National Association of Ministry Assistants
A Brief History of the
National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries, Inc.
and
National Association of Ministry Assistants, Inc
The Dream, 1977
Lucy Renfro Hoskins, the Sunday School Board's first consultant to church secretaries, with the encouragement of William H. Halbert, supervisor of Church Administration's Church Staff Services Section and Reginald M. McDonough, secretary to the department, began plans for the first ever national church secretaries conference.
April 23–26, 1979
The dream became a reality when the first National Conference for Church Secretaries was held at the Sunday School Board in Nashville with 575 secretaries attending from twenty states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Lucy Hoskins presided and introduced the theme, Toward Excellence Through Growth. Key program personalities included: Jeanette Clift George, actress and author; Clara McCartt, editor of The Secretary's World; David Matthews, pastor, Idus Owensby, consultant; Malcolm Tolbert, former missionary, and a score of talented Baptist Sunday School Board personnel.
Response to the conference was so overwhelming that plans were soon underway for what was dubbed NCCS2. The Steering Committee chosen to plan the second national conference: Marguerite Copeland (Alabama), Alice Edwards (Georgia), Marty Ethridge (Tennessee), Gayle Hilligoss (Missouri), Pat Lemmons (South Carolina), Doris McWilliams (Florida), Dorothy Shearer (Texas), Dot Smith (Mississippi).
April 18–21, 1983
The second National Conference for Church Secretaries was held in Nashville with 550 secretaries from 30 states participating. The presentations of Harold Bryson, New Orleans Seminary; Chaplin Bill Bailey (Kentucky); Mrs. J. G. Harrison (Virginia), and Bill and Linda Cates (Tennessee), developed the theme, A Special Calling.
On Wednesday evening, April 20, conferees enthusiastically endorsed the proposal by Gayle Hilligoss (Missouri), to form a national church secretaries’ organization. Lucy Hoskins, responding to the request of conferees, appointed Hortense Barnes (Alabama), Alice Edwards (Georgia), Evelyn Gustafson (Missouri), and Betty Walker (North Carolina) to frame the organization and present its proposal at the next National–for which they would serve as the steering committee as well.
April 22–24, 1985
Anxious to get a national organization up and going, the conference steering committee departed from the customary four-year interval between meetings. On April 23, 1985, they presented the name, objectives, guidelines, and slate of officers–The National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries was born. Karen Sanders introduced the NASBS Newsletter.
In keeping with the theme, It's Spring–a Time for Growing, the program featured Thomas Corts (Alabama), Ruth Sizemore Hous (Georgia), Rebecca Van Landingham Waugh (Vermont), Marvin Myers (Texas), Esther Burroughs (Georgia), and Lloyd Elder (Tennessee).
The third National Conference for Church Secretaries was held in Van Ness Auditorium of the Baptist Sunday School Board. Before the conclusion of the evening, the 600 secretaries who attended shared in a retirement party honoring Lucy Hoskins for her years of dedication and service.
April 27–29, 1989
Resuming a four-year interval, the newly name National Conference of Southern Baptist Secretaries met in Nashville with 685 participants registering. This was the first opportunity many members had to meet Donna Gandy, Church Secretary Consultant of the Baptist Sunday School Board.
The conference theme was Catch the Wind. Program personalities included Dr. J. Gordon Kingsley (Missouri), Marjorie Kelly (Mississippi), and Board staff: Lloyd Elder, Brooks Faulkner, Tim Holcomb, Fes Robertson, and Joe Stacker. Tours of Nashville, an antebellum fashion show, and Evelyn Gustafson's multimedia theme interpretation were highlights of this memorable event.
April 28–May 1, 1993
The executive board served as the steering committee for this first national conference sponsored by the new National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries; Donna Gandy was consultant.
Held at Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina, the meeting developed the theme, Fulfilling Your Ministry. George Fields was the keynote speaker.
Evelyn Gustafson (Missouri) presented a multimedia presentation of the Association's history and presided at a moving candlelight ceremony recognizing past officers and steering committee members. Lucy Hoskins was presented with a lifetime NASBS membership in appreciation of her commitment to excellence.
April 26–28, 1995
Partners in Ministry was the theme at the Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville, Tennessee, the site of this years' National Conference for Southern Baptist Secretaries, sponsored by the Board. Program personalities included: Esther Burroughs, Barbara Joiner, Harold Bryson, Bill R. Taylor, Matt and Darlene Tullos, and Fes Robertson.
A beautiful Tenth Anniversary gala gave attendees an opportunity to enjoy an evening with Grammy and Dove award winner, Cynthia Clawson.
April 23–26, 1997
Held once more at beautiful Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina, the seventh National Conference of Southern Baptist Secretaries developed the theme, Keys to Success.
NASBS officers, working with consultant Donna Gandy, coordinated this event as over 600 ministry assistants enjoyed dozens of conferences and the special program personalities: Luci Swindoll, Michael C. Blackwell, and Fes Robertson.
April 28–30, 1999
Moving west, the eighth National Conference was held for the first time at glorious Glorieta Conference Center, just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. The theme was Ministry Impact 2000, Equip to Serve. This was Donna Gandy's last meeting as the consultant of NASBS. The new consultant, Sandra Sartor, was introduced.
Keynote speakers: Gayle Hilligoss (Missouri), Joe McKeever (Louisiana), and Chonda Pierce. Program personalities: Ed Rowell (Tennessee), John and Susan Penfield, and Lynn Stone (Florida).
November 2-4, 2000
The 2000 NASBS Leadership Workshop was held at Shocco Springs in Alabama. Along with NASBS officers, Janice Holcomb led conferences in personal image, positive attitudes, and actions, putting together wardrobes and colors, public speaking, planning themes and banquets, and the finished tapestry for Weaving the Tapestry of Leadership.
April 25–27, 2001
Ridgecrest Conference Center hosted the ninth meeting of NASBS. The theme was Touching Hearts... Over 600 ministry assistants from across our nation attended the meeting. An open house with the NASBS Board of Directors was held on Wednesday evening. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet so many of the participants.
Barry Campbell was the Bible study leader and Larry Wilhite and Lynn Stone were the worship leaders. Keynote speakers were Susan Mull, Gaye Martin, and Joe McKeever.
November 7–9, 2002
Back to the Basics–Leadership Workshop at Branson, Missouri, with close to 125 in attendance! Ministry assistants made cookies in a jar. Alan Raughton became the new director of Church Strategies for LifeWay.
April 23-26, 2013
Evaluation sheets guided a move to the John S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, North
Carolina, for the tenth meeting of the National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries. The theme
was Empowered in His Service. Registration began with observing local potter, Rodney Stillwell. Dr. Sam Gore amazed us by sculpting the head of Christ during our banquet. Worship and Bible study leaders were Jay Scribner (Missouri), Thomas Hufty (Missouri) and Max Lyall (Maryland). Featured guests were Gaye Martin (Florida), Dr. Sam Gore, and George Fields.
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September 16–17, 2004
Leadership Worship, This Call Is for You, in San Antonio, Texas, covered topics for officers: program planning, publicity, public speaking, publicity, parliamentary procedures, communication, and poise on the platform. Guest speaker was Gayle Hilligoss, and there were seventy-eight participants.
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April 27–30, 2005
Celebrating 20 years of ministry work, 1985–2005, the National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries met at Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina. The theme was Building on a Solid Foundation with Janice Holcomb and Cynthia Tobias as keynote speakers. Tim Watson (Texas) was the Bible study leader and Stephen Carrell (Texas), and Lynn Stone (Florida) were the worship leaders.
November 2–4, 2006
The Leadership Workshop was held in sunny Orlando, Florida, and had as its theme Kingdom Leadership, It isn't Magic. Dr. David Uth was the Bible study leader.
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May 2–4, 2007
Nashville once again was the site of The National Conference for Southern Baptist Secretaries. The event was hosted by LifeWay and the theme was “Thank You.” Instead of a "Parade of States," a "State Fair" was held with states hosting fair-type booths. During the fair, those attending were entertained by The Music City Boys and The Peassall Sisters. Thursday evening, a dessert party was held after the concert by the Tennessee Baptist Men's Choral and the Tennessee Baptist Ladies Chorus. Dennis Swanburg entertained us at our closing session.
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April 22–25, 2009
The National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries celebrated their 25th Anniversary at Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina. Great Is Thy Faithfulness was the theme. Henry Blackaby was the keynote speaker. A concert by Greater Vision was a part of the celebration on Thursday evening. The Bible study leader was David Uth and John Marks was the worship leader.
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April 27–30, 2011
The fourteenth meeting of the National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries was held on the beautiful campus of First Baptist Church in Sevierville, Tennessee. The theme, What Is Your Joy? was explored by the Bible study leaders, Jill Baughan and Dr. Lloyd Sweatt, and by the worship leaders, Rhon Carter and Pure Joy. Rita Sweatt kept the attendees entertained and laughing at our closing session in Dollywood.
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April 24–27, 2013
The National Conference for Southern Baptist Secretaries returned to the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, North Carolina. The theme was rest.restore.renew@ridgecrest and the theme verse "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28 HCSB). Rita Sweatt was our keynote speaker and George Koehl, our worship leader. Friday evening, we enjoyed a concert with Lindsay McCaul; featuring her song “Come Rest”. We had 23 states represented with 219 conference attendees.
April 22-25, 2015
The National Association for Southern Baptist Secretaries celebrates 30 years! The venue is the beautiful Chateau on the Lake in Branson, Missouri. The theme was celebrate the heritage…connect to the present…continue the legacy. The theme verse “Your statues are my heritage forever” (Psalm 119:111). Janice Holcomb was our keynote speaker and Andrew Pouncy, our worship leader. Our by-laws were revised this year to reflect the working relationship with LifeWay, as they will no longer be providing a Liaison for the organization.
April 26-28, 2017
The National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries held their conference at the Hilton Hotel in Greenville, South Carolina. The theme was “Portrait of Grace”. The theme verse “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6)
Esther Burroughs was the keynote speaker and Tim Gay, our worship leader. Wednesday night fun night was Kristy Byers a Christian comedian.
At this conference, the members attending voted to change the name of the organization to National Association of Ministry Assistants (NAMA) and to add the position of President-elect to the board of directors.
April 24-26, 2019
The National Association of Ministry Assistants conference was held on the campus of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. The theme was “Porch Swing Time”. The theme verse “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place. (Mark 6:31). Jill Baughan was our keynote speaker and Jason “Bubba” Stewart our worship leader.
During the business session, the corporate charter was voted on so that the name could be officially changed, and the by-laws were also amended to reflect the change along with the addition of the office of President-elect to the board of directors. The Friday evening banquet was held aboard the Belle of Louisville.
April 28-30, 2021
The National Association of Ministry Assistants conference was held on the campus of the Southwestern Theological Baptist Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. The theme was “Royal Inheritance”. The theme verse “Because of His grace, He has made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life” (Titus 3:7 NLT). Tammy Whitehurst was our keynote speaker. Our worship pastor was Michael Summers, and our worship leader was Jacob Garcia. Opening night, we had a carnival. We enjoyed great fellowship and workshops and left with new ideas and friendships and ready to go back to our workplaces renewed and hopefully relaxed. Looking forward to 2023.
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April 26-28, 2023
The National Association of Ministry Assistants conference was held at the Natchez Grand Hotel in the beautiful city of Natchez, Mississippi. The theme was “Renew and Refresh” The theme verse “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake” (Psalms 23:3) The keynote speaker was Christine Ford and Aimee McGinnis was our Worship Leader. On Wednesday evening we enjoyed a NAMA State Fair and our Friday night banquet speaker was Peppi Garret.