Southern Baptist Missions

What I am now disappointed in is that NAMB missionaries are having to raise their own support.

 

International Mission Board to experiment with having missionaries raise own support:

http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=13483&LanguageID=1709

http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=13132&LanguageID=1709

 

No SBC missionaries. We are a long way from everywhere, so not expecting much. Though our state and CBF have made the journey. I'm sure if I wanted SBC missionaries to really be here, called and hassled somebody, they would find someone, not worth the hassle.

They do manage to send a certificate each year for our mission giving, so I guess that's something.

 

The Pastor has to make it a priority.

 

So am I.


It has been a minute since I have heard an IMB missionary speak, though I do interact with a number via social media.

 

But then I interact with many missionaries, IMB or not, via social media.

 

1. By calling Richmond and requesting Missionaries to come speak

2. Inviting National Pastors to come speak at American Churches

3. ON-line Biblical training

4. Mission Trips with a purpose and not as vacations

5. Planting other ethnic churches here in the US. Here in Greenville SC, we have a huge population of: German, Russian, Mexican, French, Vietnamese and many others

 

It will be good for them. :thumbsup: Best of all, as they contact people to raise support they'll get invaluable prayer support along with the finances.

 

I disagree. They end up spending to much time raising money instead of in the field. Also when the new pastor comes in with a "new" vision for the church the missionary loses the support all to often. It is the worst way to do it.

 

I don't say it is not difficult and I don't say there are no negatives. A few churches have dropped us down through the years when a new pastor came in (including one SBC church ). Not many and not "all too often" though. But here are the positives of deputation:

1. Getting prayer support from a wide variety of churches.
2. Learning how many different churches do various ministries.
3. Fellowshipping and talking about the ministry with many different pastors, even getting advice from them. As Dr. Monroe Parker told me when I started deputation, "John, deputation will be like a seminary course for you." And it was so.
4. Making close friends among both the leadership and members in the pews of various pastors.
5. Seeing America with your family. (We've been to the Grand Canyon, Hawaii and many other places on deputation.)
6. Ministering in a wide variety of churches in preaching, Sunday School, conferences, camp, etc.

That #4 is a big one. My wife's best friend came from a supporting church, and she and one or two other friends from that church visited us on the mission field every year for our last few years in Japan. We wouldn't have gotten to know them if we hadn't gone on deputation to raise money for Japan.

Also, some of the pastors of our supporting churches I count as true friends. Just Saturday we received a package from one of our supporting churches going back to the beginning of our ministry, and they had had made for us a beautiful wooden plaque saying, "John and Patty, Thanks for being our missionaries for 33 years in Japan." We were deeply moved. The pastor actually credits me for inspiring him to be a soul winner! I wouldn't trade the blessing of knowing that church and those dear people for a million dollars, but I wouldn't have known them if I had not gone on deputation.