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by Leo Crosby, CMN Marketing & Communications Director

As many of you know last week we had a transition in the General Secretary position at the national office.  Over the past week, members of the Assemblies of God Executive Leadership prayerfully and carefully sought a person to appoint as general secretary of the Assemblies of God.  Qualities they looked for included: person of godly character; biblically grounded advocate for our beliefs and mission; well-respected throughout the constituency; strong preaching and communications skills; strong connection with young persons, especially those called to the ministry; and as third in line to the general superintendent, able to fulfill that office in the event of a simultaneous loss of the general and assistant general superintendents. That is quite a list!

The Executive Leadership found a person who possesses all these qualities. Effective immediately, Pastor Jim Bradford from Central Assembly of God is the general secretary of the General Council of the Assemblies of God. Dr. Jim Bradford has been  the Senior Pastor of Central Assembly in Springfield, Missouri for the last 6 years. Jim holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Minnesota. As a student he led a small Chi Alpha campus Bible study that eventually grew into a university church. Upon graduation in 1979 Jim stepped into full time ministry with that campus outreach. In 1988 Jim and his family moved to Southern California where he pastored Newport-Mesa Christian Center in the heart of Orange County. Twelve years later the Bradford’s transitioned to Vancouver, B.C., to pastor Broadway Church, a move that returned Jim to his early Canadian roots. It was in 2003 that Jim and his family moved to Springfield to assume the pastorate of Central Assembly.

Jim and his wife, Sandi, have two girls, Meredith and Angeline, and one rabbit, Titus. Jim enjoys spending time with Sandi and his girls, running for exercise, reading physics books on vacation and trying to fix his daughters’ computers.
Having been a member at Central I can honestly say Jim is going to be a great fit for the role and his spiritual leadership has been evident by the growth Central Assembly has seen during his time there as he has lead that congregation.   Please pray for Jim and Sandi as they make this transition.

Of course I couldn’t resist having my picture taken with him in a t-shirt that will be available soon that reads “My General Secretary is a Rocket Scientist”.

We have a new home in Springfield, MO (still in the national office building).  We are calling it the bullpen.  The next six months or so this will be our home.  This is the place to be so if your around the receiving docks stop in and say hello.