Tegucigalpa, Honduras (BNc) — Former missionary and Christian Chronicle editor Howard Norton has been chosen as the next president of the Central American school, Baxter Institute.

howardnortonThe board of directors of Baxter Institute announced April 19 the appointment of Dr. Howard W. Norton as the next president of Baxter Institute, effective June 1.

Norton will serve as the fourth president of the Institute and as president of Association Amicus, a Honduran not-for-profit organization that also oversees the James Moody Adams Clinic.  JMA Clinic partners with Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, Va., to provide medical services to the population of Honduras.  The clinic hosts numerous medical brigades and students each year.

Norton brings years of missions, ministry and academic experience to his new role. He served as a missionary in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1961-1977.

In 1977, he began teaching at Oklahoma Christian University, and later served as Dean of the College of Bible.

He served as editor of The Christian Chronicle 1981-1996.

He has most recently served as professor of Bible and Assistant Dean for Church Relations at Harding University.

Baxter Institute offers a four-year ministry and missions training program which attracts students from across Latin America and now has over 500 graduates working in North, Central and South America. It was established in Mexico 1964 and moved to Honduras 1978.

Baxter Institute fulfills its mission to serve and strengthen churches and Christians in Latin America by training ministers and leaders, providing resources to plant and strengthen churches, partnering with missions and educational organizations to reach shared goals and providing a base for Latin American missions.

Bob Young, chairman of the board of directors, said, “We are grateful for the work done by Dr. Steve White during the five years of his presidency, and for the progress we have made.  As we build on that foundation, we are pleased to have someone with Howard’s experience and skills to lead us into the future.  We are especially thankful that Harding University has granted Howard a leave of absence to assist with this important work. Howard is a great team builder.  His experiences in missions, ministry and church leadership make him a wonderful mentor and teacher.  His leadership and influence will bless the people and churches of Latin America into future generations.”

Additional information about Baxter Institute can be found at the school’s website.

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