VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 5/20/16)—American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) Office of the General Secretary will transition to a different way of handling the Human Resources needs of the organization beginning June 1, 2016. This change comes as American Baptist International Ministries, which used these services, shifts to a consolidated HR function, a part of its organizational restructure as discerned through Responding to the Call.
Johnson Eapen, who has worked with American Baptist Churches USA for 16 years in the office of Human Resources, will conclude his service as Chief Human Resources Officer effective May 31, 2016. Prior to his work with ABC, he served as Human Resources Training Manager for GE Financial Assurance in Ft. Washington, Penn., and as Human Resources/Organizational Development Specialist for Philadelphia Workforce Development Corp. He also served as an Adjunct Faculty member in Organizational Management at Eastern University, in St. Davids, Penn., from 1995-2008.
“The entire ABC family thanks Johnson Eapen for his faithful service and wishes him God’s blessings for the future,” said Dr. Susan Gillies, interim general secretary for ABCUSA.
“As a global mission agency, we have especially appreciated the multicultural skills Johnson Eapen has brought to his service,” said Reid Trulson, executive director of American Baptist International Ministries.
Eapen has been active in the wider ABC family. He made two trips to India, one in 2014 when he spoke at the closing worship service for the 100th year celebration of the Kuki Baptist Convention. Of the experience, Eapen said, “Sharing God’s word to a crowd of 20,000 was a life changing experience, one that will always be in my heart.” Earlier this year he was part of an International Ministries delegation to India, sharing Gods word and leading a workshop titled, “Engaged in Ministry: A Biblical Context.”
Among other recognitions, Eapen received a Citation for Heroism from Upper Merion Township in King of Prussia, Penn., for his role in saving the life of a colleague.
Eapen is married and has one son who is entering college in the fall. He plays the bass guitar, and played bass for the worship band as a member of the worship team at the 2015 Biennial Mission Summit in Overland Park, Kansas.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.