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Portraits Magazine
Banta approved as ASBC interim
Retired Arizona pastor Byron Banta was unanimously approved by the Convention Council of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention as interim executive director/state missionary. The Convention Council voted on this recommendation by ASBC President James Harms at the regular council meeting May 24.
Banta will begin service June 16. Steve Bass, current ASBC state missionary, will assume the new post of West Region vice president for the North American Mission Board on that date.
"This is not anything that I anticipated in any way," Banta told the Convention Council. "It's a bolt out of the blue." He said he initially thought he was being asked to serve on the search team for a new state missionary.
Asked about the work of Arizona Southern Baptists in the interim time, Banta said, "We don't need to mark time. We don't need to be marching in place. We need to move ahead. Any transition can be a time of meaningful change, and we certainly can't afford to waste the opportunity."
Banta said his role will be to "maintain forward progress" and to be an encourager to the ASBC staff, directors of evangelism/missions and pastors.
Harms announced Banta's recommendation in a letter to the "Arizona Southern Baptist family" that was emailed to Convention Council members, directors of evangelism/missions and the state convention staff May 16.
A Convention Council member recommended Banta to the Council's Administrative Team, which worked with Harms in considering recommendations. Harms was joined in his recommendation by Ev Hardee, George Barnes, Steve Mar and Barry Burnett, members of the administrative team.
"Through years of ministry (Banta) has demonstrated a deep love for the Lord, for Arizona Southern Baptists and for Arizona," Harms wrote in his recommendation. "His experience in different areas of ministry will help provide him the skills to relate personally to Arizona Southern Baptists."
Banta retired in 2006, after almost 20 years as pastor of Corona Baptist Church, Chandler. He previously served as pastor of churches in Texas and Montana and as pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Payson. A graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he served three years as a U.S. Army chaplain.
Harms listed three areas of Banta's ministry that impressed him:
"1) I am impressed with His focus on seeking God's will. Byron is a prayer warrior.
"2) His focus on leading through the building of relationships excites me. Byron will work tirelessly to shepherd our state convention staff and will work in partnership with our DOEMs, Council and churches.
"3) I am impressed with Byron's humble servant spirit. It is quite evident that Byron's heart is in pleasing the Lord and serving God's people. He comes with a desire to serve Arizona Southern Baptists."