IBSA Church Planting Director Paul Westbrook has been promoted to fill the Association’s second Associate Executive Director (AED) position that has remained empty since its creation in August 2019. He will step into the role effective July 1. Until then he will fulfill priorities relating to his church planting role and train with Associate Executive Director Mark Emerson.
“Paul and I first discussed the possibility of him taking on the AED role some time ago, as we talked about his best fit on the IBSA staff,” IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams said. “Paul has done a great job transitioning into the Church Planting position from his longtime planter-pastor role with Metro Community Church. Now after continued conversation and prayer, including Mark’s valuable participation and input in the process, we believe the time and fit is right for this transition.”
Westbrook joined the IBSA staff in May 2022 after serving as Senior Pastor of Metro Community Church in Edwardsville for 31 years. The church has been instrumental in starting new congregations in Illinois since it was first planted in 1991.
Westbrook will lead the Health, Growth, and Missions Teams, and Zone Consultants, while Emerson will lead the Communications and Operations Teams. “I think it will put us in the next level for us to do what we’ve been doing so far,” Adams said.
Westbrook and his wife, Melody, moved from Oklahoma to Illinois and started the church in a duplex along with six other couples. Metro Community Church would eventually grow to more than 1,000 worshippers and support several church planters.