Special Issue 2019
contents
20 NAMB is an SBC entity supported by the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.® The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is a registered trademark of Woman’s Missionary Union.® Postmaster: Send address changes to: On Mission, North American Mission Board, PO Box 292, Williamsport, PA 17703-0292. Because of your valued support of the Cooperative Program, we are able to offer you a free copy of On Mission. To subscribe, call toll free 800-431-7571 or visit namb.net/ OnMission. On Mission grants permission for any original article to be photocopied for educational or church use. Include the following credit: “Used by permission of On Mission, North American Mission Board, ©2019.” For special requests, email us at help@namb.net or call 800-634-2462
Editor K. Faith Morgan
Executive Vice President Carlos Ferrer
Art Director Shawn Elledge
Senior Vice President of Evangelism & Leadership Johnny Hunt
Designer Steve Beaver
Interim Director of Marketing & Events Adam Hollingsworth Senior Creative Director Adam Bain
Photo Editor Hayley Catt
Contributors Claudine Chausse Micaiah Davis Mike Ebert Gary Gnidovic J.D. Greear Daley Hake Johnny Hunt Patricia McCarty Catherine Renfro Jamie Thompson
Section Editor Tony Hudson Assistant Editor Josie Bingham
On Mission Magazine 4200 North Point Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30022
© 2019 ON MISSION
On Mission highlights missionaries, chaplains and churches working to reach North America and the world for Christ. On Mission is a publication of the North American Mission Board (NAMB), Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). This is a special evangelism edition of On Mission.
NAMB President Kevin Ezell
special issue 2 019
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2 President’s Letter
4 The Pulse
8 The Five
10 Just do what 14 the Bible says 14 On base, on mission 20 The Garfield Park Samaritan 30 La Familia
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38 State Convention Evangelism Resource Guide 49 My Turn
Your gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter OfferingÂŽ give missionaries the resources they need to spread the gospel across North America. Give online at AnnieArmstrong.com/Give. volume 2 2 | number 1
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presi dent’s letter
Where are the harvesters? By Kevin Ezell, NAMB president (@kevezell)
S
it. The harvest is plentiful. It’s the workers we lack.
ometimes those of us in the Church spend too
We in the Church should be doing two things: taking
much time lamenting about the current state of
Christ to those who need to hear and raising up
the world. It can be discouraging, but we shouldn’t
more workers for the harvest.
be surprised that lost people act like lost people. We want to help pastors do both. Our new Evangelism and Leadership group, led by Johnny Hunt, is designed to provide leadership resources for pastors who want to lead their congregations to be more evangelistic. We will be producing podcasts, workshops, conferences and even offering mentorship opportunities for pastors who want to be better trained to equip their flock. This issue of On Mission includes a region-by-region evangelism guide. You will find information and resources specific to your area provided by your regional Baptist convention. There are many great tools out there. We just need to get out there and do it! We need more gospel conversations and more gospel congregations. Matthew 9:36 says, “When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they
With 46,000 churches in our convention, can you
were confused and helpless, like sheep without a
imagine the difference it would make if just one
shepherd” (NLT).
person from each congregation had a gospel conversation each week that included a challenge
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Jesus wasn’t surprised the lost were lost. He looked
to accept Christ? That would be 2.2 million gospel
at them and had compassion. He turned to His
conversations each year. What a difference we
disciples and said, “The harvest is great, but the
would see in our churches and our world if that
workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge
happened.
of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Matthew 9:37-38, NLT).
Don’t stay on the sidelines. Get your church engaged with evangelism. Be watching for new
I believe there are more people who want to hear the
resources and new training opportunities from
gospel than there are people who are willing to share
NAMB in 2019.
Discover evangelism and leadership resources at namb.net/Evangelism.
yourself and quipchurch Eyour for EVANGELISM AND UNITY
The 3 Circles Evangelism Kit is designed to assist pastors in leading a multi-week evangelism emphasis for their church. The kit includes a trainer manual and a trainee manual for small group discussion, a pack of life conversation guides and a flash drive loaded with an overview for the pastor, sermon resources, videos and more. Undivided is a free, five-week video series and discussion guide. Pastors J.D. Greear and Dhati Lewis unpack what it looks like to move your church toward genuine gospel community across racial lines.
THIS
Live This is a three-week series created to equip pastors with resources and tools so that they can train their church members to clearly articulate the gospel with unbelievers. Week one illustrates how to share the Good News through the model of Christ. The second week outlines and defines the gospel through passages in Scripture. The final week shows how to teach the gospel message.
Who’s Your One is a tool created to challenge every church member to live on mission by selecting one person from their circle of influence and seeking opportunities to share the gospel with that one. The kit includes sermons from J.D. Greear and Johnny Hunt and a 30-day prayer guide designed to propel all followers of Jesus to actively participate in the Great Commission.
Learn more at nambstore.com
COMING FEBRUARY 2019
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the pulse
Heard It is the gospel that is the source of our renewal, and it is the gospel that should be our defining characteristic as a people. (The gospel) should be what people think about and talk about when they think and talk about us.” J.D. Greear, President of the Southern Baptist Convention Source: BPNews.net, September 18, 2018
Online evangelism Social media or online communication can be additional outlets for evangelism. Of self-identified Christians:
28% share their faith via social media. 30% say they are just as likely to share their religious beliefs online as in person.
12% are more likely to share their faith
Johnny Hunt, NAMB Senior Vice President of Evangelism and Leadership
digitally than in person.
Source: BPNews.net, August 26, 2018
31% use digital communications when sharing their faith with a non-Christian.
47% agree technology and digital interac4
I want to lead Southern Baptist churches to put evangelism back on the front burner again. Jesus came to seek and save the lost; we know what He is doing. We must join Him.”
tions have changed how others respond when they share their faith.
44% say technology and digital interactions have changed how they share their faith. Source: barna.com, June 26, 2018
The rise of opposition, according to the book of Acts, is an opportunity for the church to rise up. Opposition to the gospel can catalyze further progress of the gospel.” Jeff Iorg, President of Gateway Seminary, August 30, 2018 Source: csbc.com, September 6, 2018
Church attendance edges down slightly
I
n 2017, 38% of U.S. adults said they attended religious services weekly or almost every week.
Measured
In 2008, it was 42%.
Source: gallup.com, September 7, 2018
According to Barna Research, people don’t talk about faith for a variety of reasons.
28%
Top 10 post-Christian cities in America 1. Portland/Auburn, Maine: 57% 2. Boston, Massachusetts/Manchester, New Hampshire: 56% 3. Albany-Schenectady/Troy, New York: 54% 4. Providence, Rhode Island/New Bedford, Massachusetts: 53% 5. Burlington, Vermont/Plattsburgh, New York: 53% 6. Hartford/New Haven, Connecticut: 52% 7. New York, New York: 51% 8. San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, California: 50% 9. Seattle/Tacoma, Washington: 50% 10. Buffalo, New York: 50%
Think that religious conversations always seem to create tension or arguments
23%
Are not religious and don’t care about these topics
17%
Are put off by how religion has been politicized
17%
Don’t feel they know enough to talk about religious or spiritual topics
Source: barna.com, July 11, 2017
Faith at home Almost all engaged Christian parents (97%) say it’s important to them that their teen develops a faith that lasts into their adulthood. However, only 59% pray with their teen, 45% read or discuss the Bible with their teen and 44% volunteer or serve in ministry together. Source: FactsAndTrends.net, August 15, 2018
7%
Don’t want to be known as a religious person Source: barna.com, August 14, 2018
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the pulse Trust in institutions When polled about their confidence in institutions, 38% of U.S. adults say they had a great deal of confidence in the Church or organized religion. At the top of the list is the military with 74% indicating a great deal of confidence. At the bottom of the list is Congress, with 11%. Source: gallup.com, October 9, 2018
Noted
Race and religion Forty-one percent of all Americans identify themselves as “born-again” or evangelical. Sixty-one percent of black Americans identify as born-again or evangelical. By contrast, 38% of non-Hispanic whites and 44% of Hispanics identify as born-again or evangelical.
Great Commission mystery
M
ore than half of all churchgoers (51%) say they have not heard of the Great Commission.
Source: gallup.com, May 31, 2018
Word of God Fewer than one in four Americans (24%)
Another 6% are not sure. A quarter have heard of it but
believe the Bible is the literal word of God.
cannot recall the exact meaning. Only 17% have heard of
This is the lowest percentage measured in the
the Great Commission and know what it means.
past 40 years.
Source: barna.com, March 27, 2018
Source: gallup.com, May 15, 2017
Church invitations Among American churchgoers, almost a third
In 2000, 50% of U.S. adults identified with a
(29%) have not invited someone to attend a
specific Protestant denomination. In 2016,
church service in the past six months. A quarter (25%) have invited people three or more times, 21%
only 30% identified with a specific Protestant group. This notes the shrinking number of
have invited people twice and 17% have invited someone
Protestants in America and the rise of Chris-
to attend church with them once in the last six months. The
tians self-identifying as nondenominational
rest did not recall whether they invited someone or not.
believers.
Source: LifeWayResearch.com, July 12, 2018
Source: gallup.com, July 18, 2017
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Sermons still important
T
Denomination line decline
he top two reasons people cite for attending a particular church both have to do with sermon content. Seventy-six
Views on salvation Sixty-two percent of Americans agree Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice
percent of people note sermons that teach more about Scripture
that could remove the penalty of sin from their
as a major factor in church selection, and 75% say that sermons
lives. Thirty-eight percent disagree.
helping you connect religion to your own life are a major factor. Source: gallup.com, September 7, 2018
Source: FactsAndTrends.net, October 17, 2018
Are you ready to spark an evangelism movement in your church?
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Includes two-day training and three meals
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the five
5 Elements
of an evangelistic leader By J.D. Greear
Among the lessons we’ve learned at our church, there are five necessary elements to create an evangelistic ethos in an individual Christian or in an entire church.
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Intentionality and sensitivity to the Spirit
We don’t build the kingdom for God; we let God build it through us. That’s why the first command given to the apostles in Acts is to wait. Until the Spirit arrived, they could do nothing. Depending on the Holy Spirit is the only way to keep from being overwhelmed by the massive task of evangelism. God does not expect us to convert 8
people; He invites us to walk with Him every day and be His instrument as He builds the Church. You perceive when a door is being opened through prayer. Therefore, pray continually, and listen as you pray.
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Practical ways to get into the conversation
I read Jimmy Scroggins’ Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations recently. It shows the many ways you can use conversation openers to move mundane conversations into spiritual territory. It’s important that we develop these kinds of transitions in a useful way, as opposed to cheesy, awkward, forced questions.
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Model it
The best way to learn to share Christ is watching someone else. That’s how I learned. I watched my dad and other believers share the gospel. It’s often said discipleship is caught more than it is taught. Nowhere is that more true than in evangelism. If we aren’t leading the way in personal evangelism, calling others to join us along the way, we should not be surprised if our people aren’t doing it either.
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An ability to share your story concisely
Entrepreneurs have an “elevator speech” for their product. Even though they could talk for hours and hours about it, they force themselves to condense
J.D. Greear is placing a strong emphasis on evangelism and gospel conversations in his tenure as SBC president.
things down to a 45-second summary. We should have an “elevator speech” for our story, too—100 words or less that explain how Christ met our “felt” needs, which sets us up for a sharing of the actual gospel. (Your story of how Christ met your felt needs is not the actual gospel, just an intro to it.)
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An ability to share the gospel concisely
We should be able to express the gospel in 100 words or less, too. Far from making our presentation insincere, this helps us to appreciate the gospel in fresh ways. Some of the classic presentations are the most useful: the bridge illustration (Jesus bridges the gap between us and God) and the do/done dichotomy (Religions are all about doing; the gospel is all about what Christ has done). The possibilities are pretty extensive. It matters much less which reliable illustration you use and much more that you have one to use. J.D. Greear is president of the Southern Baptist Convention, pastor of The Summit Church and author of several books. This article is adapted from “An evangelism ethos,” and used by permission of Baptist Press.
Learn more about J.D. Greear’s evangelism resources for SBC churches at GospelAboveAll.com.
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i nterv i ew
Just do what the Bible says As a military veteran, pastor Kevin Williams of First Baptist Church Villa Rica, Georgia, knows how to take orders. So when he opens his Bible, those are his orders, and he takes that seriously. It was that commitment to God’s Word that led a declining church into renewed gospel passion. ON MISSION: Explain the history of First
In the five years I’ve been pastor, 1,700 people
Baptist Church Villa Rica.
have joined the church, and 847 of those were through baptism.
KEVIN WILLIAMS: Before I became pastor, First Baptist Church Villa Rica had the reputation as
OM: What changed?
a pastor-eating church. They had 10 pastors within
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20 years, and with the last pastor before I arrived,
KW: I have a military background, so I’m that kind
attendance dropped from 650 to 250 in two years.
of a person who says, “Here’s what the Bible says;
They had a terrible image in the community. They
now let’s do it.”
were viewed more like a country club. I told the church, “I’m just going to do what the When I found out they were looking for their next
Bible says—we’re going to do evangelism, we’re
pastor, I thought, “Man, I feel sorry for the guy who
going to do discipleship and we’re going to do
goes there.” But through God’s leadership, I
worship. If we just do what the Bible says, I think
accepted the call to pastor the church. Going in,
we’ll be successful. Can we all agree with that?”
I thought, “There’s nothing to lose here, so let’s
And they did.
just go for it.”
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schools and bless them. You may also remember us as the ones on the national news because I
I’m just going to do what the Bible says —we’re going to do evangelism, we’re going to do discipleship and we’re going to do worship.”
baptized a coach and 18 players on the school’s football field. I ran from the media storm around that situation for a few days, but Dr. Bob White from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board said, “Kevin, I wouldn’t run from them. You could be the light in the dark. Go talk to them, and in everything they say you bring them back to Jesus.” And that’s what I did. If you don’t do missions as a church, you’re kind of
The other thing I told them was we’re going to be
missing the point. And there’s two aspects of that;
involved in missions. They gave money before, but
the mission side of it and teaching people evange-
they didn’t do missions.
lism. If you’re not teaching them evangelism, then what’s the point of the ministry?
OM: What does missions look like at First Baptist Church Villa Rica now?
OM: How do you train your congregation to be evangelistic?
KW: They’ve gone from a church that was doing
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zero missions to a church highly engaged in mis-
KW: Everybody is always asking me what we’re
sions. We have planted 10 churches in Guatemala.
doing, and really, it’s pretty simple. We go out
We’re helping a church plant in Burbank, Los
there and reach people, try to plug them into the
Angeles, we’re helping a church in Pittsburgh and
church community and love them along the way.
we’re working with a church in Phoenix.
Then we try to get them plugged into serving in the church using their gifts and abilities.
Every single week people come to our food pantry, and we give them boxes of food. There’s also a
We model it in everything that we do. I’m an evan-
soup kitchen twice a month.
gelist at heart. I’m going to preach that way. I teach in my sermons, and I always end with a gospel invi-
We have a strong presence in the local schools.
tation. They see people get baptized every week,
Our Sunday school classes adopt teachers of these
so it’s a constant.
Every spring, from January to May, we have an evan-
congregation. You have to lead; no one else is
gelism class. As part of that class, we send out about
going to do it. God called you there to do it. If you
100 to 130 people on Sunday afternoons for visits
don’t lead them, then they’ll just sit still.
every week. It’s everyone from teenagers to adults. Be hands on, and love your people. We’re a big You can’t tell me people aren’t as interested in
church now, but every Sunday, I just walk through
church as they used to be. I don’t see that.
the crowd and hug them and shake hands with as many people as possible. I really do love them.
The real question isn’t, “Are they interested?” It’s, “Do you really want to do it?” Because the people
Celebrate victories. Every time we hit a
are willing to hear it. In Thom Rainer’s research at
milestone, I’ll bring that up in a service. I usually
LifeWay, over 96 percent of unchurched people
follow that up with, “I know somebody sitting
said they were at least somewhat likely to come
in here right now is thinking, ‘He’s just worried
to church if somebody would simply invite them.
about numbers.’ I am worried about the numbers
People aren’t out of church because they don’t
because numbers represent people, people
want to come or be involved; it’s that nobody
represent souls and I think God’s worried about
invites them.
that.” I am happy about how God is working, and I want to celebrate the great things God’s doing.
OM: What advice do you have for pastors as they lead their churches to be evangelistic?
Faithfully follow God’s Word. I didn’t expect this change and growth would happen at First Baptist
KW: Be evangelistic yourself. If a pastor is
Church Villa Rica. The only thing I can attribute that
evangelistic, the congregation takes on the
to is that we are following God’s Word and trusting
personality of its pastor. It doesn’t happen
Him to make it happen.
overnight, but it will. My church knows that’s who I am and what I am. I do it. I preach it. I sing it. I breathe it. I think that is what changes the
Inspired to take your next step leading your church on mission? Go to namb.net/Evangelism for tools and resources to get you started.
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ON BASE, ON MISS
ION
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Military chaplains have a unique opportunity to reach into places the Church may not have immediate access.
To be intentional not only means to preach Christ’s Word in the chapel but to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to share His message of reconciliation if, and when, the time fits.” U.S. Army Chaplain (CPT) Jose Rondon
By Josie Bingham
ear, to help others to start trusting and believing in anything again, especially when our wounds are
FORT LEONARD WOOD—U. S. Army Chaplain
so deep that we lose respect for many around us.
(CPT) Jose Rondon believes “there is nothing
God always opens great doors like this when we
more exhilarating in life than seeing people come
listen to people without interrupting. We show
to Christ.”
them how much we care by being there for them whenever they need it most.”
It’s why Chaplain Rondon is intentional. He’s intentional with his words. He’s intentional with how he
Because military chaplains build intentional minis-
treats his fellow soldiers.
tries, servicemen and women hear the gospel on
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What chaplains do
and territories.
“To be intentional is to be faithful to Christ and
“We have seen 4,109 soldiers come to Christ since
obedient to His Great Commission,” says Chap-
I started here,” Chaplain Rondon says. “God is
lain Rondon. “But we will not succeed in making
doing great things at Fort Leonard Wood among
disciples until the lost make the first step to follow
the hundreds of soldiers who have come to know
Christ as their Savior. To be intentional not only
Christ personally.”
means to preach Christ’s Word in the chapel but to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to share His message
What war does
of reconciliation if, and when, the time fits.” In his book, The Faith of the American Soldier, So when soldiers approach Chaplain Rondon and
historian Stephen Mansfield writes, “War forces a
ask to speak with him, the chaplain often knows
definition of belief. It leaves only what is relevant
the soldier isn’t asking for words of wisdom but for
in the face of death, horror and fear. War filters,
listening ears.
refines and distills. It is unforgiving of superficiality, easy answers and religiosity. Religion on the battle-
“All of us, at some point, need to be a listening
field has to work.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHAPLAIN RONDON AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
military bases in 32 cities and 67 states, provinces
Chaplain Jose Rondon is integrated into his soldiers’ everyday experiences, so he’s able to better relate to them.
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Chaplains focus on bringing practical faith to bear in both times of peace and crisis.
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Retired Major General Doug Carver, executive
“Just consider the following: Over 2,000 troops
director of chaplaincy for the North American
gathered in Doughboy Stadium at Fort Benning,
Mission Board, says what is happening at Fort
Georgia, this past Easter to celebrate the Resurrec-
Leonard Wood is not an exception.
tion of our Lord Jesus Christ; Army chaplains are currently baptizing an average of 70 soldiers every
“Our troops, who are increasingly hungry for truth
Basic Combat Training cycle at Fort Jackson, South
and relevancy in their lives, are finding a faith that
Carolina; the U.S. Air Force Chaplaincy recently
‘works’ through a personal relationship with the
rolled out a new program called FaithWorks,
Lord Jesus Christ,” Chaplain Carver says. “The
which is a collection of evidence-based programs
current spiritual awakening at Fort Leonard Wood
and materials promoting spiritual resilience for
is indicative of a great move of God taking place
Airmen and their families; and the military has built
within the Armed Services today.
more chapels since 9/11 than any other period of
Our troops, who are increasingly hungry for truth and relevancy in their lives, are finding a faith that ‘works’ through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.” M ajor General Doug Carver (Ret), NAMB Executive Director of Chaplaincy
American history except for World War II.”
“Historically, God has often used the military as a catalyst for revival,” Carver says. “Many attribute
The military’s war-focused climate has pressed the
the spread of Christianity in the first century to
need for spiritual strength and the importance
Roman soldiers deployed throughout the Roman
of personal faith. In the past two years, Southern
Empire. The Lord is answering our prayers for
Baptist military chaplains have reported 37,156
revival within our military communities. I’ve prayed
professions of faith and 7,458 baptisms.
for more than forty years for our troops and their families to experience the reality of Jesus Christ in
Post-salvation discipleship is being done by
a new and fresh way.”
chaplains alongside a network of other church leaders and ministries.
The 1,348 military chaplains in the Southern Baptist Convention are also praying for spiritual awak-
What hope can do
ening and revival wherever they serve troops in the United States and across the world. This vast
Chaplain (Col.) David Bowlus, another Fort Leonard
network of chaplains continues to offer religious
Wood Garrison chaplain, says their hope is “to
support and resources available to new Christians
build bridges between the installation and the
in their military careers.
religious community outside the gate in an effort to better serve military members and their families.”
But it all starts with a chaplain being intentional— one person, one day at a time.
These new believers will also have access to chaplains throughout their military career.
Josie Rabbitt Bingham writes for the North American Mission Board.
Read more stories about military chaplains at namb.net/Fort-Benning. Get involved in military church planting at namb.net/Military-Church-Planting.
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Jamie spends time with his neighbors both in focused ministry and in times of fun and fellowship.
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The Garfield Park Samaritan PHOTO ESSAY BY GARY GNIDOVIC By Jamie Thompson
W
e know the truth of God’s Word is powerful. It’s effective. He uses us here in Garfield Park to share that Word, and He told us how to build a platform to preach from—love. We ought to
be sharing while we’re loving and serving. What’s reproducible about this is that love works. It’s God’s strategy. The Word works. The gospel works. His Church is relevant if we do what He called us to do. We’re not talking about social justice; we’re talking about love. We’re talking about loving people enough to help them, caring enough to get in the trenches, caring enough to get our hands dirty and caring enough to spend lots of time and lots of hours helping one person—just like the Good Samaritan did. He used his stuff, used his time and changed his schedule. He picked somebody up, cleaned him up, set him up and then he came back. The Samaritan checked up on him. He was passionate about love. The religious leaders were the ones walking by, and I think that’s what our community’s seeing. They’re seeing churches on every block, walking by the needs, going to their service and leaving. And they’re thinking, “I don’t want to be a part of that at all. It’s self-centered.” They don’t need to go and participate in a group that doesn’t care. They want love. Love works. And love takes a lot of time, a lot of effort. Jamie Thompson is a covocational church planter serving in Chicago’s Garfield Park community.
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Jamie’s neighbors trust him and Reborn Church as they have proven themselves faithful to the community.
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Stories of hope are walking the streets of Garfield Park. Lives are being changed by the love and power of the gospel displayed through the members of Reborn Church.
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Reborn Church displays the diversity of the community it loves and serves.
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Christ loved, and we as His people will be known by our love. When that’s true of His followers, Christ is relevant to the community, and people want to hear what you have to say about Him.� Jamie Thompson
Like the Good Samaritan, we’re walking by gang members in need, people who need to work, people who need support and people who need tutoring. They need somebody to care and say, ‘I care about that, and I’m going to get involved.’” Jamie Thompson
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Learn more about Jamie’s ministry in Garfield Park at namb.net/GarfieldPark.
New Podcast!
EVANGELISM WITH JOHNNY HUNT
Do you have questions about leading your church in evangelism? Johnny Hunt sits down with NAMB president Kevin Ezell to answer questions and give practical solutions to evangelism challenges faced by pastors and congregations across North America.
Send your questions to evangelism@namb.net
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La
Familia How one family in La Mesa, California, realized that sometimes the one thing you need most is right in front of you
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We don’t think about evangelism as just going out and knocking on doors. We wanted to establish in this church a sense of family.” Jimmy Steele, pastor, The Hill Church
M
ostly, Jose Alba Cruz remembers being scared. It was the middle of the night, and he and his wife were
standing on the south side of the border that separated Mexico from the United States. “We were looking for a better life,” he says. “So, we left our country and crossed into America. Leaving behind everything that was familiar to us was so hard, and we were so afraid.”
A New normal Twenty years later, Jose’s fear has faded. He and his wife Matilde have settled in the San Diego suburb of La Mesa, found good jobs and raised four very American daughters. But they still remember that night when they came to America because it was the first time they had tried to leave their old lives 32
behind. It would not be the last. Like the Cruz family, it seems everyone is from somewhere else in La Mesa, a bedroom community to San Diego that has grown much more diverse in the last 25 years. Thousands of Mexicans have come here looking for a better life. Thousands more Somali, Burmese and Sudanese refugees have been resettled in the neighboring
community of City Heights. “The neighborhood has changed over the last 30 years,” says Jimmy Steele, pastor of The Hill Church in La Mesa. “Now, La Mesa is about 50% white, about 30% Hispanic and about 20% everything else.” Like most people here, Jimmy is also from somewhere else. In 2017, he and his family led a church planting team from Open Door Baptist Church in North Carolina to La Mesa to replant Windsor Hills Community Church, a 60-year old, mostly-white congregation that had struggled to keep up with the changes around them. “Windsor Hills was a group of people who loved Jesus,” Jimmy says, “but they had become kind of a cultural oddity in the neighborhood.” Jimmy, his church plant team and the people of Windsor Hills launched The Hill Church in January 2018. They wanted to share Christ with their neighbors, many of whom did not look like them or even speak their language. To do so, God first turned their attention inside, not outside, the four walls of their church. “San Diego is a city of crowded loneliness, so evangelism is essential in our context,” says Jimmy. “That’s why we came here from across the country— to share Jesus. But we don’t think about evangelism
PHOTOS BY DALEY HAKE
By Tony Hudson
Church replanter Jimmy Steele stands an a hill overlooking the community he is called to serve.
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People from all walks of life make up The Hill Church.
34
as just going out and knocking on doors. We wanted to first create something between us, in us, among us. We wanted to establish in this church a sense of family. Then, we knew as we became a gospel people in our neighborhood, it would be like a magnetic force.” Even though they could see its illuminated cross from their front door, it had never occurred to the Cruz family to visit what everybody in La Mesa referred to as “the church on the hill.” Jose and Matilde were sure they wouldn’t fit in. “All the years we’ve been living in La Mesa, I’ve driven past that church a thousand times,” Jose says. “It was just another building in the neighborhood.” But then one Saturday, Jose and Matilde saw people pulling weeds outside the church and something about the way they interacted as they worked caught the Cruzes’ attention. They wandered over and asked if they could help. They ended up staying all day. “It’s really hard for me to speak English,” Matilde says through an interpreter. “Even though I didn’t understand everything they said, they made us feel like we were part of their family. That’s why, when they invited us to church the next day, we went.”
Starting over again At the time, Jose and Matilde needed that invitation.
35
I felt so empty on the inside. I had tried so hard to find something to help us, and we finally found it in this church.” Jose Alba Cruz
Their family was disintegrating. Jose was addicted
Jimmy Steele preaches every Sunday, but to the
to drugs. He says he took meth “once or twice a
gospel message they heard from church members
week.” Their kids, Jose said, “couldn’t figure things
who shared meals, showed up at school functions
out.” And Matilde had a drinking problem.
and stopped by their apartment just to say “hi” on Mondays through Saturdays.
“We had so many struggles,” she says. “We were seriously considering breaking up.” That’s
“We were able to bring the gospel a lot closer to
why when they made that initial five-minute walk
them than it was before,” says Jimmy, “because
from their apartment to “the church on the hill,” it
we had people who had the energy, the zeal and
felt just like it did on that night 20 years ago, the
the passion not just to call Jose to come up here,
first time Jose and Matilde tried to leave their
but to enter his family’s world and bring the gospel
old lives behind.
to them.”
“I felt so empty on the inside,” says Jose. “I had
Now, Jose’s and Matilde’s marriage is healing.
tried so hard to find something to help us, and we
Jose is sharing his faith at work, and their daughter
finally found it in this church.”
Nataly is telling her friends and teachers at school how she gave her to life to Christ. Finally, the Cruz
A lot can happen in a year.
family has found the new life they first began looking for on that night 20 years ago.
Now, early on Sunday mornings, the entire congre-
36
gation of The Hill Church gathers in the parking
“With God, everything is more clear,” says Jose.
lot. Africans and Asians and old people and young
“This is the life for us. And that’s our story of our
people and La Mesa natives and people with
life here in La Mesa.”
Southern accents all hold hands and pray. Jose is there every Sunday along with his daughters Nataly
Tony Hudson writes for On Mission.
and Bethsaida. Matilde is there, too. The Cruz family responded, not just to the gospel message
Explore an interactive experience of the Cruzes’ story at namb.net/Cruz.
God never intended his children to walk through life alone. He has called each of us to walk alongside other believers and to encourage each other in the joys, trials and demands of the Christian life and ministry. That is the reason the ministry of Timothy+Barnabas exists.
INSTRUCTION & ENCOURAGEMENT
These two-night, three-day retreats are specifically designed for pastors and their wives to be instructed and encouraged so that they can live out their calling in the local church. A Timothy+Barnabas retreat is somewhere that a pastor can come expecting to have fun and relax with his spouse while both are being inspired and encouraged.
2019 RETREATS Atlanta 1: March 4-6 Atlanta 2: March 6-8 Gatlinburg: March 19-21 Palm Springs: September 3-5 Branson: September 18-20
Learn more and register at TimothyBarnabas.org
Regional Convention Evangelism Resource Guide S
ending the hope of the gospel is at the heart of everything we do. This simple resource guide is a listing of contacts and resources used by conventions throughout North America.
In Southern states, each convention has a full-time director of evangelism who is focused on resourcing churches. In regions outside the South, NAMB provides funding for an evangelism team member for state conventions that want one.
Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions 21,271 17,331 13,451
State Executive Director Rick Lance
Baptisms in 2017 13,451
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:362
State Director of Evangelism Sammy Gilbreath
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -15.4%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.7
Population of state 4.875 million
Primary evangelism tool 3 Circles
SDOE Email sgilbreath@alsbom.org SDOE Phone number 334-220-2565
2008
38
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 492
419
407
Alaska Baptist Convention State Executive Director Randy Covington
Baptisms in 2017 407
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:1,818
State Director of Evangelism Jimmy Stewart
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +17.6%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6
Population of state 739,795
Primary evangelism tool 3 Circles
SDOE Email jimmy@alaskabaptistconvention.com SDOE Phone number 907-344-9627
2008
2013
Number of congregations in 2017 3,278
2017
Number of congregations in 2017 118
Arizona Southern Baptist Convention State Executive Director David Johnson
Baptisms in 2017 2,621
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:2,677
State Director of Evangelism Edward Pearson
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -3.9%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.8
SDOE Email eddy@azsbc.org SDOE Phone number 480-945-0880
Population of state 7.016 million Number of congregations in 2017 468
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Auxano’s Neighborhood Evangelism, Leveraging Key Sundays for Evangelism, The Mapping Center, Master Plan of Evangelism Steps, MY 316, Rooftop Evangelism, Steps Toward Neighborhood Mission
Arkansas Baptist State Convention State Executive Director J.D. “Sonny” Tucker
Baptisms in 2017 10,221
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:294
State Director of Evangelism Marcus Brown
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -0.2%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.8
Population of state 3.004 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Big Day Evangelistic Events, One-Verse Evangelism
SDOE Email mbrown@absc.org SDOE Phone number 501-376-4791
Number of congregations in 2017 1,557
Baptisms increase/decrease 2,641 2,522
2008
State Executive Director Tim Lubinus
Baptisms in 2017 1,026
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,066
State Director of Evangelism Tim Lubinus
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +31%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.5
Population of state 3.146 million
Primary evangelism tool N/A
SDOE Email tlubinus@bciowa.org SDOE Phone number 515-809-2819
12,107
State Executive Director Kevin Smith
Baptisms in 2017 1,455
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:4,821
State Director of Evangelism Mark Dooley
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +31.5%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 3.4
Population of region 6.052 million
Primary evangelism tool N/A
SDOE Phone number 410-290-5290
11,554
2013
10,221
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 1,026
572
570
2008
2013
Number of congregations in 2017 111
Baptist Convention of Maryland-Delaware
SDOE Email mdooley@bcmd.org
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease
2008
Baptist Convention of Iowa
2013
2,621
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 3,026
1,908 1,455
Number of congregations in 2017 649 2008
2013
2017
39
Baptisms increase/decrease 1,824 1,570 1,215
Baptist Convention of New England State Executive Director Terry Dorsett
Baptisms in 2017 1,824
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:8,120
SED Email tdorsett@bcne.net
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +8.1%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.8
Population of region 14.85 million
Primary evangelism tool 3 Circles
SED Phone number 508-393-6013, ext. 224
Number of congregations in 2017 343 2008
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 2,439 2,176 1,611
Baptist Convention of New York State Executive Director Terry M. Robertson
Baptisms in 2017 2,176
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:11,972
State Director of Evangelism Terry M. Robertson
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -13.9%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.9
Population of state 19.85 million
Primary evangelism tools Hey Neighbor, Walk A Mile
SDOE Email trobertson@bcnysbc.org SDOE Phone number 315-433-1001 2008
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 4,356
1,896 1,579
2008
40
2013
Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey State Executive Director Barry E. Whitworth
Baptisms in 2017 1,579
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:9,885
State Director of Evangelism Larry L. Anderson, Jr.
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +1.2%
SDOE Email landerson@brnonline.org
Population of region 12.81 million
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.2
SDOE Phone number 717-652-5856, ext. 10
Number of congregations in 2017 327
7,420
5,204
Baptist General Association of Virginia State Executive Director John V. Upton, Jr
Baptisms in 2017 1,274
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:946
State Director of Evangelism Wayne Faison
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -12%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 2.9
Population of state 8.47 million
Primary evangelism tool 3 Circles
SDOE Email wayne.faison@bgav.org
2013
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Event Evangelism, Relational or Conversational Evangelism, Servant Evangelism
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease
2008
Number of congregations in 2017 507
1,274
SDOE Phone number 804-915-5000
2017
*Baptism-to-population ratio is based on combined baptisms of BGAV and SBCV for accuracy since some congregations are dually aligned
Number of congregations in 2017 1,906
Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma State Executive Director Hance Dilbeck
Baptisms in 2017 11,554
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:340
State Director of Evangelism Mike Napier
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -5.3%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.6
Population of state 3.91 million
Primary evangelism tools Evangecube, Evangelism Explosion
SDOE Email mnapier@bgco.org SDOE Phone number 405-942-3800, ext. 4327
Number of congregations in 2017 1,773
Baptisms increase/decrease 13,659
2008
Baptist General Convention of Texas State Executive Director David Hardage
Baptisms in 2017 25,451
Baptism-to-population ratio* 1:819
State Director of Evangelism Leighton Flowers
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -11.5%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.3
Population of state 28.3 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, 4X4 Evangelism Training, TrueLifeTexas.org
SDOE Email leighton.flowers@texasbaptists.org SDOE Phone number 224-828-5120
Number of congregations in 2017 5,315
*Baptism-to-population ratio is based on combined baptisms of BGCT and SBTC for accuracy since some congregations are dually aligned
Baptist State Convention of Michigan State Executive Director Tim Patterson
Baptisms in 2017 709
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:14,051
State Director of Evangelism Mike Durbin
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -17.2%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.7
Population of state 9.962 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Mi Moment
SDOE Email mike@bscm.org SDOE Phone number 810-714-1907
2017
36,451 32,668 25,451
2008
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 1,504
937
709
Number of congregations in 2017 318
Baptist State Convention of North Carolina State Executive Director Milton A. Hollifield, Jr.
Baptisms in 2017 17,042
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:603
State Director of Evangelism Brian Upshaw
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -11.7%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.1
opulation of state 10.27 million
Primary evangelism tool 3 Circles
SDOE Phone number 800-395-5102, ext. 5632
2013
11,554
Baptisms increase/decrease
2008
SDOE Email bupshaw@ncbaptist.org
12,246
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 21,768
19,976
17,042
Number of congregations in 2017 4,406 2008
2013
2017
41
Baptisms increase/decrease 12,874
13,566 9,559
California Southern Baptist Convention State Executive Director Bill Agee
Baptisms in 2017 9,559
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:4,136
State Director of Evangelism Pete Ramirez
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -12.7%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.6
Population of state 39.54 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Life Book
SDOE Email pramirez@csbc.com SDOE Phone number 559-256-0844 2008
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 1,924
813
Canadian National Baptist Convention Executive Director Gerry Taillon
Baptisms in 2017 1,924
Baptism-to-population ratio 1: 6,156
Director of Evangelism Cesar Parra
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -6%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance N/A
Population of region 35.2 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Other
DOE Emails cparra@cnbc.ca
856
DOE Phone number 403-932-5688 2008
2013
1,742 1,481
Colorado Baptist General Convention State Executive Director Nathan Lorick
Baptisms in 2017 1,481
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,786
State Director of Evangelism Tim Corbin
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +89.4%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.8
Population of state 5.607 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Four Fields
SDOE Email tcorbin@coloradobaptists.org SDOE Phone number 720-372-7310 2008
42
2013
247
248
Dakota Baptist Convention State Executive Director Garvon Golden
Baptisms in 2017 248
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:6,553
State Director of Evangelism Garvon Golden
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +34.8%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 7
Population of region 1.6 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Three Minute Evangelistic Testimony
SDOE Email garvon@dakotabaptist.com SDOE Phone number 605-877-1163 2008
2013
Number of congregations in 2017 376
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 225
Number of congregations in 2017 498
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease
1,428
Number of congregations in 2017 2,282
2017
Number of congregations in 2017 92
Florida Baptist Convention State Executive Director Tommy Green
Baptisms in 2017 24,960
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:842
State Director of Evangelism Wayne Briant
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -5.8%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.3
Population of state 20.98 million
Primary evangelism tools State Evangelism Conferences, Witness Training
SDOE Email wbriant@flbaptist.org SDOE Phone number 941-780-6950
Number of congregations in 2017 3,037
Baptisms increase/decrease 34,414 30,846 24,960
2008
Georgia Baptist Mission Board State Executive Director Thomas Hammond
Baptisms in 2017 20,346
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:513
State Director of Evangelism Scott Smith
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -14.1%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.1
Population of state 10.43 million
Primary evangelism tool 3 Circles
SDOE Email ssmith@gabaptist.org SDOE Phone number 770-936-5344
31,792 27,499 20,346
Number of congregations in 2017 3,585
Hawaii Baptist Convention Baptisms in 2017 541
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:2,639
State Director of Evangelism Brian Smart
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -27.3%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6.6
Population of state 1.428 million
Primary evangelism tool Everyday Evangelism
541
482
Number of congregations in 2017 134
Illinois Baptist State Association State Executive Director Nate Adams
Baptisms in 2017 3,528
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,629
State Director of Evangelism Pat Pajak
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -20.3%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.2
Population of state 12.8 million
Primary evangelism tool 3 Circles
SDOE Phone number 217-391-3129
2017
812
2008
SDOE Email patpajak@ibsa.org
2013
Baptisms increase/decrease
State Executive Director Chris Martin
SDOE Phone number 808-946-9581
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease
2008
SDOE Email brian@hpbaptist.net
2013
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 5,189
4,749 3,528
Number of congregations in 2017 971 2008
2013
2017
43
Baptisms increase/decrease
2,663
2,924 2,242
Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists State Executive Director Bob Mills
Baptisms in 2017 2,242
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:2,156
State Director of Evangelism Jon Sapp
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -19.4%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.3
Population of region 4.833 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, One Conversation
SDOE Email jsapp@kncsb.org SDOE Phone number 785-224-1009 2008
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 15,583 13,932 11,989
2008
2013
Kentucky Baptist Convention Baptisms in 2017 11,989
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:372
State Director of Evangelism Todd Gray
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -7.8%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.8
SDOE Email todd.gray@kybaptist.org
Population of state 4.454 million
SDOE Phone number 270-889-4276
Number of congregations in 2017 2,386
Primary evangelism tools Door-to-door Evangelism, Evangelism Conferences, Evangelism Equipping Events, Regional Personal Evangelism Equipping Events, Social Media
State Executive Directors Jim Donnell (interim) Curtis Woods (interim)
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 10,285
10,492 9,182
Louisiana Baptist Convention State Executive Director David Hankins
Baptisms in 2017 9,182
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:510
State Director of Evangelism Keith Manuel
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -10.4%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.9
Population of state 4.684 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, One on One: Evangelism Made Simple, Roman Road
SDOE Email keith.manuel@lbc.org SDOE Phone number 318-448-3402 2008
44
2013
752
492
Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention State Executive Director Leo Endel
Baptisms in 2017 141
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:80,653
State Director of Evangelism Leo Endel
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -57.7%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 2.8
Population of region 11.372 million
Primary evangelism tools Bible Distribution, Block Parties, Community Service, Disaster Relief, EvangeCube, Harvest and Winter Festivals, Neighborhood Outreach
SDOE Email endel@mwbc.org 141
2013
Number of congregations in 2017 1,633
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease
2008
Number of congregations in 2017 443
2017
SDOE Phone number 507-282-3636
Number of congregations in 2017 179
Mississippi Baptist Convention Board State Executive Director Jim Futral
Baptisms in 2017 8,916
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:335
State Director of Evangelism Don Lum
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -9.5%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.6
Population of state 2.984 million
Primary evangelism tools Tracts and Other Resources
SDOE Email dlum@mbcb.org SDOE Phone number 601-292-3278
Baptisms increase/decrease 12,347
8,916
Number of congregations in 2017 2,118 2008
Missouri Baptist Convention State Executive Director John Yeats
Baptisms in 2017 7,172
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:852
State Director of Evangelism Gene Austin (Interim)
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -9.5%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.5
Population of state 6.114 million
Primary evangelism tool N/A
SDOE Email gaustin@mobaptist.org SDOE Phone number 573-636-0400
State Executive Director Barrett Duke
Baptisms in 2017 607
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:1,731
State Director of Evangelism Darren Hales
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -4.1%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 7
Population of state 1.05 million
Primary evangelism tool One Conversation
11,105 9,707 7,172
2017
652
607
513
Number of congregations in 2017 137
Nevada Baptist Convention State Executive Director Kevin White
Baptisms in 2017 1,166
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:2,571
State Director of Evangelism Paul Harwood
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +9%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 7.2
Population of state 2.998 million
Primary evangelism tools Gospel Presentation Training, Regional Roundtables, Regional Training Events, Statewide Conferences
SDOE Phone number 775-786-0406
2013
Baptisms increase/decrease
2008
SDOE Email pharwood@ nevadabaptistconvention.org
2017
Number of congregations in 2017 1,814
Montana Southern Baptist Convention
SDOE Phone number 406-252-7537
2013
Baptisms increase/decrease
2008
SDOE Email dhales@mtsbc.org
11,288
Number of congregations in 2017 187
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 1,262
1,256
2008
2013
1,166
2017
45
Baptisms increase/decrease 1,924
1,902 1,637
Northwest Baptist Convention State Executive Director Randy Adams
Baptisms in 2017 1,924
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:6,156
State Director of Evangelism Joe Flegal
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -6%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.2
Population of region 11.8 million
Primary evangelism tools God Space, My 316, Pray 4 Every Home, Sharing Christ Without Freaking Out
SDOE Email joef@nwbaptist.org SDOE Phone number 360-882-2121 2008
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 18,253 15,932 11,853
South Carolina Baptist Convention State Executive Director Gary Hollingsworth
Baptisms in 2017 11,853
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:424
State Director of Evangelism Lee Clamp
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -30.1%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.9
Population of state 5.024 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Immersion Two-Day experience, Praying for Every Home, Caring for Every Community, Sharing with Every Life
SDOE Email leeclamp@scbaptist.org SDOE Phone number 800-723-7242
2008
2013
6,704
5,925
Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia State Executive Director Brian Autry
Baptisms in 2017 6,704
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:946
State Director of Evangelism Steve Bradshaw
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -0.3%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.2
Population of state 8.47 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Bless Every Home
SDOE Email sbradshaw@sbcv.org SDOE Phone number 434-390-3650 2008
46
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 24,568 21,315
19,471
Southern Baptists of Texas Convention State Executive Director Jim Richards
Baptisms in 2017 19,471
Baptism-to-population ratio* 1:819
State Director of Evangelism Shane Pruitt
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -2.4%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.3
Population of state 28.3 million
Primary evangelism tools 1Cross App, 3 Circles, One Conversation, One Verse Evangelism, Roman Road
SDOE Phone number 877-953-SBTC, ext. 7282 2013
2017
Number of congregations in 2017 689
*Baptism-to-population ratio is based on combined baptisms of SBCV and BGAV for accuracy since some congregations are dually aligned
SDOE Email spruitt@sbtexas.com
2008
Number of congregations in 2017 2,124
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 6,843
Number of congregations in 2017 498
Number of congregations in 2017 2,678
*Baptism-to-population ratio is based on combined baptisms of SBTC and BGCT for accuracy since some congregations are dually aligned
State Convention of Baptists in Indiana State Executive Director Steve McNeil
Baptisms in 2017 1,595
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:4,180
State Director of Evangelism Rick Hillard
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -26.7%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.3
Population of state 6.667 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, ESP 2020
SDOE Email rhillard@scbi.org SDOE Phone number 317-481-2400
Baptisms increase/decrease 3,184 2,503
1,595
Number of congregations in 2017 456 2008
State Convention of Baptists in Ohio State Executive Director Jack Kwok
Baptisms in 2017 3,724
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,131
State Director of Evangelism Jack Helton
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +2.4%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 6
Population of state 11.66 million
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Block Party Trailers, C2C, Evangecube, Sports Camps, VBS
SDOE Email jackhelton@scbo.org SDOE Phone number 614-309-9738
Number of congregations in 2017 729
State Executive Director Randy Davis
Baptisms in 2017 20,409
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:329
State Director of Evangelism David Evans
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year 0%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.6
Population of state 6.716 million
Primary evangelism tools Pray4TN.com, The John 3:16 Challenge
SDOE Email devans@tnbaptist.org SDOE Phone number 615-445-5045
Number of congregations in 2017 3,199
3,817
State Executive Director Joseph Bunce
Baptisms in 2017 2,843
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:734
State Director of Evangelism Tar Henderson
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year +13.4%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 8.1
Population of state 2.088 million
Primary evangelism tool N/A
SDOE Email thenderson@bcnm.com SDOE Phone number 505-924-2314
4,019
2013
3,724
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 23,520
2008
The Baptist Convention of New Mexico
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease
2008
Tennessee Baptist Convention
2013
21,541
2013
20,409
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 2,843 2,547 2,471
Number of congregations in 2017 332 2008
2013
2017
47
Baptisms increase/decrease 677
454 398
Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention State Executive Director Rob Lee
Baptisms in 2017 454
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:9,961
State Director of Evangelism Jerry Martin
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -26.7%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5
Population of region 4.819 million
Primary evangelism tool 3 Circles
SDOE Email jmartin@uisbc.org SDOE Phone number 208-546-1384
2008
2013
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease 753 641 476
West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists State Executive Director Bill Henard
Baptisms in 2017 476
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,815
State Director of Evangelism Tim Turner
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -23.6%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 4.2
Population of state 1.816 million
Primary evangelism tool 3 Circles
SDOE Email tim@wvcsb.org SDOE Phone number 304-757-0944
2008
2013
357 308
190
Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention State Executive Director Quin Williams
Baptisms in 2017 190
Baptism-to-population ratio 1:3,049
State Director of Evangelism Quin Williams
Percentage of increase/decrease from previous year -43.8%
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance 5.5
Population of state 579,315
Primary evangelism tools 3 Circles, Evangelism Conferences, Evangelism Resources, Regional Missionary
SDOE Email quin@wyomingsbc.org SDOE Phone number 307-472-4087
48
2013
Number of congregations in 2017 217
2017
Baptisms increase/decrease
2008
Number of congregations in 2017 178
Number of congregations in 2017 103
2017
Totals for SBC Baptisms in 2017
Baptisms in 2013
254,122
289,155
Percentage of increase/ decrease from previous year
Baptisms in 2008
-9.4%
311,702
Number of congregations in 2017
Baptisms per 100 in worship attendance
51,920
6,338
Baptism to population ratio
1:1,295
Percent Reporting based on LifeWay’s definition of reporting introduced in 2016.Sources: Annual Church Profile, 2008 to 2017, LifeWay Christian Resources; 2017 Southern Baptist Convention Statistical Summary; Annual Church Profile, 2017 LifeWay Christian Resources; Annual Church Profile, Canadian National Baptist Convention Compiled by: Center for Missional Research, North American Mission Board Prepared by: LifeWay Insights, LifeWay Christian Resources
my turn
A Passion for the gospel By Johnny Hunt
Passion really is a word that translates zeal in the
Y
New Testament, and actually it says we’re to be a ou may be asking, “How do I have a witness-
zealous people. That means we’re to be on fire.
ing church?”
Passion changes me. Passion changes others.
The answer is you. You must model what you desire to see in your people. You can teach what you know; you reproduce who you are. As you begin to witness, it becomes organic. You tell the stories in your everyday conversations and sermons. “Hey, let me tell you what happened this week.” Or “Guess who’s here this morning?” Or “Guess who we’re going to be baptizing next Sunday?” You don’t even plan to do it; it’s just natural. And as you share, others begin to think about doing it themselves. Sometimes we’re preaching messages, inviting people to buy into a message, but we don’t have a platform to train them to do anything with the
When there’s really a fire in my heart for something,
challenge. Whether you’re using 3 Circles, the
I’m going to find a way instead of an excuse. I
Roman Road or some other tool, make sure you
prayed, “Give me passion and tears. Give me a
have a training method so your congregation will
burden for those who don’t know you.”
be equipped. They’re ready to learn. We’re going to do our best to help fan the flame At NAMB, we have practical resources and tools to
of passion and to fuel a heart for evangelism in
help you, but there’s a missing ingredient you have
these coming days. Join us at every opportunity
to provide—passion. One of my favorite passages,
you can so we can help make a difference in your
Psalms 126, says, “They that sow in tears shall reap
life, and most of all, make a difference in your
with shouts of joy.” Tears speak of a broken heart
church. May God give us all a passion for others
of passion. You can have the tools, but you’re prob-
who don’t know Him.
ably not going to care enough to use them unless you really have a heart to see people come to a
Johnny Hunt is Senior Vice President of
saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Evangelism and Leadership.
Hear more evangelism insights from Johnny Hunt on his podcast with NAMB president Kevin Ezell at namb.net/podcast.
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EVERY CHURCH ON MISSION
volume 22 | number 1