Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

‘Minister of encouragement’: Ken Whitten joins NAMB to serve, connect pastors

  • February 8, 2023
  • North American Mission Board
  • Florida, Georgia, Latest News

‘Minister of encouragement’: Ken Whitten joins NAMB to serve, connect pastors

Ken Whitten, recently retired pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida, will become national director of pastoral leadership at the North American Mission Board, beginning in March.

NAMB president Kevin Ezell recently shared the news at NAMB’s Board of Trustees meeting in Miami

“Ken is humble, intentional and he loves pastors,” Ezell said in comments before the Feb. 7 announcement. “Every pastor could use a friend like Ken, and that’s how he will lead in this effort — as a friend and a fellow servant.”

In an interview, Whitten described his vision for the role as being a “minister of encouragement” to pastors across the Southern Baptist Convention.

Finger on the pulse of pastors

“How do you know a pastor needs encouragement?” Whitten asked. “Here’s what I say: check his pulse. Does he have a pulse? Yes? Then, I’m telling you he needs encouragement.”

Whitten aspires to be a connector, a counselor and a comforter for ministry leaders no matter what stage or season of ministry they find themselves in, with the goal of boosting both them and their churches toward a place of health and vitality.

One way he aims to connect pastors will be through prayer, to connect them to other pastors and introduce them to resources and ideas. One aspect of what Whitten hopes to do is break down barriers of comparison between pastors that often culminate in distinctions between different sized churches.

Every pastor leads ‘a small church’

“When we compare the lostness of North America, every one of us pastor a small church. Every one of us, and we need each other,” Whitten said. “We need to depend on each other. So, I see myself as a connector.”

Whitten served as senior pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church for 33 years, which Tommy Green, executive director-treasurer for the Florida Baptist Convention, said has prepared for the new role with NAMB.

“Ken Whitten has an incredible heart for pastors and churches,” Green said. “He has faithfully invested in other pastors throughout his ministry.

“I am thankful for the encouragement and blessing that he is in my life,” he said. “Ken has the heart of a shepherd who cares for others. Southern Baptist pastors will be strengthened through the ministry of Ken Whitten.”

Needing unity, clarity, identity

Many pastors routinely stare down a spirit of isolation in their ministries, and Whitten plans to bring Southern Baptist pastors together in a way that reminds those who feel alone that there are thousands of leaders who can be a blessing and a resource.

“I think what pastors need right now is — they need clarity, and they need identity for the mission of their church, the measurements for that church, for the values in that church and the strategy,” Whitten said.

“Once they get some clarity for their church’s identity,” he noted, “then the pastor begins to understand his congregation. Pastors need unity, clarity and identity of what God has called them to do and that they’re not alone in doing it.”

To read full story, click here.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Brandon Elrod and originally published by the North American Mission Board. 

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: 12 easy ways to reach out to your neighbors
    First person: 12 easy ways to reach out to your neighbors
    May 11, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • ‘It’s hard to wrap my head around’: Men’s retreat leads to life-changing decisions for Christ
    ‘It’s hard to wrap my head around’: Men’s retreat leads to life-changing decisions for Christ
    May 10, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Alaska’s Covington rescinds resignation, affirmed to continue
    Alaska’s Covington rescinds resignation, affirmed to continue
    May 9, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: 12 easy ways to reach out to your neighbors

Most believers will never share the gospel with anyone, and many will never even invite anyone to church.

‘It’s hard to wrap my head around’: Men’s retreat leads to life-changing decisions for Christ

“These men got away for a weekend and experienced the peace from other men who knew Jesus and had that life change,” said North Monroe Baptist Church Director of Facilities and Men’s Ministry Jeff McPherson.

Alaska’s Covington rescinds resignation, affirmed to continue

Randy Covington will continue as exec dir of Alaska Baptists until his originally planned retirement date of Sept. 30, 2025 — despite what was announced in March following a disagreement over the extent of autonomy a church should have.

Your Voice: Things my mom taught me about church

First-person articles, comments, letters to the editor, blog excerpts, social media posts and more.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel