OMAHA, NE (ABNS 11/13/23)—The Churches Helping Churches American Baptist Churches of Nebraska met Friday, November 10 in a special session of their Leadership Team to select Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula as the next Executive Minister for the Region, effective immediately.
Search team chairperson Rev. Rick Wheatley, long-time pastor in Nebraska, said the search team was unanimous in its decision to recommend Dr. Mamula after the year-long process that reviewed candidates from the nationwide search. “There were excellent candidates for our committee to prayerfully discern in the selection of the next Region Executive Minister of Nebraska. 
But one stood out above the rest, and that was Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula. Familiarity with the Region and its functions, awareness of the theological landscape of our day, and a visionary way of addressing some of those issues is what drew him to the top. Our hope is that our region church family will prayerfully support Greg and his family in this new role.”
Leadership Team President Craig Erickson said, “Greg is a most accomplished organizer of simultaneous multiple tasks. His personal approach to any issue assists those involved to come to their best path for success.”
Rev. Soozi Whitten Ford, interim associate general secretary for Regional Ministries with American Baptist Churches USA said, “Dr. Mamula relates well to all and is known for his caring presence and listening ear. He has demonstrated strong leadership skills, creativity, and deep spiritual formation practices that will serve him well as he confronts the emerging opportunities of ministry among the pastors and churches he serves. ABCUSA welcomes Greg Mamula to this role and celebrates with ABC of Nebraska as they welcome their new executive minister.”
Mamula came to Nebraska in 2007 as the associate pastor of Family and Youth at First Baptist Church, North Platte, alongside Rev. Dr. Tom Wiles, senior pastor. In 2012, Mamula transitioned to the role of associate executive minister and region missionary for the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska, ministering for 11-years beside Rev. Dr. Robin Stoops, who is currently ABCUSA’s interim associate general secretary for Mission Resource Development. Greg has served as the transitional executive minister since November 2022.
In his role as ABC Nebraska Region Staff, Greg partners with congregations through pastoral searches, conflict transformation, church training, continuing education, clergy ethics, Baptist polity and history, the Department of Professional Ministry, and program development. Throughout his tenure he has helped foster a growing network of ministry partnerships that provide resources to local churches. He supports the work and mission of the Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center, the largest shared ministry of ABC Nebraska. He has participated in multiple ABCUSA initiatives including Transformed by the Spirit, Joining God in the Neighborhood, the Theologians Conference, and the Covid-19 Taskforce. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the American Baptist Homes of the Midwest.
Greg earned his bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries from Williams Baptist College in 2004, a Master of Divinity from the Truett Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007 and a Doctor of Ministry in Jewish Context of the New Testament from Northern Seminary in 2018. He is the author of Table Life: An Invitation to Everyday Discipleship published by Judson Press. He is co-editor and co-author of Conflict Management and the Apostle Paul, along with Dr. Scot McKnight, as well as contributing author to #InThisTogether Ministry in Times of Crises by Curtis Ramsey-Lucas. He regularly publishes articles in Word&Way and The Christian Citizen and is the host of the podcast Mission in 5. He is a faculty mentor to students attending Kairos University.
Greg is a tea snob, hoodie advocate, baseball aficionado, Omaha softball champion, and a lover of stories. He and his wife of 20-years, Lisa, parent their two teenage children in Bellevue, Nebraska where they participate in the rhythms of life with an amazing community of neighbors.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.