Get acquainted with Geoff Hammond
by T. C. Pinckney Vol. XV, No. 7, August 2002
The previous (June/July) Baptist Banner ran an article, “SBCV Appoints a Senior Associate Director”. It informed readers that in April the SBCV Executive Board elected Dr. Geoff Hammond as Senior Associate Director. In the new position Geoff will continue to lead in SBCV church planting and will also lead the Church Planting Strategists and the Church Health Specialists who serve in different areas of Virginia.
But a person is more than cold facts. In the questions below that I posed to Geoff, I have tried to bring out information to tell you about the man, not just the official.
Geoff, you came to Virginia from Arkansas, but your accent is hardly typical Arkansan. Can you summarize for us how you happen to have a British accent?
My parents were British missionaries serving in Nigeria when I was born, and I was raised as an MK in Zimbabwe. I am married to a Texan, and I have lived in Brazil and the US for the past 20 years, so my accent is a mixture!
Your resume' notes that you trained at Spurgeon's Seminary in London. Please give our readers a brief background on Spurgeon's Seminary and your education there.
I was saved at the age of 12, and on my 16th birthday the Lord called me into full-time vocational ministry. At that time I was involved in a church plant in Harare, Zimbabwe. I completed an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, and then my family moved from Zimbabwe back to England. I applied to study at Spurgeon's College in London. I was rather daunted by the interview process and having to pass a Greek exam before the interviews began, but to my surprise I was accepted! My four years at this seminary were some of the best of my life. I pastored a church plant in London while I was at seminary and had opportunity to be involved in mission trips all over the British Isles. In my last year, I was invited to serve as the British Minister at First Baptist Church of Dallas for one year. I had the privilege of serving with Dr W. A. Criswell.
Geoff, I believe the term "British Minister" at an American church is a new thought. Can you tell our readers what the British Minister does and how that position got started?
Dr Criswell had a great love for C.H. Spurgeon and his Pastors College, and he began the British Minister (or intern) program in the 1960s. The top graduate from Spurgeon’s each year was invited to be on staff at First Baptist Church, Dallas, to learn about the ministry of a mega-church and to be available to speak and minister to the members of First Baptist Church. He was also given the opportunity to travel and study other leading churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. I was the 14th in this program, and there were about 20 in all.
I note that you have had geographically wide experience having served the Lord in one capacity or another on four continents: Zimbabwe, Central-Southern Africa; the United Kingdom; Texas, Arkansas, and now Virginia in North America; and Brazil, South American. How has this broad background helped prepare you for your new role in the SBCV?
I believe that the State Convention is essentially a missionary organization assisting local churches in their task of fulfilling the Great Commission (that's why it is supported by the Cooperative Program). I hope that my experience and background will help us stay focused on this task in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends to the earth. I have had the privilege of being involved in church planting on 4 continents, and there are some transferable principles that apply to church planting in the US. In my new position, I will continue to lead SBCV church planting efforts.
I believe that my diverse cultural background will help me understand and relate to churches and ministries in the different parts of Virginia.
What is your vision for the future of the SBCV?
I believe that in my lifetime, the SBCV will become the larger Convention of Southern Baptist churches in Virginia. We want to help strengthen our existing churches and support pastors, church staff, and their families. We must also continue to plant new churches to reach all Virginians for Christ, and I believe that there is a vast pool of church members who can be mobilized to help fulfill the Great Commission in VA, North America, and to the whole world.
Your new position is a part of the restructuring occurring in the SBCV. Can you briefly give us an overview of the plan and what your responsibilities will be?
The Strategy Planning Task Force for our Convention spent most of last year listening to the members of our churches, pastors, and staff across our State, trying to hear what we were doing well and where we could make improvements. A new Purpose Statement was developed stating that the SBCV is a fellowship of Southern Baptist Convention churches cooperation together to assist local congregations in their task of fulfilling the Great Commission. The function of our Convention has been set forth in four objectives: Strengthening existing churches; supporting pastors, staff, and their families; starting new churches; and mobilizing and educating missions volunteers.
The best way to achieve these functions will be through a decentralized structure. The proposal is to have 5 areas with a Church Enrichment Specialist and a Church Planting Strategist in each area. These people will be State missionaries and they will be assisted by associate staff (both paid and volunteer), and they will provide leadership for the fulfilling of the objectives. The area missionaries will also have area advisory teams to provide support and customize the ministry for a particular area.
My responsibility will be to lead these area missionaries in their task of assisting local churches to fulfill the Great Commission. The Richmond office will become a support team for the area missionaries.
How will your responsibilities dovetail with those of Doyle Chauncey, our Executive Director?
Our Executive Director will continue to lead the overall direction and development of the Convention. We are grateful for his experience and wisdom. No one knows Southern Baptists in Virginia better than Doyle! I will report to Doyle. He will have specific responsibility for the continued development of the Convention structure and finances, and our relationship with the Southern Baptist Convention and other State Conventions. He will lead the Executive Board and have responsibility for the annual meeting. He will also develop the SBCV Foundation Inc. and the SBCV Financial Services Inc. These are two entities that are crucial for the future of the SBCV, but we have not had the leadership to develop these until now. I will work very closely with Doyle, gaining from his experience. I am grateful for the synergy we experience as we work together.
Geoff, why was this decentralization felt to be necessary, and how will the decentralized structure help our churches?
Virginia is a large state in geographical area, with a very diverse population. Northern Virginia is very different from some of our beautiful rural areas! It is difficult for the Convention staff to know all the different parts of the Commonwealth well, and driving to some locations from Richmond takes a long time. Decentralization brings the resources of the Convention closer to the churches, and it helps us customize the assistance to the churches through a Church Enrichment Specialist and a Church Planting Strategist who really know the harvest field and the churches in the area. These state missionaries will not be responsible for doing everything, but they will be responsible of leading a team of folks in each area to fulfill the objectives of the Convention. They will also be key players themselves on the State Ministry Team for personal accountability and responsible for making sure that all five areas receive high quality ministry and services from the Convention. I believe it will make us more efficient and thus better stewards of our resources and it will increase fellowship among our churches, which is fundamental to the life of any State Convention.
I imagine some churches will have ideas or suggestions they would like to pass on to you. What are the best ways for them to contact you?
I would welcome input from the churches on an ongoing basis as we seek to follow the leadership of the Lord for the Convention in the years ahead. My email address is ghammond@sbcv.org or the mailing address is 4101 Cox Rd, Suite 100, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
Will you be available to come to a local church or to speak to a group of church leaders in the various parts of the state?
Yes, the Executive Director, the state missionaries, and I will be available to preach or speak in our churches as our calendars permit. I believe that this provides a vital link between our churches and the Convention. It is an important part of personalizing missions and the Cooperative Program that supports missions all around the world.
How can our churches pray for you?
Please pray for me to have wisdom to follow the Lord in all His ways and in all our decisions. "To whom much is given, much is required," and we have a great opportunity to impact Virginia, the US, and the world with the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We want to be found faithful as leaders and Southern Baptists. Please pray for my family as we make the necessary adjustments required by my new responsibilities.