Long before he became IMB president, Tom Elliff dreamed of a new kind of missionary – Southern Baptist business leaders who leverage their resources, global connections and growth strategies to help fulfill the Great Commission.
That dream, which Elliff calls “global strategic mobilization,” or GSM, is a step closer to reality with his nomination of Scott Holste as vice president of the International Mission Board’s newly created GSM office.
Holste currently serves as IMB associate vice president of global strategy. Trustees will consider Holste for the new role in their May meeting.
“I see [GSM] as a focus of our mission that is long overdue,” Elliff said.
“It simply means that we would be partnering with SBC-led ministries and business professionals who are already traveling around the world and deeply desire to be involved in Great Commission ministries.”
Elliff said the GSM concept is based on the first-century model of church planting, which was facilitated by taking the Good News along the Roman roads of commerce.
“We’ll be able to show how they become involved, give them and their organization training in the best ways to become involved and also show them – where possible, there could be a strategic alignment between the work that they are doing on the corporate level and the work that our personnel may be doing on a strategic level,” Elliff said.
If trustees ratify Holste’s nomination during their May 22-23 meeting in Nashville, Tenn., he will immediately move into the new position. Business leaders from across the United States also will meet in Dallas in May to participate in a “think tank” to further develop GSM and its strategies. – IMB