BGR director to retire in June, relief agency to come under new Send Relief umbrella

Baptist Global Relief (BGR) CEO Jeff Palmer announced Feb. 20 that he will retire in June.

“I love BGR, our team, what we do and every one of you who participate with us,” he wrote in an email statement. “However, I am feeling a tugging at my heart to return to a more hands-on approach in my ministry efforts.”

Palmer’s decision comes on the heels of a Feb. 18 announcement that the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board will combine North American and global relief efforts under a new partnership called Send Relief. [Read that story here.]

Palmer also said BGR will soon be under the umbrella of Send Relief. He said more details about the new organization will be announced in the coming months.

“It may have a different name, but globally you can count on our same trusted partners showing the love of Jesus through effective, efficient, and empowering projects,” Palmer wrote of the partnership. “This will make it easier for you to support and multiply the compassion ministry that is already taking place in the United States and around the world.”

Baptist Global Response was incorporated in 2006 as Southern Baptists’ “21st century partner for international relief and development,” Palmer said in 2007. The organization was never an official entity of the Southern Baptist Convention. Palmer has served as executive director of BGR since it began.

A native of Tennessee, Palmer and his wife, Regina, were involved in development work in Southeast Asia for more than two decades. Palmer led BGR in relief efforts to address poverty, hunger, social upheaval, natural disasters and other humanitarian issues.

Palmer said he and his family look forward to this new chapter of life and continuing to see how God will work.

“We don’t know what that will be, but know that God is leading us to something and somewhere special. He has always been faithful and we have always tried to follow Him faithfully.” (TAB)