have loved serving the churches and people of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. I am so thankful. As I go, I look forward, not to retirement, but to whatever reassignment the Lord may have for my life.
Thank you, Mississippi Baptists, for you have blessed me.
Jim Futral
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I ask you to please be in prayer for the Executive Committee as, according to [convention policy], we will be serving as the Search Committee for our new Executive Director-Treasurer. If you have recommendations to make of yourself or of someone else or if you know of someone who is interested in being a candidate for the position, please send that resume and any [pertinent] information you may have to the:
Mississippi Baptist Convention Board
Attention: Executive Search Committee
P. O. Box 530
Jackson, MS 39205-0530
It is preferable that all resumes for the Executive Director-Treasurer position be postmarked by May 31, 2019. I look forward to seeing you as we pray for one another and pray as God leads us into the future.
Thankfully yours,
Bobby Kirk, Chairman
Executive Committee
Mississippi Baptist Convention Board
Please pray for members of the Executive Committee, who will serve as the search committee for the next Executive Director-Treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board:
Terry Barnes
North Greenwood Baptist Church
Greenwood
Doug Broome
First Baptist Church
Natchez
Clarence Cooper
Brandon Baptist Church
Brandon
Jon Daniels
Country Woods Baptist Church
Byram
Ken Hester
First Baptist Church
Pontotoc
Bill Hurt
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
Columbus
Bobby Kirk
Roundaway Baptist Church
Doddsville
Jon Martin
First Baptist Church
Union
Timothy McMillen
Shady Grove Baptist Church
Batesville
Joe Pate
Forest Baptist Church
Forest
Randy Rinehart
Parkway Baptist Church
Woodland
Gary Roberson
First Baptist Church
Bruce
Hal Selby
Adaton Baptist Church
Starkville
Wade Stevens
First Baptist Church
Mathiston
Lloyd Sweatt
Meadowood Baptist Church
Amory
Rex Yancey
Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church
New Albany
Mark Vincent, MBC President
Clarke-Venable Baptist Church
Decatur