10/19/2026
Executive Director Report 2026
Dr. Kevin Blackwell
The Mobile Baptist Network (MBN) continues to make tremendous progress in becoming a “church-centered” organization. We do not exist for ourselves; we exist for the purpose of renewing ministers, resourcing churches, and networking congregations together in reaching the lost and making disciples in Mobile County. Our staff is totally committed to the grand idea that Southern Baptist churches are better together than they are doing ministry separately. The MBN serves as a magnet organization pulling our churches closer to one another for the purpose of gospel cooperation.
In July 2025, the Executive Committee affirmed a new strategic focus for our collective work. It is expressed succinctly in our purpose and mission statement: The Mobile Baptist Network exists to support the work of its churches through renewing ministers, resourcing congregations, and reaching Mobile County with the gospel to make disciples who make disciples.
This is more than a slogan. We have committed to leveraging our entire organization toward this mission. Every dollar, every staff member, every team, every square foot of our facilities, and every ministry activity should serve this purpose. When your church gives to the Mobile Baptist Network, you become a vital partner in this shared endeavor.
God has blessed us with a remarkable year in 2026. Here are several highlights from our work together.
Supporting Church Planting
At our January Executive Committee meeting, we approved a process for funding church planting throughout Mobile County. After established criteria are met, new Southern Baptist churches in the county may receive financial assistance through the MBN New Work Fund, along with ongoing encouragement, coaching, and support from our staff. My desire is for Mobile County to become a place where church planters are welcomed, supported, and encouraged. We are currently supporting five church plants. Three of these congregations have recently become part of the Network, and two entered watchcare this fall.
Strengthening Our Staff
In April, the Executive Committee amended the 2026 budget to provide much-needed and long-overdue salary increases for our support staff. These increases were made possible by the growing financial support of our churches. Since 2008, the MBN has experienced a decline of approximately $200,000 in annual church receipts, greatly limiting the resources available for ministry. When giving declines, our ability to assist and equip churches is also diminished. Since May 2025, however, we have intentionally focused on improving the quality and effectiveness of the resources we offer, providing our churches with a greater return on their investment in our cooperative work. Although more than 30 churches still do not contribute to our general budget, we have seen increases both in the number of contributing churches and in the total amount given. I am optimistic that this encouraging trend will continue, enabling us to serve our churches more effectively while caring well for one of our greatest resources—the people God has called to serve on the MBN staff. Thank you for your generosity and faithful partnership.
I am also pleased to report that the MBN is now fully staffed.
In April, James Jones joined our team as Director of Church Planting and Community Engagement. James oversees the church-planting initiatives of the MBN, including administration of the New Work Fund, regular coaching of church planters, and strategic planning for future church plants. He is also working intentionally with our African American congregations to encourage their ministries and strengthen their connections with the MBN and the Southern Baptist Convention. I am grateful for James’s heart, experience, and calling. He is doing an outstanding job.
Camp Whispering Pines also welcomed a new director this year. Wayne Gautney began serving in May and provided strong leadership after stepping immediately into the demands of the summer camp season. Wayne is no stranger to Mobile Baptists, having previously served at Woodridge Baptist Church. The future of Camp Whispering Pines is bright under his leadership.
Last year, with your support, we developed a new staff position: Associate Director/Church Specialist. After several months of prayer and searching, the Lord graciously led Eric Sanford to join our staff in September. Eric brings many years of experience in resourcing churches and encouraging pastors. Originally from Huntsville, he also served for several years in Demopolis. For the past 14 years, Eric and his wife, Amanda, served as church planters in Denver, Colorado. He brings administrative experience, a pastor’s heart, and a deep reservoir of ministry knowledge to this role. I am excited to welcome him to Mobile and confident that he will be a tremendous resource to our churches.
Investing in Rural Churches
The Rural Church Initiative has been life-giving for many MBN churches. In January, we were awarded a $250,000 grant through Samford University’s Center for Congregational Resources, and we received the first portion of those funds earlier this year.
Through this grant, the MBN has already distributed more than $85,000 to rural churches for community outreach, evangelism, ministry development, and technology improvements. These resources are helping churches engage their communities, strengthen their ministries, and share the gospel more effectively.
The Rural Church Initiative will also support the development of a comprehensive strategy for equipping and encouraging our co-vocational and bi-vocational pastors. Eric Sanford and I are working together to create and implement this strategic focus, using RCI funding to better serve the pastors and churches that are carrying out vital ministry in rural communities throughout Mobile County.
Developing a Partnership with the IMB in Scotland
In July, I presented a new partnership between the MBN and the International Mission Board to our Executive Committee.
TJ Odom, the lead IMB missionary in Scotland, and his wife, Dena, are originally from Citronelle. TJ is helping lead church-planting efforts throughout Scotland, particularly in and around Glasgow. Lorrie and I joined others on a vision trip to Glasgow this past summer, where we witnessed both the pervasive spiritual lostness of the country and the tremendous opportunity for gospel ministry.
An open door for evangelism exists in Scotland, and I am encouraging MBN churches to explore partnerships with IMB Team Scotland in the coming years. Lorrie and I plan to lead a mission trip to Glasgow in June 2027. Our team of Mobile Baptists will assist TJ and his colleagues through prayer walking, street evangelism, and other ministry opportunities throughout the Glasgow area.
A group of Metro Mobile Baptist Campus Ministries students will also serve alongside TJ and Dena in support of church planting and church revitalization. We will soon announce the dates and cost of the trip. I hope you will prayerfully consider participating and encourage your church to send mission teams to serve alongside TJ, Dena, and the IMB.
Strengthening Our Guiding Documents
At this year’s Annual Celebration, messengers will cast the final vote on amendments to the MBN Constitution that will better enable us to fulfill our new strategic direction. At the September Executive Committee meeting, a new MBN Policy and Procedure Manual was affirmed following the diligent work of the Guiding Documents Ad Hoc Committee. This committee was also instrumental in helping update the language of our Constitution. As we prepare to enter 2027, we do so with newly written guiding documents that reflect and support our three strategic priorities: renewing ministers, resourcing churches, and reaching Mobile County with the gospel.
Accomplishing More Together
With assistance and in partnership with ALSBOM, the churches of the MBN hosted one of the largest community outreach events in our 171 year history. The Celebrate 250 Community event brought together churches from Calvert to Grand Bay and featured live music, evangelistic testimonies and LOTS of fun family activities. I am grateful for the leadership team that made this dream a reality.
Renew Us Again
Our theme for 2026 has been “Renew,” based on Psalm 85:6:
“Will you not revive us again, so that your people will rejoice in you?”
As we gathered for our 2026 Annual Celebration, we celebrated Jesus Christ, the Savior and Head of the Church, who has given us the ultimate renewal through the gospel. We also celebrated the ways God is bringing renewal to our churches and to our collective work through the Mobile Baptist Network.
Would you join us in praying that the Lord will continue His work of renewal throughout the Mobile Baptist Network?
Your Servant in Christ,
Dr. Kevin Blackwell
Executive Director
Mobile Baptist Network
