Baptist State Convention of Michigan 2014
Case: State Executive, Dr. Bobby Gilstrap, refused to let NAMB take control of church planting
NAMB Response: Threatened to end all funding for Baptist State Convention of Michigan unless Dr. Gillstrap was removed.
Result: In 2015, Dr. Gilstrap was removed and and replaced by Tim Patterson. Patterson was a current NAMB staff member at the time and was a former NAMB Trustee Chair who had also served on the presidential search committee that recommended Dr. Kevin Ezell for NAMB President. One year later, in 2016, the Baptist State Convention of Michigan pledged a higher percentageto go to thecooperative program.
Mid-Atlantic Convention 2015
Case: State Executive, Dr. Will McRaney, refused to let NAMB take control of church planting.
NAMB Response: Threatened to end all funding for the MidAtlantic Convention, unless Dr. McRaney was removed. You can access the letter NAMB sent to the Mid-Atlantic Convention along with many others documents here.
Result: After previously having unanimous support in his stance, the State Exec is is removed and NAMB immediately removes the threat and pledges to increase their funding $674,000 in 2016 and $850,000 in 2017. Bill Warren takes the lead of the Mid-Atlantic Convention and increases the percentage of cooperative giving. Interestingly the Mid-Atlantic Convention receives an additional 25% in church planting funds from NAMB when Kevin Smith is selected to replace Dr McRaney as the executive director. Kevin Smith served at Highview Baptist Church where Kevin Ezell was senior pastor.