Blackwell and EDT Unzicker share vision for children
The new executive director/ treasurer (EDT) of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina Todd Unzicker was hosted by BCH president/CEO Michael C. Blackwell and BCH executive team members at Mills Home in Thomasville on May 6. While visiting, Blackwell invited Unzicker to be his guest on his podcast It’s a family matter. The podcast went live on May 24, two days after Unzicker was elected as EDT by the messengers attending a special called meeting of the state convention gathered at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem on May 22. Unzicker succeeded Milton A. Hollifield Jr. who retired February 28 of this year.
“It is an honor to be here on this podcast,” Unzicker tells Blackwell as they began recording. “I am thrilled about this new assignment and look forward to working with you.”
Unzicker tells listeners that he and wife Ashley have a heart for children. Ashley has served as a children’s minister, and her husband affirms, “She’s great with kids.”
During the podcast interview, Unzicker shared the couple’s passion. “One of the visions that I believe that God gave Ashley and me was that how can we be a state that eradicates child homelessness, where tonight there isn’t one child who doesn’t have a safe, loving Christian home to go to?”
Approximately 16,000 children are in the state foster care system. They have been removed from a family home and are in a state of flux, seeking a permanent caring home.
“I don’t know how we’re going to get there, Dr. Blackwell, but I really know after meeting with your staff, that it was a heartbeat and a purpose of the staff long before I ever met them,” Unzicker says. “And so, I really see the Holy Spirit already giving us those dreams and desires together.”
Blackwell assures Unzicker that BCH wants “to do everything that we can to work in tandem” with him and NC Baptists.
Unzicker’s vision for the state convention is clear, “We’re going to be a convention of churches that are on a mission together.”
The Unzicker episode of It’s a family matter can be listened to at www.bchblog.org/podcast or on a favorite podast platform.
Article is written by Jim Edminson, Charity & Children Editor