Upon his retirement July 1 of next year, Lee, 62, will have completed 19 years of service to the convention, the last 13 as executive director.
Before joining the BCM/D staff, Lee was pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Glen Burnie, Md. The North Carolina native also has pastored churches in Mississippi and Maryland.
Lee was the unanimous choice of the BCM/D General Mission Board in 2000 to succeed Charles Barnes, who was retiring at the time.
Lee's tenure has been marked by a strong emphasis on missions and church planting, building relationships among pastors, and helping existing churches become healthier and more Great Commission focused. Lee and his wife Sherry have together championed the support of ministers, their wives and their families through numerous intentional initiatives and ministry events.
Lee told the messengers during the Monday evening session of the BCM/D annual meeting at Global Mission Church in Silver Spring, Md., that "I have lived a blessed life. God changed my life at age 15. At age 16 I said 'yes' to God's call to preach. At age 20 God gave me a life and ministry partner. I would not be where I am today without my wife. Sherry and I will celebrate 42 years of marriage in December. God blessed us with two godly sons who with their wives faithfully serve Jesus, and four wonderful grandchildren who are the apple of Grandaddy's and Mimi's eyes."
Lee continued, "I have been given the privilege of standing in the pulpit to preach the Word of God and be called pastor by some of God's most special people. All of life and ministry have not always been easy, but God has always been faithful. My journey with you has been a tremendous blessing. You are a blessing. Sherry and I love you. It has been such a privilege to serve you. I was given specific tasks by God when I came to serve you. I am convinced that assignment has been completed. I am at peace in announcing it to you tonight, because I want to allow the leaders to have ample time for a search process for your next leader. We cannot afford to lose focus on our mission. Together we will pray and seek God's direction. Thank you for the privilege and opportunity to serve you."
Lee holds master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and was honored in 2008 with the seminary's Distinguished Alumnus Award. Lee also is a graduate of William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Miss., where he was named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 2005.
Bob Simpson is editor of BaptistLIFE (www.baptistlifeonline.org), newsjournal of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).
Copyright (c) 2012 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net
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