wfn.org | ABCUSA: Riggs to Leave National Ministries

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Rich.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 8/30/05)--The Rev. Dr.
Harry Riggs leaves National Ministries Aug. 31 to answer a call to
pastor First Baptist Church of Lincoln, Neb.

Riggs' four-year tenure at National Ministries included administering
renewal grants for churches in small towns and building a network of
emerging denominational leaders in their 20s from different cultural
backgrounds throughout the United States. By following the call to First
Baptist, Riggs seeks to continue the work of helping churches fulfill
the NEW LIFE 2010 vision for American Baptists - planting 1,010 new
churches and invigorating caring ministries to transform existing
congregations by the year 2010.

"When I came on board, American Baptist Churches USA had just jumped
into the pool with others who were going in the direction of renewal,"
said Riggs. National Ministries entered the water with initiatives such
as Tomorrow's Harvest in the Midwest and Rekindle! nationwide to
reinforce and boost the efforts of congregations already starting to
move toward transformation. Riggs succeeded in helping to jump-start the
movement.

"Harry has been a highly effective coach for church leaders serious
about congregational transformation and an enthusiastic ally and broker
of resources and training for many regional turnaround church projects,"
said Dr. David Laubach, associate executive director for new churches,
evangelism and transformation. "His embodiment of transformational
leadership has made National Ministries a better missional
organization."

K/2005ABNS/05ABN92

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA
x2077 / (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org