Southern Baptists need to increase their overseas missionary force by
at least one-half even to begin engaging all the lost in the world, missions
leaders concluded recently.
Southern Baptists need to increase their overseas missionary force by
at least one-half even to begin engaging all the lost in the world, missions
leaders concluded recently.
“We realize this is a tremendous challenge,” said Jerry Rankin, president of
the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. “We have in recent months
had to slow down the flow of missionaries going overseas so we can stay within
the financial support provided by the churches.
“But our hearts are burdened by the overwhelming lostness of our world.”
That burden was the focus of a recent strategy summit with regional and senior
leaders of the mission board. The leaders agreed that meeting the challenge
of the burden will require considerable effort, especially in a time of slowdown.
Indeed, even as the call for increased workers comes, the reality of a reduced
missions force looms for the board.
The slowdown in missionary appointments means attrition will take a higher
toll than usual on the number of missionaries working overseas. While that number
stands at a record 5,607, board leaders say retirements, resignations and the
steady stream of short-term workers completing their assignments will push the
total below 5,000 by the end of 2004.
Meanwhile, one-fourth of the world’s population – 1.5 billion people – have
little or no prospect of hearing the gospel unless someone comes and tells them.
“This is not a time when Southern Baptists should be sending fewer missionaries,”
Rankin said. “The lostness of our world is undiminished. Christ’s mandate is
still for us to make disciples of all peoples. And our mission of making Jesus
Christ known among all peoples will not change.
“The challenge we face is how to best use limited resources and remain focused
on our vision of leading Southern Baptists to be on mission with God to bring
all the peoples of the world to saving faith in Jesus.”
Southern Baptist churches are giving larger amounts each year through the Cooperative
Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, but
the number of church members coming forward for missionary service has been
growing even faster. In response, the board is delaying 100 long-term missionary
candidates and reducing the number of short-term workers this year by 30 percent.
The regional leaders decided to convene the summit to evaluate the impact of
budget reductions and personnel limitations on the board’s global strategy.
Their purpose was to develop priorities that would guide board decisions in
the immediate future.
The need for at least 8,500 missionaries seriously to engage the lost of urban
centers and unreached peoples groups was one of the conclusions the group reached.
The number was based on research conducted around the world prior to the meeting.
The group also decided to recommend that any funds above budgeted income that
might become available in 2003 or 2004 be applied to sending more workers. Two-thirds
of those funds would be directed toward sending long-term personnel, while one-third
would be appropriated for sending short-term workers.
The leaders also agreed on how the limited number of positions for new workers
available in 2004 will be divided among the 15 missions regions of the world
and discussed ways to ensure new personnel are placed in strategic field assignments.
“Our decisions were shaped by our shared vision, values and view of the future,”
said Phil Templin, who leads work in the board’s Middle America region. “While
economics precipitated the discussions, it did not determine our decisions.
…
“We are focused on the goal of impacting lostness and are committed to organizing
our work in the most effective way to accomplish that goal.” (BP)