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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Elliff Center Staff

Dr. Tom Elliff

Dr. Tom ElliffAfter pastoring for 42 years, Elliff served as the International Mission Board’s president from 2011–2014, as senior vice president for spiritual nurture and church relations from 2005–2009, and as a missionary in Zimbabwe from 1981–1983. He has pastored churches in Arkansas, Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma including his service as pastor of First Southern, Del City, Oklahoma, from 1985 to 2005. He served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors Conference and two terms as president of the SBC. Elliff earned a bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dr. Elbert Smith

Dr. Elbert SmithSmith began as a church planter in Mexico, before overseeing more than 150 missionaries from Mexico to Panama. As director of field personnel orientation with the IMB, he oversaw the orientation of more than 7,600 IMB workers from 2004 to 2019. He currently serves as an international trainer at the Global Training Centre in Redhill, United Kingdom. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in religion from OBU, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry in church and mission from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in applied theology: missions from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dr. Mike Hand

Dr. Mike HandHand served as a pastor for 35 years before going to work for the International Mission Board, where he served as special assistant to the president and church missional strategist. In 2016, he went to work for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma as the partnership mission strategist. He currently focuses on consulting. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from Tennessee Temple College, a Master of Ministry from Tennessee Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in leadership from Tennessee Temple University. He also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Southern Baptist School for Biblical Studies.

Mr. Kyle Opskar

Kyle graduated from OBU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business. He earned his Master of Divinity in Missiology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2021, he was ordained to the gospel ministry at Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee. Since that time, he has been  involved in many roles that reflect his passion for missions and education, including volunteering with OBU's Avery T. Willis Center for Global Outreach for more than a decade. A highlight of Kyle's mission journey was his volunteer experience with the International Mission Board (IMB) in 2014 which exposed him to the challenges and rewards of international missions. These combined experiences make Kyle a valuable addition to the Tom Elliff Center for Missions team.