EMPOWER ’23: NAMB’s next gen evangelism leader Pruitt receives Fish Award

Pruitt said his ministry has been deeply impacted by the ministry of Roy Fish. SBTC PHOTO

IRVING—Shane Pruitt, national next gen evangelism director for the North American Mission Board, received the Roy Fish Award for Vocational Evangelism during the Monday afternoon session (Feb. 27) of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Empower conference.

Pruitt came from a pastorate in Rowlett to the SBTC, where he served as director of missions and church planting before becoming evangelism director. NAMB called him to a newly created leadership role focused on communicating the gospel with emerging generations in late 2019.

“I feel like I’ve been deeply impacted by Roy Fish because of the influence he had on so many leaders who have influenced me in the gospel, in evangelism, and in giving invitations,” Pruitt said. “I am extremely humbled to receive this award. I am very aware of standing on the shoulders of evangelists from previous generations who were faithful to proclaim the gospel with passion and equip others to evangelize. It is a true honor.”

Pruitt has earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies, a master’s degree in history, and a Ph.D. in clinical Christian counseling. He is the author of two books—9 Common Lies Christians Believe: Why God’s Truth is infinitely Better and Calling Out the Called: Discipling Those Called to Ministry.

SBTC Missional Ministries Senior Strategist Tony Mathews, who followed Pruitt in directing the convention’s evangelism ministry, said, “There are few people who are evangelists gifted to lead people to Christ and then motivate them to share Christ with others. Shane Pruitt has this giftedness. He has an unbelievable passion for evangelism, along with stellar communication and preaching skills. Most importantly, there are countless people who have been led to Christ under his ministry. The Roy Fish Award will be right at home with Shane Pruitt as its recipient.”

Shane and Kasi Pruitt, who have been married 18 years, still live in Texas and have six children.

First awarded in 2006, the Roy Fish Award is named in honor of one of the best-known seminary evangelism professors in Southern Baptist history. Fish served Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for nearly 50 years and taught evangelism to generations of Southern Baptist pastors and missionaries.

Correspondent
Gary Ledbetter
Southern Baptist Texan
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