Austin and Megan Holcomb have been serving an IMB missionary term at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for the last three years.  

The couple has served at NOBTS as seminary and pipeline liaisons for the International Mission Board, representing a unique and strategic partnership between the entities.  

The Holcombs served as International Mission Board representatives primarily tasked with assisting, guiding and mentoring NOBTS students who are in the application process to become IMB missionaries or have potential interest in missionary service.  

After the couple’s missionary term at NOBTS ended in May, Austin and Megan will embark on a new journey of missions leadership this upcoming fall.  

Austin will serve as director of the brand-new Tom Elliff Center for Missions at the University of Mobile, as well as assistant professor of theology. Beginning this fall, Austin will lead a team of staff at the Center as it launches as a new initiative of the university.  

Similar to the Global Mission Center (GMC) at NOBTS, the Tom Elliff Center will seek to continue to build a missional culture at the University of Mobile by providing training and education to students, as well as helping mobilize them toward the mission field.  

“This opportunity was not on our radar, but we could honestly see the Lord going before us in this process with almost every detail,” Austin said. “I’m excited to work on developing this new Center with the leadership at the University of Mobile.  

“We want to be a Center that impacts, affects and holds hands with students during a time where they are developing their professional skills. Our goal is to create a Great Commission vision in every student that comes to the school no matter what their major is. 

“We desire to bolster their faith but also help mobilize some of them to the mission field, whether that be short-term or potentially longer.”  

The Holcombs expressed thankfulness for the way their time at NOBTS prepared them for their new ministry assignment.  

“I don’t think we would be in this position had it not been for our time of ministry here at NOBTS,” Austin said. “I just have a heart of gratitude for everyone here.” 

Beyond helping them prepare for their next opportunity, the Holcombs said their term at NOBTS also provided a time of stability where they developed new ministry passions.  

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a host of other reasons, the Holcombs’ first IMB missionary term was filled with a lot of changes and unexpected turns. While serving at NOBTS, the couple helped guide young adults experiencing similar things. 

“The Lord helped Megan and I discover how much we enjoy ministering to college students during this term at NOBTS,” Austin said.   

“We have had to navigate a lot of transitions, unknowns and unpredictable changes in our lives, especially on the mission field. I think that is one reason that we find ourselves comfortable training and discipling young people during this time in their lives where they are trying to navigate what is next for them.” 

Although they became accustomed to transition out of necessity, the constant change did eventually take a mental and emotional toll on the Holcomb family.  

Austin recalls the family staying the night for at least five consecutive days in more than 30 different physical locations over the course of their four-year term.  

“As a family, we really needed to be in a place where we could get some traction in ministry and be there for a few years in a row,” Austin said. “We were willing to serve anywhere if we could just meet that goal. The Lord fulfilled that and even more with this liaison role at NOBTS. 

“We owe a huge thanks to Greg Mathias, Jake Hines and many others for everything they’ve done for us. It’s been wonderful to be a part of what Lord is doing in so many people’s lives here in New Orleans.” 

Their time at NOBTS provided personal stability, gave them a new ministry passion for young adults and trained them for their next ministry assignment without them even realizing it. 

“You can’t ever tell how the Lord is going to answer prayers in a difficult season,” Megan said. “This term here at NOBTS has helped us to really look and see how God has taken so many things that seemed insignificant at the time and used them in our story.  

“God answered prayers that we prayed very fervently for many years and has given us a new breath of life in our ministry through this NOBTS season.” 

Greg Mathias, associate professor of global missions and director of the GMC, emphasized that the Holcombs role at the seminary highlights the GMC’s deep partnership with the IMB.  

The IMB and NOBTS worked together to hire the position, and Mathias lobbied hard for Austin and Megan to be chosen, as he previously knew Austin from Southeastern Seminary.  

“It was not just about getting someone here for 3 years, but about getting the right people for us at NOBTS for those 3 years,” Mathias said. “The IMB was great to work with on this, and we are so glad we received the Holcombs for this term. They were a great fit for who we are and what we are trying to build with the Global Mission Center.” 

In addition to assisting the GMC with trainings and events, Austin and Megan personally invested in the lives of many NOBTS students pursuing missions throughout their term.  

The couple hosted monthly pipeline meetings during the school year for students in the IMB application process or generally considering missionary service.  

Said students would commit to a year of training with the Holcombs, who would dedicate each meeting to discussing a certain element of the missionary task. Austin and Megan would also lead male and female specific groups dedicated to Bible study and Scripture memory.  

This group ranged between 25-30 participants each year, and several missionary units who participated successfully completed their IMB application process and are now serving as field missionaries.  

“Austin and Megan did a phenomenal job of meeting students where they are with real empathy and wisdom,” Mathias said. “They have been a major part of what we do at the GMC and of campus life as a whole. They have uniquely invested in so many of our students and are a living example of our partnership with the IMB. 

“Their friendship and shared passion for missions has been a blessing to us. We have certainly loved having them here, and we are excited to celebrate them taking this new role.” 

Mathias said the Holcombs’ story represents a perfect picture of the seminary’s mission.  

“Whatever position you’re in here at NOBTS, we are about training up men and women for ministry and sending them out,” Mathias said.  

“It just so happens in this scenario that our seminary and Global Mission Center is sending out the Holcombs to lead a Mission Center at another school. It’s a beautiful picture of why we exist."