Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

MISSIONS, LOTTIE MOON AND LEADERSHIP

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

On Sept. 15, 1887, a diminutive woman named Charlotte Digges Moon, known to Southern Baptists as “Lottie,” sat at a rough hewn table in a modest hut in China and penned a letter that would forever transform the Southern Baptist Convention.

In that letter, Lottie called for prayer and financial resources that would ensure the advancement of the gospel. At the time, the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) had a limited number of global missionaries, but Lottie was thinking bigger — much bigger. She envisioned a day when Southern Baptists would present the gospel to the uttermost parts of the world, but she also knew it would take significant financial resources to do so. With prayer and generosity in mind, she wrote: [Read more…]

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SOUTHERN BAPTISTS CELEBRATE SENDING 79 NEW MISSIONARIES

By Caroline Anderson
Writer, International Mission Board

The International Mission Board celebrated the appointment of 79 new missionaries on Nov. 18 in a virtual Sending Celebration streamed on Facebook and through the IMB: Advance the Kingdom app. The missionaries were previously approved by IMB trustees. The missionaries come from 21 states and will serve in eight of IMB’s nine affinities.

The Sending Celebration was scheduled to be held in Alabama at the annual Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions meeting. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the celebration was held virtually. 

The Alabama Singing Men and Women and the choir from Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, provided the pre-service music through a pre-recorded conference call. The Alabama Singing Men and Women performed “No More Night,” and Shades Mountain Baptist Church performed “Total Praise.” [Read more…]

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LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING TOTAL EXCEEDS GOAL AT $159.5M

By Leslie Peacock Caldwell

Baptist Press

Missionary Doug Derbyshire meets physical and spiritual needs as a medical doctor in Thailand. — IMB photo

RICHMOND, Va. — The International Mission Board is reporting a 2019-20 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering total of $159.5 million, the second highest offering in history. This total exceeds by $4.5 million the 175-year-old organization’s budgeted goal of $155 million. IMB also received $97.2 million from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program for 2019-20.

“I’m thrilled to report that the Lottie offering is growing again,” said IMB President Paul Chitwood. “A growing Lottie offering means that more lost people, not fewer, will hear the Gospel and be saved. A growing Lottie offering means that more hurting people, not fewer, will be helped and offered hope. A growing Lottie offering means more missionaries, not fewer, will go to the ends of the earth to carry the Good News. Thank you, Southern Baptists, for growing the Lottie offering!”

The offering reflects the commitment of Southern Baptist churches to support international missionaries and reach every language, people, tribe and nation with the Gospel. One hundred percent of gifts given to the offering is used for the support of missionaries. [Read more…]

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IMB APPOINTS 80 FULL-TIME MISSIONARIES; APPROVES BUDGET

Baptist Press

RICHMOND — International Mission Board trustees unanimously approved the appointment of 80 full-time, fully funded personnel and approved a balanced budget for 2020-2021 of $255.3 million during their Sept. 29-30 meeting.

The budget reflects a 4.5 percent reduction from the 2019-2020 budget of $267.4 million. But IMB President Paul Chitwood credited Southern Baptists’ faithful giving for the IMB’s successful navigation of the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“How has the IMB survived, and why do I think we are beginning to thrive, even in the midst of a global pandemic?” Chitwood asked. “Because Southern Baptists have not stopped believing in nor lost sight of the vision God has given us of a vast multitude from every nation, all tribes, peoples, and languages standing before the throne and before the Lamb. IMB is more focused on that vision than perhaps at any time in our recent history.”

The new missionaries will be sent to eight of IMB’s nine global affinities. A virtual Sending Celebration in November will publicly recognize the new field personnel and their appointments. [Read more…]

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IMB’S OLDEST LIVING MISSIONARY EMERITUS DISCUSSES VISION FOR NEXT 100 YEARS

IMB news office

Shirley Clark, age 100, served as a missionary in Venezuela for more than 30 years.

Shirley Clark and her husband, Charles, served as missionaries in Venezuela for more than 30 years. They were appointed in 1951, studied the Spanish language in Costa Rica for one year, then moved to Venezuela as church planters.

For more than three decades, they served among the Venezuelans. Charles served in roles including pastor, Executive Director of the Venezuela Baptist Convention, and professor at the Venezuela Baptist Seminary. Both Charles and Shirley served during different terms as treasurer for the missionaries in Venezuela and Shirley was instrumental in starting the Venezuela Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union in the early 1950s. [Read more…]

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LEADERS URGE CAUTION, COMMITMENT TO MISSIONS

By Leslie Peacock Caldwell
IMB News Office

Through Send Relief, Southern Baptists have helped more than 900,000 people worldwide affected by the coronavirus.

RICHMOND — International Mission Board senior leaders are urging Southern Baptists to use extreme caution if they are considering overseas missions travel for the remainder of 2020.

As many countries continue to require quarantines or have not yet opened their borders, travelers could face unexpected circumstances, including quarantines upon re-entering the U.S. The future threat and spread of COVID-19 also remains an unknown factor.

The IMB decision also impacts volunteer missions through the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

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IMB, TBMB LEADERS URGE CAUTION WHILE ENCOURAGING SUSTAINED COMMITMENT TO MISSIONS

By Leslie Peacock Caldwell
IMB news office

Tennessee Baptist churches and associations involved in the Tennessee/Guatemala partnership gathered at the Church Support Center in Franklin to in 2018. From left are, front row, Richard Bray, Richard Crowe, Richard Gilreath, Alan Teel, Geren Street, Ben Curtis; middle row, Richard Lewelling, Kim Margrave, Garry Eudy, Harold Peoples, Sherry Moyer, Melanie Stricklan; back row, Dianne Stafford, Gary Stafford, Marty Dodge, Rick Hayes, Greg Steele, Jeff Woods, Matt Reed, Andrew Frazier, Jim Twilbeck and Heather Beard.

RICHMOND — International Mission Board senior leaders are urging Southern Baptists to use extreme caution if they are considering overseas missions travel for the remainder of 2020. As many countries continue to require quarantines or have not yet opened their borders, travelers could face unexpected circumstances, including quarantines upon re-entering the U.S. The future threat and spread of COVID-19 also remains an unknown factor.

The IMB decision also impacts volunteer missions through the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “Obviously we as the TBMB share the precautions the IMB is taking to protect volunteers,” said Steve Holt, church services director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

“As a state mission board we have a continued commitment to missions and supporting our overseas partnerships,” Holt continued. “We look forward to a day in the future where we can once again send our church teams to the nations, and specifically to our partners.”

The TBMB was one of the first state conventions to become involved in partnership missions in the early 1980s and currently is involved in international partnerships in Germany and Guatemala.

“Partnership/volunteer missions has been a hallmark of Tennessee Baptist Convention churches for decades and we pledge our continued commitment to missions and our overseas partnerships,” Holt said.

IMB personnel on the field are continually monitoring their local situations and government’s restrictions. Many missionaries will not be able to host groups for the foreseeable future due to government-imposed travel bans and other factors related to the pandemic. Churches with long-standing partnerships and plans to travel soon should remain in close contact with their field contact for guidance. They should also continue to check travel restrictions and re-entry to the U.S. guidelines, which could change day to day.

“The work of Southern Baptists’ missionaries has and will continue. Not a day has passed in the midst of this pandemic, or over the course of the past 175 years, that Southern Baptists have been without a witness among the nations,” said IMB President Paul Chitwood. 

“In making decisions about hosting volunteer teams during this unusual season, however, we must consider the well-being of locals in the host countries, our field workers and our faithful volunteers.”

While also deeply affected by COVID-19 and government regulations, missionaries have had new gospel opportunities and Southern Baptist relief work related to the coronavirus has been significant. Send Relief reports more than 300 projects in progress or completed in 78 countries. These efforts are projected to help more than 900,000 people worldwide and have provided food packages, personal protection equipment (PPE), handwashing stations, sanitation supplies and education materials.

IMB staff and missionaries encourage churches to support relief work and to seek other ways to stay engaged in missions, even when travel is not advised. 

  • • Some affinities, like South Asia, are offering virtual mission trips for participants to connect with missionaries, learn about people groups and join in prayer. The IMB student team has also announced online opportunities through the Stateside Summer Initiative.
  • • Missionaries rely daily on the prayers of supporters. Churches can find daily prayer requests at imb.org/pray and can still join the 175 Days of Prayer for the nations.
  • • Consider connecting your church or small group with missionaries on temporary assignments in the U.S. and also to explore partnership opportunities. 
  • • Stay in close contact with field personnel you know and spend time encouraging them and worshiping with them, whether they are currently overseas or back in the U.S.
  • • Ask missionary partners how you can find and minister to representatives of their people groups in the U.S. or on the internet. These doors to sharing the gospel remain open.
  • • IMB cannot continue our work without the support of prayers and gifts. Consider a mid-year financial gift to the Cooperative Program or the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. 

Chitwood remains thankful and conveys the thanks of missionaries for the support they have received. As Southern Baptists pray for IMB missionaries, IMB missionaries continue to pray for Southern Baptists and for SBC churches across the U.S.

“Thank you for continuing to give, even as you are navigating these unexpected challenges. Your commitment is making a difference.” B&R — This article includes reporting from the staff of the Baptist and Reflector.

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SOUTHERN BAPTISTS GATHER TO VIRTUALLY CELEBRATE SENDING 61 MISSIONARIES

By Caroline Anderson
IMB writer

Chris and Sara and their two children were living the American dream in Montana. They loved their home and their business. Chris said after he committed his life to Christ at age 25, the Lord gave their family opportunities to serve at Madison Valley Baptist Church in Ennis, Montana. God told Chris and Sara to sell their possessions and share the gospel with those who’ve never heard. Chris and Sara are moving to the Americas to serve with the IMB.

On June 9, the International Mission Board commissioned 61 missionaries in a virtual Sending Celebration. The missionaries represent churches in 15 states and will be serving in all nine of the IMB’s affinities. 

Sending Celebrations provide a forum for Southern Baptists to commission new missionaries and hear their call to missions. 

IMB trustees voted on and approved 59 of the missionaries this spring in a virtual board meeting. Two missionaries were appointed in January. The 61 missionaries were to be commissioned at this summer’s SBC Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, before the conference was canceled due to COVID-19. 

The cancellation of the annual meeting didn’t keep Southern Baptists from celebrating the missionaries. Southern Baptists gathered around computer screens across the country to watch a video of the missionaries’ testimonies of how the Lord called them to the mission field.  [Read more…]

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TRUSTEES: IMB APPROVES 59 MISSIONARIES, ADDRESSES BUDGET CONCERNS

Baptist Press staff 

International Mission Board trustees held the group’s first-ever virtual meeting May 13-14. — IMB photo

RICHMOND, Va. — During a virtual meeting May 13-14, trustees of the International Mission Board approved the appointment of 59 new missionaries and received an update on the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which has contributed directly to a shortfall of about $4 million in the IMB’s budget and necessitated spending cuts and a hiring freeze.

Trustees also elected Christy Roberson as vice president of human resources and Price Jett, vice president of finance, logistics and technology, as IMB treasurer. As a result of the pandemic and the subsequent cancellation of the 2020 SBC Annual Meeting, they re-elected 2019-2020 trustee officers to serve an additional year.

In a statement, IMB Paul Chitwood noted that increased giving through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering had the IMB strongly positioned when the pandemic began, but said the impact on local churches (and from there the IMB) “is quickly becoming evident.” Chitwood said revenue for March and April was $2 million below budget. Meanwhile, the IMB has incurred approximately $2 million in unbudgeted expenses while “evacuating and relocating IMB personnel” because of the pandemic. [Read more…]

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JUNE 7 DESIGNATED AS SOUTHERN BAPTIST DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

By Ann Lovell
IMB editorial design manager 

On average, eight Christians died every day for their faith in 2019. That equals more than 2,920 people killed for the cause of Christ last year, according to the 2020 annual report from Open Doors’ World Watch List. In addition, 9,488 churches or Christian buildings were attacked, and 3,711 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned. 

Overall, 260 million Christians experienced high levels of persecution in the top 50 countries on the World Watch List in 2019, Open Doors reported. The top five include North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya and Pakistan. 

In recognition of the persecution faced by Christians around the world, the Southern Baptist Convention last year designated the first Sunday in June as a Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. In 2020, the day of prayer is set for Sunday, June 7.  [Read more…]

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