IMB trustee Carol Pfeiffer, right, from Texas, visits with Mike Brungardt, who leads IMB’s work in the Americas. — IMB photo
RICHMOND — International Mission Board trustees approved 83 fully funded missionaries for appointment during their May 15-16 meeting. While gathered near Richmond, trustees also affirmed numerous reports from around the world detailing Southern Baptists’ efforts in advancing the gospel among the lost.
The missionaries approved for appointment will be recognized during a Sending Celebration on Tuesday, June 11, at 10 a.m. EDT in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis. The event will be livestreamed on sbcannualmeeting.net.
President’s report
In his report to the board of trustees, IMB President Paul Chitwood reported that the missionary candidate pipeline has remained above 1,300 for consecutive months. He also announced the relaunching of the Master’s Program, a fully funded missionary pathway for those ages 55 and older. Chitwood noted millions of the Boomer generation retire yearly and said IMB leadership sees a great opportunity for many of those retirees to join an IMB overseas team as a Master’s missionary.
IMB president Paul Chitwood emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency before Southern Baptists and IMB’s unwavering commitment to missionary presence among the lost. — IMB photo
“This pathway and others like it, by God’s grace and the generosity of Southern Baptists, means that fully funded missionaries continue to be our mainstay at the IMB,” Chitwood said. “To provide for the support of a growing number of missionary candidates, we rejoice that our past two Lottie Moon Christmas Offerings® have been the largest in our history, and this year’s offering is on pace to potentially set another record.”
Trustees received a copy of the latest Annual Statistical Report which reports IMB 2023 data from the mission field. Chitwood highlighted the following statistics as the work of every Southern Baptist church that supports the advance of the gospel through the IMB:
• Gospel work in 155 countries;
• More than 451,000 people heard a complete gospel presentation;
• 141,000 professed faith in Jesus Christ;
• 800,000 people heard the gospel online through video content watched to at least 95 percent; and
• 117,000 new believers were baptized through the work of IMB missionaries.
The Annual Statistical Report is available for public download on IMB’s website at IMB.org/ASR.
Chitwood emphasized IMB’s stewardship of the generous gifts of Southern Baptists, calling the task an “honor and a privilege.”
IMB president Paul Chitwood, right, recognizes Joel Williams, IMB trustee from Louisiana, who completed his service. In all, eight trustees were recognized for their time on the board. — IMB photo
“At the IMB, we undertake financial stewardship and reporting with a goal toward full transparency and the highest standards of accountability,” he said.
He listed the following ways IMB provides financial accountability to Southern Baptists:
• IMB’s unredacted, independent external audits, stating income, expenditures, debts, reserves, and operating balances, are available for public viewing in the SBC Book of Reports and on IMB.org/impact.
• IMB operates in compliance with the standards of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, ensuring that the organization adheres to the industry standards for Christian organizations, including standards regarding executive compensation.
• Each year the chair of IMB’s board of trustees submits a statement referenced in the SBC’s Book of Reports that confirms the compensation of IMB’s president is incurred to accomplish IMB’s mission statement and ministry assignment, with no impropriety.
Newly re-elected IMB trustee officers for 2024-2025 are Keith Evans, chairman, Nate Bishop, first vice chair, Carol Pfeiffer, second vice chair, and Trudy Crittendon, recording secretary. — IMB photo
• Salary structures for the president are set by IMB trustees through a series of evaluations and recommendations, before being presented to the full board for approval, independent of influence by the president or any other IMB executive. The IMB’s president and executive leadership team then set salary ranges for all other staff positions in consultation with IMB’s human resources team, which engages independent professionals to ensure that IMB’s salaries are within a reasonable range for similar positions with similar organizations in similar markets.
“In these and many, many other ways, the IMB conducts its financial business above reproach and in full view of trustees appointed to represent Southern Baptists and ensure the integrity of the operations of the IMB,” Chitwood said.
Todd Lafferty, IMB executive vice president, honors 85 former colleagues, both staff and missionaries, who passed away in 2023. Here he memorializes Wayne Paul, who served 21 years in Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Cyprus. — IMB photo
Chitwood emphasized IMB’s ongoing commitment to financial transparency and accountability while cautioning Southern Baptists of the potential harm that public disclosure of some types of IMB information could present. In his report, he referenced a motion from the floor of the Southern Baptist Convention 2023 Annual Meeting that the IRS 990 be required of SBC entities. “That kind of public reporting could literally put the lives of our missionary families and their national partners at risk and would potentially compromise the confidentiality of church members and other donors who generously support the IMB’s work,” stated Chitwood.
“Thankfully, (IRS Form 990) is not required, nor is it a reasonable expectation of the IMB,” Chitwood said. “Financial transparency and accountability, however, are reasonably expected by Southern Baptists, and the IMB meets and exceeds those expectations.” B&R
