May 16, 2025
Springfield, Ill. — During the meetings on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 24-25, of IBSA Board Committees, executive director Nate Adams shared with Board leadership his desire to begin working with the full Board on a timeline for retirement as executive director. Adams has served IBSA since March 2006.
Adams said that during past discussions, Board leadership had asked for at least a year of advance notice of his retirement plans, to help ensure adequate time for a careful search process, and to hopefully allow for some overlap time between the current and new executive directors.
During the Feb. 24-25 discussions, Adams asked Board leaders to consider proceeding with the election of an Executive Director Search Committee at its upcoming March 25 meeting in Springfield.
In an e-mail announcement to the full lBSA Board shortly thereafter, Adams wrote, “It’s been a great privilege to serve as IBSA’s Executive Director for the past 19 years, and with the Lord’s continued grace and help I intend to continue working diligently, and planning and leading strategically, and then to run hard through the finish line about a year from now. Long leadership tenures provide many benefits, but they also create a need for especially careful planning, coordination, and communication as a new leader is prayerfully selected and engaged. Your role as IBSA Board members will be central in this, and I will be praying for you, believing the Lord has brought you to the IBSA Board for just such a time as this.”
Adams is a Kentucky native who moved with his family to Illinois at age 5 when his father, Tom, was called to pastor in Southern Illinois, then the Chicago suburbs, followed by service as a Director of Missions. Adams graduated from Judson College (now University) in Elgin.
For 17 years, he was in leadership at Christianity Today International, a major publisher headquartered in Carol Stream. Then, Adams was called to a vice presidency at the North American Mission Board, with an increasing portfolio of responsibilities including media and mobilization ministries. Adams accepted the call to return home to lead Illinois Baptist work in 2006. After 19 years, he is one of the longest tenured Executive Directors presently serving among 41 Baptist state conventions.
Adams is married to Beth. They have three adult sons and their wives: Caleb (Laura), Noah (Alyssa), Ethan (Alyssa), and six grandchildren.
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This story first appeared in the IBSA Newsjournal.
