FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 5, 2025
Contact:
Rev. TaNikka Sheppard, DMin
General Secretary
North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF)
info@nabfellowship.org | 1-888-615-6223
https://nabfellowship.org
Advancing Our Shared Work:
New NABF Executive Committee Members
NABF Welcomes Dr. Linda Livingstone, Rev. Tual Mang, Rev. Lakang Dau Qae (Ah Le), and Rev. Jesse Rincones to the Executive Committee
Washington, D.C. — November 5, 2025 — The North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF) is delighted to welcome four new members to its Executive Committee: Dr. Linda Livingstone, President of Baylor University; Rev. Tual Mang, General Secretary of the Zomi Baptist Churches of North America (ZBCNA); Rev. Lakang Dau Qae (Ah Le), General Secretary of the Kachin Baptist Churches USA (KBCUSA), and Rev. Jesse Rincones, Executive Director of the Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas.
Each of these leaders brings a wealth of experience, vision, and faith to our shared efforts of strengthening Baptist life and our Christian witness in North America. Drawn from our diverse Baptist traditions and composed of leaders of our member bodies, the NABF Executive Committee guides and amplifies our collective vision by providing strategic clarity, leadership care and development, partnership-building, and resource sharing. The Executive Committee has the convening power to forge cross-sector engagement for Kingdom-building and gospel-shaped justice, while keeping NABF’s mission and priorities clear and impactful, offering wisdom and encouragement to our leadership, and fostering stronger connections and collaborations among our membership.
Dr. Linda Livingstone has served as President of Baylor University since 2017, guiding the university through a season of significant growth and strengthened Christian mission. A respected academic leader and business scholar, Dr. Livingstone has been a strong advocate for faith-based higher education and for collaboration among Christian institutions. Her leadership reflects the NABF’s values of integrity, service, and shared mission within the Baptist family.
Rev. Tual Mang serves as General Secretary of the Zomi Baptist Churches of America, guiding a vibrant and growing fellowship of 36 churches across the US serving the Zomi diaspora originally from Myanmar and northeast India. His leadership continues to strengthen unity and connection across generations and borders within the global Baptist family. Rev. Tual Mang has worked in pastoral ministry for 31 years, currently serving in Denver, Colorado.
Rev. Lakang Dau Qae (Ah Le) serves as General Secretary of the Kachin Baptist Churches-USA, a denomination of over 20 Kachin language Baptist churches comprising over 2000 Christians in the US and Canada who are ethnically rooted in northern Myanmar. Rev. Ah Le has served faithfully as pastor and community leader in his home church in Maryland, embodying the spirit of fellowship and cooperation that defines the NABF’s mission.
Rev. Jesse Rincones serves as Executive Director of the Convención Bautiste Hispana de Texas (Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas), where he provides visionary leadership to churches across the state and beyond. A passionate advocate for justice, unity, and next-generation leadership, Rev. Rincones brings valuable insight into how Baptists can engage communities with compassion and courage.
“We are grateful for the gifts and wisdom that Dr. Livingstone, Rev. Mang, Rev. Ah Le, and Rev. Rincones will bring to our shared work,” says Rev. Emmett Dunn, NABF President. “Their leadership will reflect and enhance the diversity and vitality of Baptist life across North America.”
With their diverse backgrounds and deep commitment to ministry, the new members of the NABF Executive Committee will help strengthen the four key aspects of our Fellowship’s purpose: solidarity, formation, equipping, and witness. Together, they bring fresh energy to nurturing our network of Baptists across North America, cultivating trust, and modeling the mutual belonging of Christ’s body. Their leadership experience and vision will also enrich our efforts to develop and mentor emerging leaders, support our member bodies in addressing common challenges, and amplify our shared prophetic voice of compassion, justice, and hope throughout this region.
We look forward to what the Lord will accomplish through NABF as our leadership continues to advance in this new season.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Dr. TaNikka Sheppard
NABF General Secretary
The North American Baptist Fellowship serves as a regional body of the Baptist World Alliance, connecting Baptist member bodies across the United States and Canada to foster partnership, advocacy, and mission.