A History of the National African American Fellowship, SBC
1994 - 2014
Since its inception in 1993, two of NAAF’s primary objectives have been to: 1) help facilitate healthier racial relationships within the SBC; and 2) encourage Black SBC churches to support the Cooperative Program as well as engaging in mission and ministry opportunities both locally and globally. Despite the challenges we face as Southern Baptist Bothers, the mandates of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission continue to compel us all to press forward toward the “upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
In June of 1994 at the Tangelo Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida the first official gathering took place of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention (formerly the African American Fellowship of SBC) The keynote speaker was the Reverend Fred Luther of the Franklin Ave- nue Baptist Church of New Orleans, LA.
The founding officers of the Fellowship were Dr. Joe S. Ratliff, President, Pas- tor of Brentwood Baptist Church, Houston, TX; Dr. Elisha W McCall, First Vice President, Pastor of St. Stephens Baptist Church, La Puente, CA; Dr. Eugene L. Gidson, Second Vice President, Pastor/Founder of Mission of Faith Baptist Church, Chicago, Ill; Mrs. Thelma Kennedy, Secretary, a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church,, Flint, MI; Rev. Leon Johnson, Treasurer, Pastor of Bread of Life Baptist Church, Chicago, Ill.
Since the Fellowship's beginning, it has been on the forefront of historical events. It has lobbied and seen members of its Fellowship both elected and appointed to key roles and positions in the SBC. The men that have served as the Presidents have each given the Fellowship the leadership and direction that was inherently placed upon them as leaders. These men are: Dr. Joe Sam- uel Ratliff 1994 and 1995; Dr. Elisha W. McCall 1996 and 1997; Dr. Eugene L. Gibson 1998 (Deceased); Rev. Joseph Lyles 1999,2000 and 2001; Dr. George O. McCalep (Deceased); 2002 and 2003; Rev. Robert Anderson 2004 and 2005; Dr. Mark A. Croston 2006, 2007 and 2008; Rev. Michael R. Pigg 2009 and 2010. Rev James Dixon 2011and 2012.; and Dr. Alton B. Vines 2013 and 2014.
Though the Fellowship has such a recent beginning, it also has an old past, which dates back to the very beginning of the SBC itself in 1845. It was from the moment that African Americans became a part of this Convention, that the seed of Fellowship was planted. We as a people have innately found one an- other and bonded heart to heart and breast to breast.
Sensing the urgency of these two mandates, the NAAF Executive Board recently decided that its #1 Priority Emphasis is to be more intentional in partnering with State Convention Leaders and African American SBC Pastors across the country to mobilize a greater number of Black SBC churches to engage in SBC life, locally and nationally.
Chronological Timeline of Selected Events Among
1845 – 100,000 Blacks in SBC nearly all were slaves. Board of Domestic Missions (now NAMB) instructed
“to take all prudent measures for the religious instruction of our colored people.”
1846 – Work among Negroes established.
1848 – Two of eight SBC missionaries appointed were sent to work with Blacks.
1859 – 300,000 to 400,000 Blacks in SBC white churches largely because they were considered members of their masters churches. Work among Blacks by Southern Baptists strongly encouraged.
1942 – Work among Negroes renamed Cooperative Mission with Negroes.
1949 – Cooperative Mission with Negroes renamed Department of Negro Work, Guy Bellamy, 1st secretary.
1951 – The Community Baptist Church, Santa Rosa, California and Greater Friendship Baptist Church, Anchorage, Alaska petitioned and joined the Southern Baptist Convention becoming the first Black SBC churches of the 20th century.
1958 – Department of Negro Work renamed Department of Work with the National Baptists.
1965 – Victor Glass becomes secretary of the Department of Work with National Baptists. .
1968 – Emmanuel L. McCall becomes an associate secretary of the Department of Work with National Baptists.
1974 – Department of Work with National Baptists renamed Department of Cooperative Ministries with National Baptists.
1975 – Victor Glass retires. Emmanuel L. McCall becomes Director of Department of Cooperative Ministries with National Baptists and first African American to serve at the Director level.
1978 – Margaret Perkins first Black Staff person hired by Women’s Missionary Union (WMU).
1979 – Sid Smith first African American appointed as Sunday School Board Ethnic Liaison Consultant.
1980 – Department of Cooperative Ministries with National Baptists renamed Black Church Relations Department.
1983 – Willie Simmons, first black staff person hired by Foreign Mission Board.
1984 – Willie T. McPherson elected as associate in the Black Church Relations Department.
1986 - Victor Davis appointed National Leader for the Foreign Mission Board.
1889 – The Black Church Relations Department renamed Black Church Extension Division.
1991 – Emmanuel L. McCall retires.
David Cornelius appointed as National Leader for the Foreign Mission Board.
1992 – Willie T. McPherson elected as Director, Black Church Extension Division.
Michael J. Cox becomes Assistant Director Mega Focus Cities, Home Mission Board.
1993 – Herb Brisbane becomes Director Black Church Evangelism.
1994 –National African American Fellowship, SBC is organized in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Joe S. Ratliff, Pastor, Brentwood Baptist Church, Houston, TX serves as its first President.
Sid Smith leaves the Baptist Sunday School Board to become director of the Florida Baptist Convention African American Ministries Division.
Elgia “Jay” Wells becomes Director Black Church Development Section Baptist Sunday School Board.
HMB Black Church Extension Division renamed African American Ministries.
1996 - Leroy Fountian first African American to serve at the Annuity Board.
1997 – Debra Berry becomes National Consultant for WMU.
The Home Mission Board becomes the North American Mission Board. African American Ministries becomes African American Church Planting Unit , Robert E. Wilson is appointed as manager.
Phil Davis appointed as NAMB Director, Implementation Team, Church Planting Group. 1998 – Joshua Smith becomes National Church Planting Missionary to US Virgin Islands.
Dennis W. Mitchell appointed NAMB Director of Church multiplication team of Church Planting Group.
2000 – Chris McNairy appointed National Missionary Multihousing Church Planting.
Jeffrey Curtis leaves NAMB to become contextual Leadership Director Golden Gate Seminary. Kenneth Weathersby appointed NAMB Manager of African American Church Planting Unit.
2001 – Gary Frost appointed Vice President of North American Mission Board.
Richard Lee appointed as National Church Planting Missionary for African and African American church planting.
2003 – Gary Frost leaves North American Mission Board as Vice President to become Executive Director for Metropolitan New York Baptist Association.
Joshua Smith becomes Church Planting Missionary in Philadelphia.
2004 – Dennis W. Mitchell becomes NMAB Director Strategic Readiness Team of Church Planting Group.
Kenneth Ellis appointed Manager Multicultural Evangelism Unit, NAMB. Richard Lee leaves NAMB to become Director of Missions in Philadelphia.
2005 – Paul M. Brewer appointed to serve as Associate in Missionary Personnel at North American Mission Board.
2006 – Ken Ellis appointed manager of NAMB African American Evangelism unit.
NAMB appoints Mark Croston to lead an African American Taskforce to make recommends concern- ing future of African American work.
2007 --Lifeway appoints Mark Croston to lead an African American Taskforce to make recommends con- cerning future of African American work.
2008-- IMB appoints Mark Croston to lead an African American Taskforce to make recommends concerning future of African American work.
2010 - Keith Jefferson appointed African American Mobilization Manager at IMB.
2011 – The SBC adopts for implementation the Ethnic Study Report.
2012 – Kenneth Weathersby appointed Ambassador for Ethnic Relations for both NAMB and the SBC Executive Committee.
Fred Luter elected the first African American to serve as President of the SBC.
K. Marshall Williams appointed Chair of African American Council by the SBC Executive Committee.
2013—Mark A. Croston is the first African American to nominate a successful candidate for President of the SBC.
Fred Luter re-elected President of the SBC.
Kenneth Weathersby appointed Vice President for Convention Advancement, SBC Executive Committee
Mark A. Croston, appointed National Director of Black Church Partnerships at LifeWay