RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2015)--The Inland Empire Southern Baptist Association (IESBA) is relocating its office to Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary’s new Ontario, Calif., campus next summer.

“We are delighted to support church planting and other IESBA ministry priorities,” said Dr. Jeff Iorg, Golden Gate Seminary president. “We prioritize churches and know that working with IESBA will connect us more closely to the churches in the area around our new campus.”

The decision to move comes with the full approval of the IESBA’s executive board and the association’s more than 230 affiliated churches.

“The executive board and our churches were overwhelmingly confident with the move,” said Deryl Lackey, director of missions for the IESBA. “That’s no small thing.”

Although Riverside, where the association’s office has been for more than 15 years, is a hub of the Inland Empire, Ontario is more centrally located to major freeways and an airport, which will help the IESBA better serve its churches.
The association’s current building is for sale. Its new office will be housed in 2,200 square feet of office space on the fifth floor of Golden Gate Seminary’s Ontario building.

“This will allow us to do joint ministry together,” Lackey said. He said he hopes the close proximity to seminary students will help foster relationships between developing leaders and the churches in the IESBA.

“We want to model ministry partnerships for our students and help them to appreciate and cooperate with denominational partners,” Iorg said.
Lackey added: “We have a great partnership with Golden Gate. They’re a blessing to us, and we hope we’re a blessing to them.”

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