My name is Thom Narofsky, and I have been married to my beautiful wife, Dorene, for 41 years. God has blessed us with three wonderful sons, two loving Daughters-in-Law, and five beautiful grandchildren. Currently, my wife and I attend LifeSpring Church in Bellevue, Nebraska. As the new President, I believe in the work of the International Baptist Church Ministries (IBCM) and the mission of the International Baptist Convention.
My journey with the IBC began during my 28 years of military service. I have had the honor and pleasure to serve in various roles at Faith Baptist Church, which has deepened my connection to the International Baptist Convention. Each step and phase of my life has been guided by the hand of God, as stated in Philippians 4:10-13:
“The Lord gives me a reason to be full of joy. It is because you can care for me again. I know you wanted to before, but you did not have a way to help me. I am not saying I need anything. I have learned to be happy with whatever I have. I know how to get along with little and live when I have much. I have learned the secret of always being happy. I am happy if I am full of food and have all I need. If I am hungry and need more, I am happy. I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.”
I believe Jesus is changing the mission and direction of the IBCM. I know Jesus changed my agenda at the February 2024 Board meeting. I was not seeking or considering being the Board President, but Jesus Changes Everything. He changes our lives, our beliefs, our giving, our values, and our agendas. It amazes me how God brings together the right people for His Kingdom’s work at the right time. Jesus changed everything with the concept of a New Covenant and created a new trajectory for Man’s relationship with God. Christ’s three-year ministry brought about significant change as His message, teachings, death on the cross, and resurrection ushered in a new way.
Jesus brought about a significant change with the Apostles. He transformed their beliefs and mission, shaping them into a force to spread His message globally. The Apostles and disciples propagated the Good News, gaining new believers for Christ across the ancient world. In Acts 2, with the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the Church transitioned from a focus on Jerusalem to a global ministry through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues. This transformation expanded Christ’s ministry from solely the Jewish nation to the Gentile nations. New believers began to organize, form relationships, and establish house churches in Corinth, Thessalonica, Ephesus, Galatia, and Rome to continue spreading Christ’s transformative message and creating a new worldview for each city’s inhabitants. The early Christian community united in their dedication to Jesus Christ and each other through daily fellowship, communal prayer, shared meals, and apostolic instruction.
Jesus is leading the IBCM in a new direction and mission, and I am filled with anticipation for what the future holds. The new vision and direction of the IBCM look at creating a culture of raising leaders to carry on the work. The IBCM needs to become a forward-looking organization where the members function as cross-cultural missionaries focused on what God is doing in the IBC instead of a gathering place for remembering the past. We need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the IBCM and the IBC and our partnerships with international English-language churches. This plan facilitates growth and development, setting the stage for a sustainable and impactful IBCM ministry. I look forward to an enduring IBCM ministry dedicated to spreading the message of Christ globally and into the future, preparing leaders who can carry on the mission.
Dr. Thomas S. Narofsky, President
International Baptist Church Ministries