VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 1/12/10)—Mission Resource Development of American Baptist Churches USA is pleased to announce that Rev. Soozi Whitten Ford has been employed as Stewardship Facilitator, beginning February 15, 2010. This is a part-time, deployed position.
Rev. Ford currently serves as associate executive minister for Mid-American Baptist Churches, where she is responsible for ABC mission education, resources and support, and stewardship education. She provides staff support to AB Women’s Ministries, the region annual gathering committee, and the region’s Ministry Mission and Stewardship Team. She is passionate about assisting churches in the areas of stewardship and generosity, and enjoys working with congregations in renewal and transformation. She enjoys leading churches and individuals in life-changing international mission encounters.
Rev. Ford will continue these responsibilities as she adds work in the area of national stewardship education. This one-third time position will involve working with regional Executive Ministers and their staff on issues of stewardship education, as well as developing materials, leading workshops and writing for the website. “I am excited for the opportunity to work with the wider ABC family as together we continue to grow and develop generous and faithful disciples of Christ,” she said.
Rev. Ford is a graduate of Ottawa University and Central Baptist Theological Seminary, and has completed additional studies at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in the area of ministry and technology. She was ordained by Prairie Baptist Church in Kansas. She has wide experience with denominational work, including pastoral positions and post-secondary teaching positions.
“We enthusiastically welcome Soozi Ford to our ministry team,” said Dr. Leo Thorne, associate general secretary for Mission Resource Development. “She brings a staunch commitment to stewardship education with many years as an advocate for stewardship in our churches and regions. We will all benefit from her passion for fostering generosity as a biblical standard.”
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.