LOUISVILLE– Steve Thompson and Robert Reeves, two key leaders who step down today as members of the Kentucky Baptist Convention Mission Board staff, have accepted roles with University of the Cumberlands and Anderson (SC) University, respectively.
Thompson will serve as assistant to University of the Cumberlands President James Taylor. He was appointed KBC’s assistant executive director in 1999.
In August, Reeves begins work as an assistant professor of communications for Anderson University, a liberal arts school affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. In 1998, he was tapped as KBC’s director of communications.
The two, along with 25 other full- and part-time KBC employees, accepted retirement/resignation incentive packages from the Kentucky Baptist Convention in May. The packages were offered in preparation of a reorganization of the mission board staff tasked with providing services to 2,400 congregations in the commonwealth.
Prior to joining the KBC staff, Thompson served 28 years as a pastor and and director of missions for Green Valley Baptist Association in Henderson. In addition to his role at University of the Cumberlands, Thompson will remain at KBC for the next six months, serving as consultant to the ministry’s Executive Office Team.
In his role at University of the Cumberlands, Thompson will promote the Williamsburg school in Baptist churches in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. He will continue to reside in Louisville.
Taylor said the new position was created specifically for Thompson.
“We are looking forward to Steve Thompson’s leadership,” he added.
KBC Executive Director Paul Chitwood said he is grateful for Thompson’s willingness to serve alongside the KBC Executive Office Team as the transition continues.
“Steve has a storehouse of knowledge for all things Kentucky Baptist,” Chitwood said. “He continues to be a valuable servant to the KBC.”
A native of South Carolina, Reeves came to the KBC after serving as director of communications for Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children (now Sunrise Children’s Services). Reeves just completed his final term as an instructor for Indiana Wesleyan University. At Anderson, he will teach news writing, video production, public relations and Communications 101.
“It is a distinct privilege to welcome Robert back to his home state and to the Anderson University family,” said Barry Ray, a spokesperson for AU. “We know that our students will benefit greatly from his vast experience in Kentucky and that he will be a great fit here as we continue to provide the best in academics in a sincerely Christian campus environment.”
Dannah Prather, marketing and media relations associate for KBC, said Reeves’ leadership and mentoring attitude will be missed.
“Three members of Robert’s team have served with him virtually his entire tenure at KBC,” said Prather, who worked with Reeves at Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children before he left for the convention. “He’s always been encouraging and professional to everyone he’s worked with.
“We will miss him very much but are so happy that future students at Anderson University will benefit, as we have, from his experience, patience and godly example,” she added.
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2,400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more.
