Rev. Dr. Stanley “Stan” Slade, IM global consultant for Theological Education for the last four years, has re-joined the American Baptist International Ministries (IM) home office staff.  In his new role, Slade is serving as Associate Executive Director for Program, reporting to Executive Director, Dr. Reid Trulson.  Slade will divide his time between his role as Associate Executive Director (80%) and a reduced schedule as Global Consultant (20%).
 
Slade says the new role emerged quite unexpectedly as he and Trulson conversed about a wide range of IM planning items.  "From time to time Reid has invited me to brainstorm with him on various things.  Late in the summer of 2011, one of those conversations took an unexpected turn.  At about the same time, Reid invited me to help provide leadership to one of the things we had been talking about, and I felt the Lord nudge me to offer to help implement some of the others," Slade explained.  “One thing led to another and we soon found ourselves planning an experiment in which I would wear both a home office staff hat and a missionary hat.”
 
Slade has served in many capacities with IM over the last 28 years.  Stan and his wife Cathy began their career with IM in 1983, working as missionaries in Central America.  They served in theological education and health, respectively, in El Salvador.  When the family returned to the U.S. in mid-1992, Stan joined IM's home office staff team.  At Valley Forge, he served in many different roles, all dedicated to supporting the work of missionaries and international churches and partners, as well as IM's partners in mission throughout American Baptist Churches.  At the end of 2007, Slade left the home office team to return to missionary service, this time as one of the small group of "global consultants," engaged in non-traditional, itinerant ministries.  Now, four years later, he is entering into another non-traditional model of mission service, combining ongoing global consultant service with work on the staff team in Valley Forge.
 
“I love the direct contact of teaching internationally,” commented Slade. “So, it has been a surprise to hear God’s call to set aside part of that teaching in order to help IM become the most effective instrument for global mission that it can be.  But, it is a privilege to be invited into this new role.  First, as I have traveled the world these last four years, my admiration for my missionary colleagues and the partners they serve has continued to grow.  It is a joy to work alongside them, and a privilege to be invited to serve them as part of IM’s very dedicated home office team. Second, my friends in regional and local church ministry have been telling me about the ferment God is bringing about in our national, regional and local life throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  I hope to be more useful also to them in my new role.  All of these friends and fellow disciples are great folks with whom to serve our missionary God.”
 
Adds Trulson, "I am delighted that Stan has responded to the call to enter into this innovative role.  Like churches, regions and ministry partners across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, we are trying many experiments at IM.  I am grateful for the wealth of experience he brings to this role and look forward to serving American Baptists and the global mission of Jesus Christ together in this new way."

 Slade's role on IM's home office staff will be to support, coordinate and supervise all staff working on program operations, whether they serve international partners or those in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.