WINTER 2017
The Local Church – Commissioning the Missionary by Dr. Bud Steadman
“And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed” (Acts 13:3-4).
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he record of the call and sending of the first two New Testament churchplanting missionaries is foundational to our understanding and implementation of missiological principles in the twenty-first century. Once the will of the Lord was made clear to the church at Antioch concerning the call of Barnabas and Saul, the next challenge lay in the commissioning or authorizing of the missionaries. Thus, they were set apart to the work of God in a congregational assembly that serves as a model for us today. We rightly refer to such as the commissioning of the missionary. The term “commission” is used most commonly today in a military context—an understanding of such will assist us in comprehending what the church at Antioch was to do relating to its missionaries. A commissioned military officer is a member of the armed forces who holds a position of authority derived directly from a sovereign power and, as such, holds a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of their specific office or position. Such is the concept of a commissioning—after the training of an officer is completed, a commissioning service is held, and he then assumes his rank and the responsibility for which he has been authorized. While the authority for the missionary work of God comes from the Holy Spirit, the vehicle of that commission is the local church. The New
Testament sets the example of the local church setting apart missionaries, because such congregations are the manifestation of the body of Christ, “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). It is important to see how this was done in the first missionary church in Antioch so that we might understand the local church’s relationship with those called and commissioned in our day. First, in commissioning, the local church is demonstrating personal authorization and identification with those called (“…laid their hands on them,” Acts 13:3). The laying on of hands was not a mystical act, but rather, a spiritual picture of the church’s relationship to the one being sent. As the leaders of the congregation lay hands on a God-called servant, the church membership is symbolically joined to them, authorizing them to go and identifying with their call from God and their projected tasks for which they are being sent. Foundationally, this means that as commissioned missionaries go forward to serve the Lord Jesus, they represent their local church. As Paul makes clear in Romans 12 that the church is a body with many members, the commissioned missionary becomes the eyes, hands and feet of the congregation on the foreign field. Next, in commissioning, the church is demonstrating prayerful intercession for those called (“…fasted and prayed,” Acts 13:3). As the church leaders gather around missionaries for a prayer of dedication, they are presenting a foretaste of the ongoing intercession that the church must be committed to in the sending forth of laborers. Luke describes such continual prayer backing in Acts 15:40, where the Continued on page 3
In This Issue
2 Highlights from the Highways & Hedges
3 Mission Matters: Confirming the Churches The Local Church – Commissioning the Missionary (Cont.) Ready to Go
4 Itineraries
Europe BWM’s Field Administrator for Europe, Dr. Kevin Brosnan, just returned from France and Germany and provides two brief insights on BWM’s work in Europe. “First is the realization that several of our BWM stalwart missionaries in Europe will be retiring in the next few years, leaving huge gaps in these desperately needy fields. There are already several struggling French churches in need of shepherds. These indigenous works would welcome a missionary to help them develop into autonomous churches. I question whether the popular emphasis on short-term missionary activity is out of balance with the greater need for vocational missionaries. Perhaps some reader will respond to this ever more urgent need. Second is a comment that missionary Mark Nelsen made, which has resonated with me since I first heard it. I asked him why he was undertaking a third outreach when he is already consumed with two other works. ‘Because it takes so long to establish a church in France, it is very easy for a missionary to adopt the mindset of a pastor. I am determined to never lose the missionary vision for planting churches, and the only way I know to maintain that vision is to keep focusing on new areas.’ While the daily work of a missionary and pastor may appear similar, their roles are distinct. Part of my responsibility is to help our missionaries keep the missionary vision for their fields.”
Highlights from the Highways & Hedges EUROPE France Missionary Tim Knickerbocker is part of an ambitious effort to place gospel literature into every mailbox in the country of France! South African descendents of French Huguenots are the genesis for this vision. They want to take the Gospel back to the country that persecuted their forefathers. “Our church people decided to accept this challenge and to distribute this literature to every mailbox in our part of the country.” Tim reports that they have now delivered packets to 95% of the 240,000 residences in their region. Considering the daunting challenge for such a small congregation, they appropriately named their outreach “Let’s Dare to Sow Together.” Tim and Elisabeth Knickerbocker have served with BWM since 1998.
Hungary One of the greatest visible milestones in church planting is the ordination of a national pastor. The Bible Baptist Church of Pecs, Hungary, under the leadership of BWM missionary Dr. David Potter, ordained Zoltan Kiss and commissioned him and his wife Johanna to plant a church in Budapest. Zoltan holds a master’s degree in physics education from the University of Pecs, a certificate from the Bible Institute of Bible Baptist Church and a master of arts in Bible from Maranatha Baptist University. Dr. David and Jean Potter have served with BWM since 1997.
Romania Dan and Lyn Sehested serve in Hunedoara, Romania, where they have labored since 2010 to establish the only independent, fundamental Baptist church in that region of Transylvania. They are now excited at the prospect of moving from a rented facility into their own church building. “We believe God is leading us to seek our own building. Every church plant requires facilities appropriate to the culture. Our church members continue to give sacrificially to our building fund, but we are not able to fund such a project ourselves. Pastor Mihai Czentye, my Romanian coworker and senior pastor of our church, and I have identified the pictured building as very suitable for our continuing ministry. The building is composed of two large rooms, one on each floor, with seating of up to 80-100 upstairs and 40-50 downstairs. It is located near the town center. Please pray about helping with the establishment of Living Hope Independent Baptist Church.” To learn more or to donate, please click on “projects” at baptistworldmission.org and visit dansehested.edifyhub.com to see a short video walk-through of the building. The Sehesteds have served with BWM since 1991.
MISSION MATTERS: Confirming the Churches by Dr. Kevin L. Brosnan
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hen planning his second missionary journey, why did the great missionary the Apostle Paul determine to revisit “every city” where he had already preached during his first missionary journey? Surely, regions void of the Gospel should take precedence over places where “we have preached the word of the Lord” (Acts 15:36). Paul answers our question in verse 41 when he delineates the primary purpose of his second missionary journey as “confirming the churches.” The contention between Paul and Barnabas in this text all too easily overshadows the incomparably more important declaration that “confirming the churches” was his primary motivation for the second missionary journey. And it is powerfully reinforced with the determination to revisit “every city.” The great missiological truth here is that the progress of the Great Commission is inextricably tied to the welfare of local churches. I had the overwhelming joy of doing exactly that—confirming the churches—when I returned to Africa in 2014 after an absence of five years. My concern was to evaluate whether the Zimbabwean national pastors, into whose lives I had poured some of my own, were grounded and steadfast in the faith. They wanted to showcase the churches they had started, and I wanted reason to believe these infant works would continue “rooted and grounded” in the truth (Ephesians 3:16-19).
The word confirm means “to establish, strengthen or render more firm.” It denotes the process of grounding, maturing and securing believers within the context of a local church. It is used four times in the book of Acts with exactly this idea (Acts 14:22; 15:32, 41; 18:23). Typical is the statement in Acts 14:22, “confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Missionaries should recognize that evangelism is only the beginning of the missionary mandate. Paul’s concern for the wellbeing of the churches he had planted consumed much of his time and energy. He confides in 2 Corinthians 11:28, “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” This is the pastor’s heart—the shepherd’s heart—that must necessarily also characterize the missionary. Both the Great Commission and Paul’s example demonstrate that planting self-replicating churches is the missionary mandate. “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” (Philippians 4:1).
The Local Church – Commissioning the Missionary (continued) missionaries were “recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.” As we read Paul’s epistles, it becomes clear that he attaches a great value to intercessory prayer for those who serve the Lord in the advance of the Gospel. A praying church at home is a very necessary component for victory in the lives and ministries of its missionaries. Failure to pray for those sent is to abandon them to victimization by the enemy into whose territory they venture. Finally, in commissioning, the church is demonstrating practical enablement of those called (“and…they sent them away,”
READY TO GO! These missionaries have almost reached 100% support. They are READY TO GO! Perhaps the Lord of the Harvest will enable you or your church to help get them to their fields of service. Contact them today!
Amanda Baker (England) – 88% abaker@baptistworldmission.org
Ben and Andrea Hamilton (Bronx, NY) – 98% bhamilton@baptistworldmission.org
Aaron and Jenny Peterson (Germany) – 87% apeterson@baptistworldmission.org
Acts 13:3). According to New Testament scholars, the word sent may also be translated released. While it was the Holy Spirit who authorized the sending of Barnabas and Saul (13:4), it was the church that practically sent or released them. In commissioning and supporting God-called servants, the church is to free them from their obligations in relation to their former duties in their sending church and to also free them from the heavy financial burdens of their missionary ministries. The modern missionary needs the same practical enablement from his sending church. While many churches collectively support the average missionary today, the primary burden must be with the commissioning church. If those who labor in the Gospel are to reach the goals for which they are being sent—evangelism, discipleship and church-planting—financial support must be provided. While most fundamental Baptist churches today have a clear understanding and careful implementation of commissioning their missionaries, it is good for each of us to be reminded of the importance of this action. Charles Bridges, in his book The Christian Ministry, observes that the public setting apart of a God-called servant is “a commission received from and recognized by the Church, according to the sacred and primitive order.” In commissioning those whom God calls to take the Gospel to the regions beyond, we have clear, biblical precedent of a “sacred and primitive order.” May we be found faithful in our day to His great cause!
Itineraries
Steve Anderson
Pat Delaney
Bud Steadman
January 9-20 Baptist College of Ministry Menomonee Falls, WI
March 9-23
January 8-24
Mission Trip India
BWM and Shalom Ministries Trip Israel
March 5-8 Granite City Baptist Church St. Cloud, MN March 19-22 Calvary Baptist Church Midland, MI
Kevin Brosnan January 20-22 Southeast Baptist Tabernacle Indianapolis, IN
January 25 Troy Baptist Temple Troy, OH March 19 Bethel Baptist Church Tucson, AZ
Mike Martin
February 5-8
January 22
First Baptist Church Lasalle, IL
Westside Baptist Church Augusta, GA
February 10-11
March 5 Victory Baptist Church Simpsonville, SC March 12 Cleveland Park Bible Church Spartanburg, SC April 2 Faith Baptist Church Reidville, SC April 23 First Baptist Church Troy, MI
All the administrators will be attending the BWM Spring Board Meeting at Thompson Road Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 10–11 and the BWM Orientation at Camp Joy in Whitewater, Wisconsin, April 16–21.
Tri-State Bible Camp Couples Retreat Montague, NY February 12 Grace Baptist Church Highland Falls, NY February 13-14 FBFI Winter Board Meeting Atlanta, GA March 12-19 Grace Baptist Church Parker, CO March 22 Tri-City Baptist Church Westminster, CO March 29-April 2 Heritage Hills Baptist Church Winston-Salem, NC April 6-8 Cancer Retreat Camp Joy Whitewater, WI
Schedule an Administrator or Director at Your Church!
April 9 Thompson Road Baptist Church Indianapolis, IN
BWM administrators and directors offer a wonderful blend of passionate preaching and current field experiences. Please contact the mission if you would like to schedule any of these men for your next conference.
April 28-29 The Wilds Board Meeting Brevard, NC
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