Inauguration of Dr. Michael G. Loftis

February 13, 2001

Dale and Joann Loftis, parents of ABWE's new president, served for 36 years as missionaries in Jamaica and Australia. They explained how their children were taught to love serving the Lord and were always part of their parents' ministry. At Michael's birth they prayed, "God, we dedicate him to You. We ask that he be saved at an early age ... and that You call him to your service worldwide."

Michael introduced his spiritual 'father," Dr. Winston Smith, and told how the shadow of racism hung over the Loftis family in earlier generations. He said God must have a sense of humor to send his parents as missionaries to Jamaica, where 98% of the people are black. Dr. Smith spoke from Deuteronomy 8, outlining the lessons God taught the Israelites, and concluded by saying, "You can't change the past; the present has great opportunities; the future holds hope."

Michael explained that 100 years ago, Dr. John Mott called for men and women to reach the world's frontiers. The 100,000 who responded became the Student Volunteer Movement; 20,000- one in five-actually made it to mission fields. Today, only one in fourteen follows through with a commitment to serve God. Michael asked, "What would it take to bring thousands of disciples into God's family, to plant thousands of new churches, and to see multiplied mission movements around the world?"

The evening concluded when Michael, JoBeth, Ben, Nathan, and Michelle Loftis knelt on the platform, surrounded by the entire ABWE Board. Steve Euler, pastor of the Loftises' home church, Grace Baptist of Chattanooga, Tennessee, gave a prayer of dedication committing them to God's protection and service.

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