Get to Know Our New Associate Executive Coordinator

Our New Associate Executive CoordinatorGET TO KNOW

5QUESTIONS

with 1. Do you have a hidden talent?

This might be a bit outdated, but I learned to climb coconut trees the summer I coordinated tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka. The tallest I climbed was 60 feet. The key is to save enough energy on the descent. If not, you’ll slide down it like a fire pole only to have your chest torn to pieces. I can also hold my breath for a long time, making snorkeling much more interesting to deeper depths. I can typically swim 2.5 laps in the pool underwater without coming up for a breath. However, I feel someone will call my bluff on this at an upcoming General Assembly, forcing me into the pool for proof.

Andy Hale

Andy Hale officially joined the CBFNC team in June 2022 as associate executive coordinator. His responsibilities include collaborating with Larry Hovis, executive coordinator, for the thriving of CBFNC churches and clergy: developing innovative ministry with young adults and college students; starting new faith communities; and partnering with CBFNC ministry staff. Andy, his wife Jennifer and two daughters relocated from Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he served as the senior pastor of University Baptist Church. He will be based in the CBFNC office in Winston-Salem and can be reached at ahale@cbfnc.org. 2. When are you most productive?

I am an early riser. My most creative time is 6:30-8:30 a.m. I like to gulp down at least four cups of coffee while thinking and writing before the beautiful busyness of the day kicks into high gear, with Amazon Music turned to the Film Score station. In a collaborative setting, I strive to create a climate of transparency, candor, inclusiveness, equity, and creativity. I hope that the collective “we” will continually understand why we do what we do, how we can live into our why more authentically and discover what new possibilities exist.

3. What’s on your bucket list?

Our family loves visiting the National Parks, taking in all the parks in Colorado and Utah over the pandemic. We have Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Acadia and Yosemite on our shortlist for the coming years. Expanding beyond the United States, I have a lifelong dream of exploring Middle Earth/New Zealand, backpacking to Machu Picchu, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, and sailing around the Caribbean. Of course, who wouldn’t want to go to Rome, Paris, Athens, or Jerusalem?

4. What do you do to “refill your tank?

Did I mention I have an affinity for good coffee? I cannot function without 50-60 ounces of java per day with a companion of water from my Hydro Flask. Intense workouts refill my tank, as much of a contradiction as that sounds. I enjoy long runs while listening to either an audiobook or podcast episodes and high-intensity workouts. Our family goes for evening walks with our pup, BB-8, named after the Star Wars droid because of the identical shape patch on his back.

5. What are you most looking forward to about working with CBFNC?

I love the church. I desire to help congregations leverage their God-given strengths, passions, and assets for thriving. Now, more than ever, churches have the unique opportunity to follow the leadership of God into the unknown future with bold confidence that great things are in store. Serving in vocational ministry for nearly 25 years, I yearn to help clergy live into their sense of calling and flourish vocationally, familially, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I look forward to doing my part in serving our more than 275 churches, 25+ partnerships, thousands of congregational leaders and hundreds of ministers as we seek to equip, engage and embrace God’s good work in North Carolina and around the world.