By Sarah Palmer
Kevin Ezell, pastor of Highview Baptist Church of Louisville, Ky., and Union alumnus, was elected president of the North American Mission Board on Sept. 14.
“I am honored and humbled that the Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention would allow me the opportunity to serve in
this way,” Ezell said. “I am excited about the possibilities for the future of NAMB.”
Dr. David S. Dockery, university president, initially recommended Ezell for the position. Dockery had been Ezell’s supervisor
in his doctoral program and his mentor while Ezell attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
“He has since become a very good friend, and one I know I can count on for solid advice and guidance in any matter,” Ezell
said. He also said the Dockery family had been “an incredible blessing” to his family.
Ezell said as president, he hoped to see NAMB become a strong church-planting network, and one of their goals will be to use
as much money as possible to plant churches in under-served areas.
“I believe God placed on my heart the need to mobilize pastors and churches, and help provide leadership and focus to an
agency with incredible potential,” Ezell said on why he felt led to work with NAMB.
Ezell, a 1985 Union graduate, said his time at Union taught him much and provided lifelong relationships — the most important being his wife, who he described as “a tremendous blessing and support.”
“Union provided me with a passion to think (in) big, outside-the-box (ways) in reaching the nations,” Ezell said. “I am thankful
for those who taught and mentored me to pray and seek for God’s best.”
Two of Ezell’s daughters, Anna and Shelly, currently attend Union. He said he wanted his daughters to have “the same Christ-
centered opportunity” he and their mother had, and said he knew their time at Union would help develop their hearts for ministry and service.
“The relationships God has blessed me with through Union are still one of my most cherished possessions,” Ezell said.
