Southern Baptists are poised to set another record for short-term volunteer
projects overseas – with astounding impact both abroad and at home.
But while missions leaders continue to call for even more volunteers,
they are reminding Southern Baptists to be sure overseas ministries encourage
– and not hinder – the development of evangelistic, multiplying churches
that know how to trust God for their needs.
Southern Baptists are poised to set another record for short-term volunteer
projects overseas – with astounding impact both abroad and at home.
But while missions leaders continue to call for even more volunteers,
they are reminding Southern Baptists to be sure overseas ministries encourage
– and not hinder – the development of evangelistic, multiplying churches
that know how to trust God for their needs.
Southern Baptists continue to step up in record numbers to
serve in short-term volunteer projects overseas, said Bill Cashion, director
of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board volunteers program.
Last year, 26,741 volunteers participated in projects –
and the board is on a course for 30,000 this year. That compares to 12,756 volunteers
in 1994 and 6,066 in 1984.
“Today, short-term volunteers play a very, very significant
role in … overseas strategies,” Cashion said. “Twenty years ago,
many people wondered whether God could actually use volunteers to win people,
disciple them and see churches started and churches strengthened.
“Over the years, there has been a major shift in attitude
basically because we have seen God do mighty and wonderful things through volunteers,”
he said. “Now, missionaries around the world more and more are including
volunteers, not as an add-on to their strategic plans, but in some cases its
the hub of the wheel.”
The impact of volunteers has been enormous, both at home and
abroad, International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin added. “The
growing participation of short-term volunteers in overseas strategies has accelerated
evangelistic harvest and enhanced our impact around the world.
“But it also is an obvious factor in the successive years
of record missionary appointments, record levels of giving to the Cooperative
Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and increased involvement in intercessory
prayer for missionaries and the nations,” Rankin added.
“Most pastors would testify that getting their people
personally involved in international missions has resulted in greater commitment
to local witness and outreach as well.”
However, veteran missionaries realize that missions efforts
sometimes can harm as well as help, no matter how good the intentions. Sometimes,
projects create a welfare mentality that hinders church growth.
“Over many years, missionaries have recognized it is a
mistake to try to accelerate growth (on an overseas field) by an infusion of
financial aid to build churches and support pastors,” Rankin said. “Well-intended
financial assistance too often creates dependence and handicaps the initiative
and faith essential for spontaneous growth.”
Cashion questioned if Southern Baptists themselves would be
as strong as they are if others had “helped” them like many Americans
are tempted to assist Christians overseas.
“When Southern Baptists were a pioneer people, who came
and bought our land, built our buildings and paid our pastors?” the missions
leader asked. “Nobody did. So our forefathers had to do more faith building
than they did building building. We need to be sure we dont cheat other
people out of that same faith-building opportunity.”
Establishing independent churches also is a key to world evangelization,
said Rankin, noting that no matter how many missionaries and volunteers are
sent, the task is too large for Southern Baptists alone. “Everyone in the
world will have access to the gospel only when our strategies result in a multiplying
network of local New Testament churches that are able to grow and reproduce
without being dependent on foreign assistance and resources,” he said.
“We are seeing phenomenal church planting movements in
many areas of the world, but it is not happening where churches have come to
expect Americans to provide them with facilities in which to worship or are
dependent on someone else providing support for their pastor.”
There always will be a tension between facilitating what volunteers
want to do and what is most effective in the long-range strategy of missionaries
on the field, Rankin said.
The key to negotiating that tension lies in Southern Baptists
who really hear where God is calling them to serve – and then are obedient,
Cashion said.
“God is doing a great work in the far corners of the earth,
and he is inviting us to be part of what only he can do,” he said. “I
believe God is saying to us, I am big enough to cover this entire world.
Ive got plenty of you to go into Latin America, and Ive got plenty
of you to go into Africa and Asia and Europe as well.
“Were seeing people starting to respond to that
call now, but we need to see more,” the International Mission Board leader
continued. “God is big enough, and if were obedient we have the people
to go into all parts of the world with the good news of Gods love.”