Elliff Leads GO Week Chapel Message

September 14, 2016

Dr. Tom Elliff, former president of the International Mission Board, delivered the chapel message to the OBU community Wednesday, Sept. 14. His message took place during GO Week, an annual week focusing on missions, with activities ranging from special GO Chapels to other missions-themed events.

Elliff served as President of the IMB from 2011-14. Before joining the IMB, he pastored churches for 42 years in Arkansas, Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma. Additionally, he has served the Southern Baptist Convention as president for two terms from 1996-98. As the founder of Living in the Word Publications, a written and spoken word publishing ministry, he brings his message of evangelical urgency to conferences and crusades around the world.

He and his late wife, Jeannie, served as missionaries to Zimbabwe in the early 1980s. They have been guests on widely received programs such as Family LifeToday, Focus on the Family and For Faith and Family. He earned a bachelor's degree from Ouachita Baptist University, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He has spoken at OBU numerous times, including the 2014 OBU Pastors School and during "Focus Week" in February 2015. Elliff also led the GO Week chapel during Fall 2015.