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2 NAMB President’s Letter
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NAMB is a Southern Baptist Convention 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 888-239-3990 or visit namb.net/ OnMission. On Mission grants permission for any original article to be photocopied (up to 100 copies) for educational or church use. Include the following credit: “Used by permission of On Mission, North American Mission Board, ©2016.” For special requests, email us at help@namb.net or call 800-634-6462, extension 1004.
Art Director Shawn Elledge
Vice President of Marketing & Ministry Support Kim Robinson
Design Steve Beaver Photo Editor John Swain
Senior Director of Marketing & Events Dustin Willis
Photographer Susan Whitley
Editor Joe Conway
Intern Makayla Sykes
Contributors Evelyn Adamson Caroline Anderson William Bagsby Matt Carson Gary Gnidovic Mark Hallock Anne Harman Chloe Lewis Patricia McCarty Jorge Mendoza Tobin Perry Tyler Sanders Mark Sandlin Kate Weatherly
8 City Pages
10 From planter to president 10 14 Unity on mission 26 Leaving the roads behind
44
Managing Editor K. Faith Morgan Associate Editor Meredith Yackel
4 The Pulse
36 Qualifying the called
44 Aiming to reach the nations
© 2016 ON MISSION
On Mission highlights missionaries, chaplains, church planters and churches working to reach North America for Christ. On Mission is a publication of the North American Mission Board, SBC.
President Kevin Ezell
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52 Recommended
56 My Turn
57 IMB President’s Letter
Give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering at AnnieArmstrong.com/Donate. Give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at imb.org/Lottie-Moon. volume 19 | number 2
namb presi dent’s letter
Solid here, stronger there By Kevin Ezell, NAMB president (@kevezell)
I believe North America needs more churches.
I
Some people would say I’m too focused on that! I n 1 Corinthians 12, Paul outlines the different
believe new churches are the best way to introduce
roles we each play within the body of Christ.
new people to Jesus, but there is another impor-
Each is important as the Church carries out the mis-
tant reason to start new churches here. These are
sion of God.
the churches that will support and send tomorrow’s missionaries.
It is the same with the mission field. In Acts 1:8, Jesus sent out His followers telling us to be witnesses in
The North American Mission Board helps plant
Jerusalem (your city), Judea (your state), Samaria
churches with missions in their DNA. We require
(your nation) and the ends of the earth. Every part
that they give to missions—6 percent to the SBC
of the mission field is dependent on the other.
Cooperative Program; 4 percent to other SBC missions—and we expect the new church to start a
What if your church neglected your city as a mis-
church in the near future.
sion field? You would stop seeing new believers.
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Eventually, you wouldn’t have anyone to send out
We also encourage them to partner with the Interna-
to the farther mission fields. In fact, ultimately, you
tional Mission Board to reach an unreached people
wouldn’t even have an offering to send!
group. In these ways we are helping to ensure there will be a solid base of churches at home to continue
This illustrates how much what we do “here” (at home)
supporting the mission around the globe.
impacts what we are able to do “there” (globally).
Your donations to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program make mission strategies a reality. Give at AnnieArmstrong.com and imb.org/Giving.
Discover your church’s next missional opportunity at namb.net/SendMe.
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the pulse
Measured
Heard We recognize that not everyone will be a church planter or a pastor. We have medical and dental professionals in our churches. This will provide an additional gospel outreach opportuniy for them and others.” David Melber, vice president of Send Relief at the North American Mission Board, on the purchase of two mobile clinics for compassion ministry
Women more devout than men When religious individuals from around the world were polled on the importance of their religion, women were shown to be more devout than
Generational responses to Scripture
men by several standard measures of commit-
A recent survey conducted by the American Bible
ment. It is estimated some 97 million more
Society and Barna Group tracked the Scripture-
women than men (representative of 192
reading habits as well as thoughts on how Protes-
countries and multiple religions) claim reli-
tant adults and teens in the U.S. relate to Scripture.
gious affiliation as of 2010.
When I read the Bible, I read for:
Source: Pew Research, March 22, 2016
Teens: 22.8 min. Adults: 35.1 min.
Source: NAMB, April 18, 2016
Mobile faith A recent AT&T survey asked participants how their
A
Jeff Christopherson, vice president of Send Network at the North American Mission Board, on the process of multiplying disciples
World Relief and World Vision also showed that one out of 10 churches decided
Source: NAMB, April 21, 2016
phone helped them practice their faith.
42% download music 38% Stream services Research 32% or study 24% Give or donate Pray or meditate 22% using apps Listen to or
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Source: Leadership Journal, Winter 2016
Caring for refugees—or not
You are not making real disciples if they are not disciplemakers.”
Teens: 67%
recent telephone survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors and their churches
Adults: 84%
showed that 72% had not discussed caring for refugees locally and 63%
had not discussed caring for refugees internationally. The survey sponsored by to not get involved at all locally. There are currently an estimated 20 million refugees around the world, and the United States plans to resettle approximately
The hardest thing in this ministry is just sitting down and listening to their hurts. They come, they arrive with little children just with the clothes on their back, because back in Syria their homes are destroyed, their businesses are destroyed… women have been raped…real torture goes on among men and young men in Syria.”
I would rather read the Bible in print than on a device:
85,000 refugees in 2016. Source: ChristianityToday.com, February 29, 2016
I prefer the New International Version: Teens: 40% Adults: 20% I prefer the King James Version: Teens: 20% Adults: 41% The Bible teaches the truth will set you free:
Moral dilemma? A recent survey from Barna Research showed teens and young adults rank not recycling
Teens: 43% Adults: 41% The Bible has too little influence in the U.S.: Teens: 78%
as more immoral than viewing porn. The
Adults: 74%
poll also showed Christians are less likely to view porn (25%) compared to the general population (72%). Source: Barna Research, April 6, 2016
Busyness is my number-one reason for not reading the Bible: Teens: 71% Adults: 42%
Peter Matheson*, Christian worker, on interacting with refugees Source: Christianity Today, March 2016 Source: Baptist Press, December 1, 2015, *Name changed
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the pulse
Abortion in the United States
O
ut of all pregnancies in the U.S., 51% are unplanned. Forty percent of those end in abortion. Thirty-seven percent of these abortions are per-
formed on women who are Protestant. LifeWay Research also discovered that among women who have had abortions, 49% feel that pastors’ teachings on forgiveness don’t apply to women who have terminated pregnancies. Source: Facts & Trends, Winter 2016
Noted
Worldwide web speeds
Family matters TIME for Kids and KidsHealth.org recently sur-
In the past three years, internet speed
veyed parents and their children and found
in the U.S. has tripled according to
that 67% of children reported they got along
the Federal Communications Com-
well with their parents, while 66% of parents
mission. Regardless of this progress,
said the same. Their research also showed that
it still lags behind several other countries. In a report by tech firm Akamai, the U.S. ranked 16th in internet speeds with South Korea ranking first. Other countries ahead of the U.S.
Financial infidelity
A
recent poll from the National Endowment for Financial Education discovered that 42% of adults in committed relationships admit to being financially unfaithful. Financial infidelity includes hidden banking accounts, hiding big purchases or covering up bad investments. Since 2011, they have seen an upward trend in these lies from only 31 percent. Source: The Week, February 26, 2016
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included Sweden, Hong Kong, Czech Republic, Canada and Latvia.
A
attend church at least once a month use their cell phones during the
service. Half say they use their phone to look up Scripture and song lyrics. Onequarter of the surveyed admitted to also using their phone to text, post on social media, watch videos or play a game.
Source: Christianity Today, January/February 2016
Source: TIME, March 14, 2016
This year will mark the most ethnically diverse electorate in U.S. history. For the first time, onein-three eligible voters will be Hispanic, Black, Asian or some other racial or ethnic minorities, a net increase of 7.5 million voters since the 2012 general election. Source: Pew Research, February 3, 2016
Evangelicals today graphics of Evangelicals are not necessarily White,
Abortion clinics in decline
suburban, Southern and Republican.
Due primarily to conservative lawmakers pass-
Contrary to what most may assume, the demo-
30% Evangelical of White Americans 29% are Evangelical of Black Americans 44% are Evangelical of Hispanic Ameri30% cans are Evangelical of Americans of 17% other ethnicities are Evangelical of Americans are
ccording to a recent survey from AT&T, one-quarter of Americans who
proud of them.
Voter diversity
Source: The Week, January 15, 2016 and Akamai.com
Mobile devices: enhancement or distraction
only 58% of children felt their parents were
Source: Christianity Today, April 2016
ing legislation that makes abortion clinics more challenging to operate, there has been a decline in abortion providers. According to Bloomberg, at least 162 providers in the U.S. have closed their doors since 2011. Source: Bloomberg, February 24, 2016
Pew graduation Fifty-nine percent of Millenials who grew up in church are leaving, making them the U.S.’s most unchurched generation. Barna says six of 10 senior pastors agree that youth ministry is one of their top priorities, yet many lack a clear strategy in the development of the ministry. Source: Barna Research, April 6, 2016
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c i ty page
St. Louis
Shanghai
CURRENT CHURCH PLANT POTENTIAL CHURCH PLANT
IMB’s Shanghai City Guide outlines specific information to help you decide whether Shanghai is the place for Learn more about how God is using church planting to reach the lost in St. Louis at namb.net/StLouis.
76% Anglo
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19 % 5%
Other
72% lost
African American
2.7 million people live in the St. Louis area. 76% are Anglo, 19% African American, 3% Asian & Pacific Islander, 2% two or more races and less than 1% Native American.
W
ith a name like St. Louis, you expect a deeply-religious culture. “If I meet an Anglo person from St. Louis, I immediately ask, ‘Are you Catholic or Lutheran?’” says Send City Missionary Noah Oldham.
Another defining feature is racism. “We can trace a lot of that back to the 1960s during the Civil Rights movement,” says Oldham. “Unlike most of the cities in Southern
An estimated 71.8 percent of people in St. Louis are lost.
states, St. Louis never had a race riot. So we had ours in 2014. The church now has an
you. The guide also has Q&As with expats. To download, go to imb.org/Send and select “Cities.”
S
hanghai is home to more than 200,000 expats. A majority of professionals in this
24
million 11%
Bible-based churches, but we wanted to be self-supported,” a Christian working in Shanghai writes. “I found several job postings that matched my experience. I submitted my resume. That week I had two job interviews.” Ministry in Shanghai is similar to ministry in U.S. cities. The difference is most people have never heard the gospel, and many don’t have access to the Bible’s message.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, SBC Annual Church Profile, 2010 U.S. Religious Census: Religious Congregational and Membership Study. Compiled by the Center for Missional Research, North American Mission Board.
Atheist
“My wife and I wanted to move to China to share the gospel and to help build up
opportunity to come in and let the gospel heal the city in the ‘show me’ state.” How is God calling you to show His love to and for the people of St. Louis?
89 %
megacity speak English, making it an ideal place to work and serve.
Sources: Access1040.com, IMB Global Research.
Muslim
Christian
Atheism is the official religion of Shanghai with 89 percent claiming no religion. 11% are professing Christians, and only 0.4% are Muslim.
Shanghai has a population of over 24 million people and is the largest city in China.
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i nterv i ew Following 25 years as a church planter, pastor and SBC leader, Jeff Iorg has led Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary for 12 years. He and his wife, Ann, have three adult children.
From planter to president Jeff Iorg—a former church planter and current president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary*—shares wisdom and insight from his time in ministry.
ON MISSION: Share a little about your
Now it’s one of the largest Southern Baptist churches
church planting journey.
in Oregon. It’s a remarkable story of people com-
Jeff Iorg: We were much like a lot of the church
into missions, become pastors—it’s been healthy in
planters NAMB works with today. We were a young
every way, but it was hard in the beginning.
couple with a passion for reaching people and an 10
affinity for the West. We were willing to take a big
One thing I would emphasize is, we didn’t have a
risk, so in 1989, my wife and I and three children—the
surge of rapid growth. We never had an easy day. It
youngest of which was only 6-weeks old—moved
was challenging to try to reach one more family, one
to Portland, Oregon, to a suburb called Gresham.
more person, every week. That’s how our church
We planted a church with four families in a middle
grew, just little by little—never a surge of people.
school gymnasium. It was difficult. We grew very slowly. We were trying to reach non-Christians and
While we celebrate stories with big numbers, we
did not have a lot of transfer growth or people who
can’t assume the planter working hard and working
came from other churches. But we stayed with it and
at it really slowly has something wrong with his strat-
started seeing breakthroughs in the lives of people.
egy or approach. Sometimes, it’s just hard.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOLDEN GATE BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
ing through the church to plant other churches, go
11
OM: How does church planting fit in the pro-
JI: I’m mostly encouraged by the number of young
cess of carrying out the Great Commission in
leaders who are passionately giving their lives for
North America?
kingdom service—the number of young adults who are passionate for Jesus Christ, His kingdom
JI: I think church planting is at the heart of any
and His Church. I believe that leadership is crucial
strategy for fulfilling the Great Commission in
to the future of every organization—including the
North America. Church planting is evangelism that
Church—and when I look at the fact that we have
results in churches. Evangelism that doesn’t result
right at 20,000 students in our six seminaries, I’m
in churches produces rootless converts who, frankly,
very encouraged by that.
wither and die quickly. As the gospel goes into a community, people start coming to faith in Christ, they’re congregationalized, and churches emerge. I can’t think of any more important approach to fulfilling the Great Commission than evangelism that results in new churches being started. I would also add that evangelism that results in Jeff Iorg speaks with students after the final president’s convocation at Golden Gate Seminary’s Bay Area campus that has been its home base in California since 1959.
OM: How does your past experience as
skills necessary in an evangelism focus. What makes
a church planter influence how you equip,
us unique is that we are in the American West where
encourage and educate future church planters
there is an unlimited opportunity for church plant-
as president of Golden Gate seminary?
ing. We’re in a setting where diversity and immediate practical application are possible.
JI: My experience as a church planter helps me
12
focus on the practical aspects of what really matters in
OM: Are there challenges specific to planting
church planting. It moves me beyond academic the-
in the West?
ory—sometimes written by people who have never planted a church—to get to the core of issues that
JI: There is no Christian subculture in the West.
really do make a difference in whether a church plant
That’s both a challenge and an opportunity. When
is successful or not. My experience very definitely
church planters come here, sometimes it’s difficult
shapes the way I approach teaching church planting
for them because they don’t understand most of
and the way I want our school to approach it.
the people they encounter will have never opened
existing churches growing is also important, but
I can’t think of any more important approach to fulfilling the Great Commission than evangelism that results in new churches being started.”
there are not enough churches in North America to handle all the people living in this continent. OM: What challenges does Christian higher
OM: How should ministry in North America
education face in the current cultural climate?
adjust with changing demographics?
JI: The current political/governmental climate is
JI: Ministry in North America is only going to
much more threatening to Christian colleges and
become more diverse. At Golden Gate, only about
universities because they receive federal funding.
35 to 40 percent of our students are Anglo, and that
They are at significant risk of losing that funding
reflects our population in California and in the West.
and, in essence, losing a significant revenue source
I think that’s the coming trend for us as the Church
for student loans and other aspects of their finan-
in North America.
cial plan because of possible government action on issues such as same-sex marriage or gender equal-
*Pending action at the Southern Baptist Convention
ity. Seminaries are not at as great a risk since we do
in June, Golden Gate Seminary may be renamed
not accept federal funding.
Gateway Seminary.
OM: What trend in the Church today is encouraging to you?
a Bible. It’s also a great opportunity because you We teach the same kinds of things that other
have people who do not have some of the preju-
schools teach—basic missiology, evangelism, com-
dices and baggage that come with church experi-
To learn more about taking your next step as a church planter, visit namb.net/SendMe. Read more from Jeff Iorg
munity diagnosis and analysis and the interpersonal
ence, or sometimes even bad church experiences.
at ggbts.edu/President/Blog.
13
Unity on mission Send Relief helps churches expand their influence By David Melber
T
as Southern Baptists around common causes for the sake of the gospel. In John 17:21, Jesus
he Lord has orchestrated all of us
says unity is how people will know the Father
into the body of Christ for different
sent the Son. So, ultimately, Send Relief is not
purposes. And we, as the North
only for the sake of a project, it may be that
American Mission Board (NAMB),
easy first step we as Southern Baptists can rally
working through our partners, want to help
around as a unified effort demonstrating to the
people and churches take that next step. We
world that the Father has sent the Son.
want to see every member, every church, on mission.
Current cooperation
Mercy and relief ministry have always been
In numerous circles outside of Southern Bap-
around. Jesus said, “The poor will always be with
tist life—from the water crisis in Flint, Michi-
you.” He’s almost implying this is a problem that
gan, to Katrina in New Orleans—we are known
we’re not going to be able to fix. So why be a
because of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
part of something unsolvable?
They don’t know us for anything other than those gold shirts, and, along with that, many
PHOTOS BY MARK SANDLIN
14
But for people to have purpose and fulfillment
would say the most obvious testimony of our
in life, they must live a life on mission that aligns
cooperating efforts is Disaster Relief. So how
with faith. And mission that aligns with our faith
do we build on a 50-year collective effort of
is seeing needs around us and taking action.
individual partners, associations and state conventions that have come together to build this
One of the most exciting aspects of Send
cooperating network?
Relief is that the Lord could use it to unite us (Continued on page 19)
15
There are a lot of people in a church that will say, ‘I can’t preach. I can’t sing in the choir. I can’t teach Sunday School. But I can run a chainsaw. I can handle a shovel. I can cook. I can care for children.’ They become better church members, better givers and are more involved and supportive of the local ministries of the church.” Mickey Caison, executive director of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
16
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Poverty is not a lack of money. It’s a broken relationship, and everyone has broken relationships.” Austin Hill, associate director of Stowe Mission in Columbus, Ohio
(Continued from page 15)
provides shelf-stable food for underprivileged chil-
There is great clarity in the mission of Disaster
dren to take home and eat over the weekend. It is
Relief. Here’s a problem; we’re going to go fix it. We
run by volunteers from a local church partnered with
can bring that same clarity to hunger relief, poverty,
schools in their community to provide nutritious
international ministry and more—we’re going to
food for children who would otherwise go hungry.
see a need, we’re going to meet a need so we can proclaim the gospel.
Medical and dental care NAMB has purchased two mobile clinics—one
The next step
for dental services, the other for general medical needs. The clinics are fitted with state-of-the-art
18
As we launch Send Relief, we begin with four pri-
equipment and can be utilized by medical and
mary focuses; ministry to internationals, hunger
dental professionals as part of outreach and ser-
relief, medical and dental care and home fire pre-
vice events for under-served communities. They are
vention.
available for Southern Baptists to use.
Internationals ministry
Home fire prevention
International Learning Centers have a natural draw
The Home Fire Campaign is the American Red
as many immigrants and refugees need to learn Eng-
Cross’ (ARC) national program for fire prevention.
lish to better navigate society. That service, along
Send Relief is partnering with ARC to enable and
with the use of the Bible to teach English, offers a
engage your church and local fire department to
unique way for volunteers from local churches to
provide smoke detectors in the homes of your
reach the nations in their own backyards.
community.
Hunger relief
David Melber is vice president for Send Relief at
Backpacks of Hope offers your church an opportu-
the North American Mission Board. K. Faith Mor-
nity to support neighbors in need and connect with
gan, managing editor for On Mission, contributed
local schools as an invaluable partner. The program
to this essay.
Take your next step on mission through Send Relief at namb.net/SendRelief.
19
“Jesus never changes, and, therefore, the spirit of our ministry should never change. We should always be about sharing Jesus and His love with others. After all, Jesus said, ‘I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat.’” Kay Bennett, executive director of Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans
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Southern Baptists want to help people who are hurting. Send Relief is going to greatly expand the opportunities for churches and individuals to serve.� Kevin Ezell, president of NAMB
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”The way to share the gospel with people is to be a vessel of God’s concern and comfort in their lives,” says Send Relief missionary Lorna Bius. Reaching the people of Appalachia requires a demonstration of true compassion as evidence of pure, gospel-inspired motivation.
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25
Off road is often the only option, as with this 4x4 vehicle traveling between Bwile and Shila villages in northern Zambia.
Leaving the roads behind A medical missions legacy By Evelyn Adamson
D
avid Livingstone arrived in Africa in 1841 as a missionary doctor, and for most of his remaining 32 years, he traveled into uncharted regions to share the gospel. His medical training became a strategic platform to serve the local people as he told them about Jesus.
Today, IMB missionaries Kenny and Lesley Vines and
As a medical doctor, Lesley shares Christ through
their three children build on Livingstone’s legacy in
her professional skills as Livingstone did almost two
Zambia.
centuries ago. She volunteers at a local clinic twice a
27
PHOTOS BY EVELYN ADAMSON
26
IMB
missionary
doctor,
Lesley
Vines, walks from the pharmacy to her office at a local medical clinic where she volunteers twice a week.
week to treat malaria, HIV/AIDS and other illnesses common to the region. Her work provides invaluable opportunities to meet the physical and spiritual needs of those who come to the clinic. Lesley says there has never been a distinction between her professional life and her desire to serve the nations.
If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”
“I felt called [by God] to become a doctor, specifically
– David Livingstone
to use [my medical skills] on the mission field,” Lesley says. “I was called at the same time for missions and medicine. There was no doubt.”
In temperatures up to 120 degrees, Kenny and Jacob Lesley says job skills, specifically medical training, are
traverse the river to meet with church planters in their
helpful when serving with IMB in extreme places.
homes or under large trees to provide guidance for Bible studies, follow-up visits and church planting
“The farther out you go, the more [medical missions]
strategies.
is needed,” she says.
Life on the Zambezi
Because many families live an agrarian life, ministry and Bible studies have to be adjusted to the crop cycle. Kenny and the church planters often fluctuate
28
Kenny Vines works with locals to share the gospel and
their plans to accommodate the fluid farming sched-
build church communities along the same Zambezi
ule and the uprooting of families due to crop loss.
River where Livingstone once explored. Despite timing irregularities, Kenny and Jacob work He and Zambian church planter Jacob Lungu travel by
to expand the network of Christ followers along the
boat to share Bible stories and plant churches. They
Zambezi by investing their time in building communi-
often come face to face with Africa’s most iconic ani-
ties where they share the gospel.
mals along the way. Hippos, crocodiles and elephants are real threats and regarded with caution by the
Pastors and church planters who have phones use
locals.
them to further mobilization and discipleship efforts.
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30
31
IMB missionary, Kenny Vines, asks a local church planter to read the words on a box of anti-malaria medicine to check whether the church planter needs eye glasses.
Women in northern Zambia carry their goods in baskets on their heads as they walk to and from the weekly village market.
Many along the river use texts and phone calls to stay
Sub-Saharan Africa facts
A
pproximately 9,300 Africans
in contact and disciple one another. However, more remote villages have almost no modern technology. There are no batteries, and there is little access to consistent electricity or running water.
die every day from HIV/AIDS,
lower respiratory tract infections, diar-
These conditions present unique problem-solving
rhea and malaria.
opportunities as Kenny and Jacob distribute Scripture to people in a largely illiterate society. They provide
Approximately 41% of Sub-Saharan
hand-crank radios that play Bible story recordings, but
Africans follow traditional religions
the radios often require repairs or need to be replaced
such as ancestral worship.
altogether.
One in 12 children in Sub-Saharan Africa will die before his or her fifth birthday. This is more than 12 times higher than the average mortality rate in high-income countries.
Kenny and Jacob say despite the challenges, the long, arduous days on the river are worth the reward of seeing churches planted, the next generation of church leaders developed and Jesus’ name being preached in one of the most remote parts of the world.
There are 1,587 unreached people
32
groups and 478 unreached, unen-
“The legacy of what Jesus Christ did years ago [has]
gaged people groups in Sub-Saharan
lived on through David Livingstone and is now passed
Africa. These groups make a combined
on to me and every other Christian,” Kenny says. “It’s
total of 427 million people.
our job, our mandate, to take the gospel out.”
Poverty, lack of education, political
Beyond our reach
instability, armed conflict and social structures make young people vulner-
Beyond the river, on the opposite side of the coun-
able to traffickers.
try, paved roads leading toward northern Zambia
Sources: AfricaCheck.org, IMB Research, World Health Organization, United Nations
and Lake Mweru crumble into dirt paths. Houses are replaced with huts, and vehicles are scarce.
33
IMB missionary Kenny Vines draws directions to another village in the dirt for a church leader to follow.
I have found that I have no unusual endowments of intellect, but this day I resolve that I will be an uncommon Christian.” – David Livingstone
Lake Mweru is not a tourist destination. Its surround-
doctors who claim to have the ability to protect from
ing villages are beyond the reach of electricity or
evil spirits.
running water. And two people groups living in this region have no access to the message of Jesus Christ.
Aside from their spiritual beliefs, the physical remoteness of these Unreached People Groups (UPGs) is
The Bwile and Shila people are unreached people
the greatest barrier they have to hearing the gospel.
groups with no foreign or local missionaries working
Traveling from Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to Lake
among them. The Vines are praying for God to send
Mweru takes more than two days, and is as far as driv-
someone to share Christ with the Bwile and Shila and
ing from Boston to New Orleans.
plant churches in their villages. IMB missionary and Zambezi cluster leader Kevin RodThe Bwile and Shila people are fishermen, shop own-
gers, who has lived in Zambia for more than a decade,
ers or tradesmen, and many depend on the lake for
says reaching the Bwile, Shila and other UPGs living in
daily living. Women gather at the shores to talk while
extreme places will require a bold, global church.
washing clothes and dishes before they return home to cook and clean for their families. Fishermen cast
“The pioneering spirit is definitely important for every
huge nets to catch fish from the lake and its water-
missionary,” Rodgers says. “I believe that for every
ways. Any fish the fisherman’s family does not eat is
missionary on the field, regardless of what you do—
sold in the market to provide an income.
whether medical missions or business as missions— each one has an apostolic calling to leave their culture
34
The majority of the Bwile and Shila people practice
and people and go to another part of the world. You
traditional African religion or animism—worshiping
don’t do that without an adventurous spirit.” 35
the spirit world by offering sacrifices to appease the evil spirits. Their superstitions lead to visits with witch
Evelyn Adamson writes for the IMB.
IMB is committed to empowering churches to send people to share the gospel with people groups like the Bwile and Shila in remote corners of the world. Go to imb.org/Send to find ways you can partner with IMB to take the gospel message where it has never been heard.
Qu alifying the
called By Tobin Perry
he Church of the Beloved had a problem. It wasn’t the kind of problem most 2-year-old, big city church plants have either. They weren’t struggling to become self-sustaining. They weren’t struggling to crack their community’s missional code.
36
If anything, God was blessing the young church too much— if that’s possible. Daniel Chung, a church planting apprentice, stepped out in faith as he planted a new church in Chicago. Chung holds on to the truth of the gospel and that Christ is proud of him.
37
Church plants may be the best way to reach new people with the gospel, but few church plant growth projections put a congregation in the middle of Chicago at more than 400 just two years after its launch.
Throughout the process, Choi kept interjecting
Debt piled up on the family. For three years the
what had first seemed like a strange idea.
family tried to stay afloat. In the fall of 2000, Chung headed to James Madison University as a psychol-
The Church of the Beloved was
Maybe Chung—who had been the only other pas-
ogy major, still giving little thought to a future in full-
toral staff on the Church of the Beloved team—
time ministry. The financial strain on the family hit its
should lead the Near West Chicago church plant.
zenith the next year as his parents and little sister stopped in to see him at college as they moved to
growing rapidly, and pastor Dave ed to be consolidated to an area where everyone could worship together. Choi tapped Daniel Chung (center) to lead the church plant.
PHOTOS BY GARY GNIDOVIC
Choi knew that the church need-
After the core team had considered the first three
Southern California where extended family would
candidates, Choi’s suggestion became even more
help them get back on their feet.
specific. “We prayed together, cried together and then they “Would you consider leading the effort in Near West
were on their way to California,” Chung said.
Chicago on an interim basis?” he asked Chung. As happy as Chung was for his family’s fresh start
God’s tutoring process
his life—one that he struggled to fill. During the
Church plants may be the best way to reach new
could worship together. But as they prepared for
people with the gospel, but few church plant growth
the move, the team realized they were leaving some
Maybe there’s no more of a cliché statement about
next month, God’s tutoring work on Chung’s heart
projections put a congregation in the middle of Chi-
people out. A handful of people probably wouldn’t
Christian leadership than God doesn’t call the quali-
moved into a new gear. Unlike his friends’ parents,
cago at more than 400 just two years after its launch.
make the 20-minute commute to the new down-
fied but qualifies the call. No one knows who first
his parents could no longer provide the comforts—
town location.
said it, but many have seen the truth lived out over
or even the necessities—to which he had been
the years.
accustomed. There would be no more holiday trips
But with growth came challenges.
home to see the family. They would not be able to
So the leaders of the Church of the Beloved made 38
on the West Coast, the move left a gaping hole in
Both the church’s lead pastor, Dave Choi, and its
one more significant decision—they’d plant a new,
worship leader and student pastor, Daniel Chung,
independent partner church in the building they
were going through health problems. The church
were leaving.
Just ask Daniel Chung.
help with his expenses either. 39
Chung grew up attending Southern Baptist
“I was angry at God for what had happened to my
churches in Maryland and Virginia. A son of Korean
family, yet He was the only one I had to go to,”
But who would lead it?
immigrants to the United States, he rarely consid-
Chung said. “He kept pressing on my heart, asking
ered a future in ministry. All of that began to change
me, ‘Do you trust that I’ll provide for you? Do you
The church’s core team began interviewing various
after tragedy hit his family when he was in high
trust that I’ll provide for your family? Would you be
Choi, Chung and other core team members at the
candidates. They interviewed three candidates, but
school. His parents’ sporting goods store was the
willing to risk your whole life on that? Would you be
church had made the decision to consolidate and
none were the right choice.
subject of a devastating robbery that crippled their
willing to give me even more of your life?’”
had three worship services and two locations. God was up to something in their midst—and they were wearing out in the process.
move to a building downtown where everyone
business.
Becoming a church planter
God is the one who is going to draw people to Himself. And He is going to use the whole church to do it—not just me.”
But it was meeting Choi, who was speaking at a conference where Chung was leading worship, that
A first-year medical student and
started Chung’s Chicago journey.
immigrant from China, Kari Xiao found herself inside the doors of
“We spent the week together at that conference,” Chung said. “We really hit it off. He’s got that dynamic personality, the evangelist type that really
Church of the Beloved’s Near West campus. Xiao’s salvation is a living testimony of how God alone draws people to Himself.
draws people.” In November of 2001, Chung’s crisis hit its crescendo during a Christian retreat when a pastor led a prayer time, urging him and others to consider full-time ministry. Chung responded by surrendering his life to whatever God wanted to do through him. At that point Chung signed a blank check. He had no idea what God intended to do with the rest of his life. After college graduation, he headed to Southern California where his parents were still living. When his parents’ church decided to plant a new 40
church, he joined the team, getting his first look inside church planting. Three months later he headed to seminary in Orlando, Florida. At first, Chung followed God into student ministry. During his time at seminary he served as a youth pastor at a Southern Baptist church in Orlando. He also discovered a proclivity toward music and leading worship.
Two years later, as Chung wrapped up his seminary studies, Choi invited the young man to join him—as
him to do. He had watched Choi carefully over
too,” said Chung. “That has meant the world to
a worship leader and student pastor—as he planted
the past two years as they had planted Church of
me—as I’ve taken this step of faith—to know that
a new church in Chicago. As the two set out to plant
the Beloved. He seemed to be everything Chung
Dave is there behind me.”
Church of the Beloved, Chung continued to learn
wasn’t—a dynamic people-gatherer, a strong per-
from Choi—about leadership, evangelism, preach-
sonal evangelist and a gifted preacher. Chung
As a church planting apprentice, Chung is currently
ing and simply what it means to be a missional
didn’t believe he measured up.
part of the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) church planter “farm system.” NAMB’s farm system
leader in 21st century Chicago. Throughout the process, God blessed the new church far beyond
But as Chung talked it over with Choi and prayed
helps churches identify potential church planting
what the duo expected. Many people—including
about the decision, he couldn’t escape what God
team members and future church planters, and
young international college students—came to
was obviously leading him toward—planting the
walks with those candidates through assessment,
faith in Christ. Disciples were made. New leaders
new church. Throughout the process, Choi contin-
training and coaching.
were developed. Eventually, they had to start three
ued to encourage Chung to be himself. Everyone
worship services just to keep up with the growth.
has a different leadership style, Choi would tell him
41
over and over again.
God shows Himself faithful—again
ultimately led to the fateful question Choi posed to
“As he prays over me, knowing [comparing myself
Throughout the next year God would work faith-
Chung in the spring of 2014. Would Chung consider
to him] is one of my weaknesses, he tells God that
fully with the new church. New people joined the
being the lead planter of a new church?
he is proud of me. He prays, no matter what hap-
church. People came to faith in Christ. And Chung
pens with the church, that I should stand strong in
continued to grow as a leader. As he and the
the gospel and know that Christ is proud of me,
new church’s core team read through the book of
The young church’s decision to simplify the ministry
Chung wrestled through what God was calling
NAMB’s farm system helps churches identify potential church planting team members and future church planters, and walks with those candidates through assessment, training and coaching.
Romans together, God laid one particular verse on
brought Xiao to faith in Christ.
his heart. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may
“When this church sees a newcomer, they are so
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”
welcoming,” Xiao said. “Whether they’re a Chris-
(Romans 15:13).
tian or not, whether they’re homeless or not; a visitor could be an alien, and I’m sure this church would
“God was telling me through that verse, ‘Hey, quit
be welcoming. That attitude really helped me to
your doubt. God is the one who gives you hope.
feel comfortable and to open up. I didn’t feel like I
You can trust Him,’” Chung said.
was being judged.”
First-year medical student Kari Xiao became a liv-
Xiao reminded Chung that God would equip the
ing, breathing reminder of God’s promise to Chung
young church—and him—with everything needed
and the new church. Xiao came to Church of the
to be His presence in the neighborhood.
Beloved, Near West through the invitation of her roommate. An immigrant from China, Xiao’s fam-
“Through our journey with Kari, God reminded
ily had little connection with Christianity. But Xiao
me that the pressure to grow the church wasn’t on
knew she needed help. She felt powerless to defeat
me,” Chung said. “God is the one who is going to
an eating disorder that was robbing her of any
draw people to Himself. And He is going to use the
sense of control over her life.
whole church to do it—not just me.”
Through the consistent witness of multiple peo-
Tobin Perry is a contributing editor for On Mission.
ple in the young church—including Chung—God 42
43
Watch a video and discover more about how God is using church plants in Chicago—and how God can use you in the Windy City—at namb.net/Chicago.
For more resources designed to help you fulfill the everyday mission of God through your life, visit namb.net/ SendMe.
PHOTO BY CHLOE LEWIS
44
Aiming to reach the natio ns
45
With open hands, Jessica Lewis* (left) prays with members of a Nepalese church during a worship service.
I only loved the nations because of the Olympics, but I never loved the nations for God’s glory.”
A goal redirected
because of the Olympics, but I never loved the nations for God’s glory.”
INSPIREDIMAGES
While Lewis competed in several junior Olympics
J
and worked toward NCAA scholarships, she missed
In 2010, Lewis attended the Passion Conference in
out on typical high school activities.
Atlanta.
“That was my life, and I really wanted to use it as a
“That’s when God imprinted the world—His
platform to spread the gospel and to be an influ-
world—on my heart,” she says.
ence for the Lord,” Lewis says. “God had to strip me of all of my dreams and my At 18, however, she started having shoulder pain.
plans to say ‘Jessica Lewis, I don’t need you to be
She had stretched all the ligaments and tendons in
an Olympic gold medalist for My glory to be known
her shoulder and had to bow out of shooting.
in the nations,’” Lewis recalls.
“It shot my dreams,” Lewis says, intending the pun.
“I spent the majority of my life trying to plan and fig-
“I was really angry for a long time.”
ure out how I could help God,” says Lewis. “That’s
essica Lewis* spent many hours asking God why. “Look at what I could have done for You,” she told Him. “If I were an Olympic gold medalist, I would have this
platform to be able to talk about Christ and share the gospel. Why wouldn’t You want that to happen? Look at all I could have done for You,” Lewis remembers praying.
not how He’s called us to be. Since then, I’ve just In college, Lewis became a sports writer. She wrote stories about the athletes she would have com-
46
decided to have open hands.”
peted against.
Following to Nepal
teenage years traveling the nation. Her father put
“It was hard, but it was so awesome because God
Her open hands led her to Nepal to minister to sur-
Lewis’ father ranked among the top 50 high-power
his shooting career on hold when Lewis needed to
gave me the opportunity to write about it,” she says.
vivors of the April 2015 earthquake. She worshiped
rifle marksmen in the U.S., and she also trained to
travel more frequently. Later, he began shooting in
be a rifle shooter in the Olympics.
international-style competitions, so he and Lewis
Since her Olympic dream was no longer possible,
by the devastation and helped teach them their
could shoot together. Her mother was also heavily
she asked the Lord what trajectory He wanted for
value in God’s eyes.
“I wanted to be just like my dad,” Lewis says. “My
involved as the family invested time and finances
her life.
parents sacrificed a lot for that—for my dream to
into Lewis’ shooting career. They all believed she
happen.”
had a legitimate chance to make the U.S. team and
“Through that, I think He really seared the nations
Board (IMB) global missions catalyst and the team
possibly medal in the Olympic games.
on my heart,” Lewis says. “I only loved the nations
leader for the mission trip to Nepal, modeled how a
By Caroline Anderson
Lewis started competing at age 9 and spent her
with believers, prayed for women still traumatized
Lewis says Angela Wilson,* International Mission
47
A mission for every season of life
S
ingle women, young mothers and empty nesters
Wilson sees the importance of helping women realize
all have a role to play in missions. Angela Wil-
their value in ministry and leverage their season of life
son,* IMB global mission catalyst, says women have
for the advancement of the gospel.
unique ways of serving in missions, no matter their age or season of life, and she enjoys helping them.
Wilson is on the forefront of IMB’s concept of limitless missionary teams. David Platt, IMB president, has
Wilson says she often hears women say, “I have
outlined how the mission entity can help see more
children, so I can’t do ministry.” She asks mothers if
Southern Baptists on the international mission field
there are any international students in their children’s
through the concept.
classes. The world is often at their doorstep, and op“The goal is to empower limitless missionary teams to
children’s circles of friends.
make disciples and multiply churches among unreached people for the glory of God,” says Platt. “Pic-
“You don’t need to put missions on hold because of
ture a global megacity, for example. Picture two fully
the season of life you are in. You have an opportunity
funded IMB missionaries living and working there.
because you have kids,” Wilson says.
But picture also three or four professionals who get
Jessica Lewis worships in a Nep-
PHOTO BY CHLOE LEWIS
portunities for moms to serve abound among their
alese church building made of bamboo while serving earthquake survivors.
paid by their own companies or by businesses in that
48
An older woman once told Wilson she had always
city. Then imagine three or four students on scholar-
wanted to participate in missions but pointed to her
ships funded by universities to study in that city, and
gray hair and said she was too old now. Challeng-
maybe several retirees funded by Uncle Sam. Now
ing that notion, Wilson said she and the older woman
we have a team of 10 or more mission workers while
could both share the gospel in a village, but they may
financially supporting two. If you multiply that by
not have the same results.
hundreds, you get the picture of ‘limitless.’”
“I could go and story the gospel, and a few people
“Instead of their season of life becoming an excuse to
would listen, but women would gather from every-
not participate in God’s mission, we disciple people to
where and listen to you because of your gray hair.
see that their season of life is an opportunity to partici-
You have experience and age to your advantage,”
pate in His mission,” Wilson says.
Wilson told the woman. “If we equip and empower them, then those things A group of Southern Baptist women recently traveled
don’t become excuses to not participate. They actu-
with Wilson to Nepal. The majority had older chil-
ally become open doors,” she says.
dren—some had grandchildren. They had many opportunities on the trip to encourage younger mothers.
*Name changed
life on mission could, and should, be lived. Lewis appreciates Wilson’s “wisdom and her heart for missions to be incorporated into every aspect of our lives.” Wilson taught her, “We’re called to live a life on mission wherever we are. Regardless of season of life and location, we’re supposed to be making disciples.”
Back to high school
What if we were as intentional at home as we are on a mission trip? Why don’t we have that mind-set and mentality when we are at home?”
“I know I want to give my life away—wherever I am in the world—to girls and women to help them
try at her church in Kentucky, and she wants to help
thrive and flourish in the gospel and teach them
the girls she disciples pray for the nations and their
what that looks like,” Lewis says.
community. She took pictures of local international stores, families and homes and displayed them in a
Lewis is currently involved in the high school minis-
photo album to inspire prayers for these locations.
49
Jessica Lewis (center) listens as a woman reads Scripture during a Nepalese
When I was trying to convince God I needed an Olympic medal platform for Him to use me, I didn’t realize He has already given each one of us a platform to leverage for His glory and fame across the nations.”
church worship gathering.
She prays the Lord gives the girls a specific Scrip-
It required growth, an open heart and the desire to
ture verse to quote as they pray for the people and
put God’s plan ahead of what she had imagined.
places in the pictures. She also challenges the girls to pray as they drive past them.
“When I was trying to convince God I needed an Olympic medal platform for Him to use me, I didn’t
Lewis hopes to instill in the girls the same sense of
realize He has already given each one of us a plat-
urgency to share the gospel and to make disciples
form to leverage for His glory and fame across the
she felt while in Nepal.
nations. That platform includes our current city, our current job, relationships, skills, talents and pas-
“What if we were as intentional at home as we are
sions. We just have to be willing to be used right
on a mission trip?” Lewis asks, admitting her own
now, where we are, not waiting for some other time
tendency to slack off. “Why don’t we have that
or place.”
mind-set and mentality when we are at home?” Carolyn Anderson writes for the IMB.
New vision *Name changed Lewis says God has changed the way she views her role in making His glory known among the nations.
50
51
PHOTO BY CHLOE LEWIS
Could God’s dream for you be bigger than what you’re dreaming of right now? How can you open your hands to God’s dream for glorifying Himself among nations? Visit imb.org/Send with open hands.
To support church planters in Nepal, go to NetCommunity.imb.org, and search for the keyword “Nepal.”
r ec ommended
Leading Gospel The High-Definition Leader
Unleashed
In The High-Definition Leader, Derwin L. Gray contends that both the new con-
God calls Christians to prioritize sanctification in their daily lives as they continually
text of North America and the implications of the gospel require a new brand of
move toward being conformed to the image of Christ. Eric Mason calls this the
leadership for the Church.
“victorious struggle” in his latest book, Unleashed. “Victorious in that Jesus has
Derwin L. Gray (Thomas Nelson, 2015)
Eric Mason (B&H Publishing House, 2015)
secured our sanctification, but a struggle in that we are called to be active pursuers America is no longer just Black and White in terms of racial makeup; it is now
of holiness,” Mason writes.
varied and multi-colored. It seems that, for the most part, society has adjusted, but the Church is far behind in the process. “My concern,” writes Gray, “is that we
Are you an active participant in your spiritual growth? Mason argues that until a
will find ourselves in a multi-colored environment throughout the workweek, yet
person completely surrenders and allows the Holy Spirit to intervene in all aspects
worship in monocolored, monoclass churches on the weekend.”
of her life, she cannot transition from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. Mason leans heavily on the work of the Holy Spirit who “escorts us into greater intimacy”
This new type of leader—a high-definition leader—is one who not only recog-
when we take the initiative to be transformed into His likeness. “Even the most
nizes the diverse nature of the North American context but also sees diversity as
skilled church-planting strategists are impotent without the power of the Spirit to
the expressed intention of God for the Church He is building through the gospel.
orchestrate the work.”
The newness of this leader also includes rejecting traditional church planting wis-
Spiritual transformation is a topic that is revisited throughout the life of a believer.
dom that states successful church planting requires one to focus on a single eth-
Mason carefully unpacks areas of growth that contribute to this lifelong journey
nic and socioeconomic segment of the population but intentionally seek to build
including repentance, prayer and God’s Word. Mason also spends time on the role
a church that is diverse both ethnically and socioeconomically.
suffering plays in our spiritual growth and strongholds that hinder us from truly living in the freedom of Christ.
52
53
Gray’s case is both challenging and compelling. I heartily recommend The HighDefinition Leader to anyone thinking through the challenges of diversity in their
Unleashed does a wonderful job of balancing theological truths with practical
context and for anyone who wants to better understand God’s plan for the Church.
application that is perfect for both the new believer, who wants to take her first steps, and the mature believer, who is striving to live a sanctified life. “God is ready
Jorge Mendoza serves with BLVD through the North American Mission Board.
to unleash the power of His Son in your life. Are you ready?” Meredith Yackel is associate editor for On Mission.
Mission Leading Church in Hard Places
Strong and Weak
Pastors Mez McConnell and Mike McKinley believe the Church and the gospel
Jesus’ words in John 10:10, “I have come so that they may have life and have it
are for the poor and needy. McConnell says they wrote Church in Hard Places “in
in abundance” still strikes a chord in anyone who has ever taken a deep look into
the hope that the Western church will get better at bringing light to the dark and
his life and asked, “Is there anything more to this life?” In his new book Strong
neglected places too often found in their own backyards.”
and Weak, Andy Crouch helps readers dig into what it means for us to live out an
Mez McConnell and Mike McKinley (Crossway, 2016)
Andy Crouch (IVP, 2016)
abundant life. McKinley and McConnell discuss both effective and ineffective ways to reach places of poverty. They believe if we don’t help the poor see themselves as God
Using what would seem to be an oxymoron, Crouch bases his book upon the
does, we’ve left them trapped.
belief that true human flourishing (a.k.a. the abundant life Jesus calls us into) comes when we embrace both authority and vulnerability. Through well-written
The authors write that reconciliation with God is every person’s greatest need.
narrative examples and Scripture, he helps readers see four different options
Understanding the gospel’s message that humans are sinful causes people to
for the human life—flourishing, exploiting, withdrawing and suffering—which
take responsibility for their sins. Recognition of spiritual truth allows people to
depend upon how strongly we embrace authority and vulnerability.
stop blaming poverty on others. And this same gospel has the power to transform lives—breaking the cycle of powerlessness, hopelessness, loss of meaning
Crouch also writes specifically to leaders, urging them to be more concerned with
and shame that men and women in poverty point to as their captors.
the flourishing of others than of themselves. In a year where lack of humility and vulnerability have been particularly evident on the national political stage, Strong
“They don’t need bread; they need an entirely new way of life,” McConnell writes.
and Weak will help Christ-followers see a biblical picture of the unique place vulnerability plays in the life of someone who wants to emulate Jesus.
McConnell and McKinley point to the local church as the solution. They outline 54
specific ways churches can minister to people in hard places, empowering and
Church leaders looking for a new lens to view the impact of sin on a lost world
enabling the church and believers to bring the bread of life to communities who
will be well-served by this book. It’s also an excellent book to read together with
are in dire need of gospel truth.
a group of friends to discuss the nature of the gospel—and its impact upon both individuals and communities—from a fresh perspective.
Caroline Anderson is a writer for IMB. Tobin Perry is a contributing editor for On Mission.
55
imb president’s l e t t e r
my turn
Replanting vision By Mark Hallock
Early on we made a commitment of reaching the
A
immediate community. Slowly, we began to see one fter serving several years in youth ministry,
family, or individual, at a time come and visit. Our
I started to feel God lead me toward inter-
philosophy is simple: shepherd people, love them
generational ministry. I realized as I began to see
well, know them and be in their lives. By God’s grace, we also started reaching the sur-
No time to slow down
rounding suburbs and the city core of Denver. People came who were just tired of playing church and wanted to be a part of a mission that wasn’t flashy or cool—they just wanted to be faithful. We were never interested in being a big church, so
By David Platt, IMB president (@plattdavid)
the United States and around the world. As I saw
A
firsthand in Europe, we don’t have time to slow couple months ago, I spent sobering time
down for a second in our commitment to spread-
in refugee camps in Europe where Inter-
ing the gospel among the nations.
national Mission Board (IMB) missionaries are
as we grew we decided to start planting churches.
serving. One camp built for 2,000 people housed
To do our part in fulfilling the Great Commis-
We raised up about 50 people within our congre-
approximately 15,000 with makeshift tents full of
sion, we’re committed to partnering well with
gation and planted a church in Littleton, Colorado.
men, women, children and babies. I was over-
churches across North America and around the
Before we knew it, we had 50 new members at our
whelmed by the suffering these refugees are
world, including the churches we plant among
church, so we knew we couldn’t stop there. We have
experiencing.
the nations. Working with Southern Baptist
now planted seven churches throughout the Denver area.
56
churches here and indigenous churches there, we At the same time, I was reminded of the historic
want to empower limitless missionary teams who
opportunity and unique capacity we have as
are making disciples and multiplying churches
kids graduate from youth group, they eventually
I love church planting, but my personal goal has
Southern Baptists to respond to this refugee crisis
among unreached peoples and places for the
graduated from church.
always been to see churches replanted—to see
in a way that reflects the love of the God who we
glory of God.
God bring dead things back to life. Within the past
know is ultimately orchestrating the movement of
I saw a huge trend in church planting but thought,
year, we have now been able to replant a church as
peoples in the world, so people might know Him
This is the driving mission of the IMB, and we
“Who is going to go to the declining churches?”
well. Calvary’s story continues.
(Acts 17:26-27).
are more committed than ever to seeing the lost
So my wife and I started praying through church
reached and the Church strengthened, so every
replanting. Not long after, we felt called to a dying
Mark Hallock is the lead pastor of Calvary Church
For more than 170 years, the Southern Baptist
nation, tribe, tongue and people might receive
church in Englewood, Colorado, called Calvary, in
in Englewood, Colorado, where he has had the
Convention has had a cooperative commitment
the gospel and be glad in our God!
metro Denver. It had dwindled to about 30 people
privilege to plant a network of churches through-
to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost in
who were worn out, but still had a desire to see the
out the Denver area and replant as well.
Lord do something amazing.
Find out if your church is a candidate for replanting at namb.net/Replant. The North American Mission Board
God has called all believers to play their part in fulfilling Christ’s commission. Explore your role at
hosts the first-ever National Replant Gathering, June 11-12 in St. Louis, prior to the Southern Baptist Convention.
imb.org/Send.
57
EVERY CHURCH ON MISSION
volume 19 | number 2