With a final tally of $136.2 million for the 2003 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, trustees of the International Mission Board (IMB) approved a plan to expand the IMB budget for specific overseas needs during a July 12–14 meeting in Tyler, Texas.
The board also elected a new leader for work in West Africa, clarified their policy on non-Southern Baptists participating in IMB projects and appointed 58 new missionaries.
David Steverson, the IMB’s vice president for finance, expressed gratitude for the millions of Southern Baptists who pooled their gifts and raised the largest-ever international missions offering.
“Let me remind you that the total was $136,204,648.17,” Steverson said. “Some of my colleagues give me a hard time when I attempt to be so precise.
“However, we believe that the 17 cents is just as important as the $136 million,” he said. “Scripture teaches us that the widow gave her mites — probably about two cents — and that gift was honored. We appreciate all those who contributed, regardless of the amount.”
Steverson, in his comments to trustees, added, “We recognized fairly early on that we were going to have a tremendous Lottie Moon offering this year. We want to continue to express appreciation to all those who had a part in this year’s offering. Southern Baptists are to be commended for responding to the challenge.”
Steverson also acknowledged the presence of Janet Hoffman, national president of Woman’s Missionary Union, and expressed particular appreciation for WMU’s contribution to promoting the offering in churches across the country.
Finance committee chairman Ken Whitten of Tampa, Fla., brought a proposal to expand the IMB budget by $3.2 million to include:
Z$1.7 million for overseas operating expenses primarily related to sending additional new missionaries and assisting missionaries adversely affected by the declining value of the dollar in some places.
Z$1.5 million to bolster efforts to take the gospel to more than 1.3 billion lost souls in South Asia. Southern Baptists have only one missionary unit in South Asia for every 8 million unsaved people.
Randy Arnett, a Missouri native who has served 17 years in West Africa, was elected to lead 292 IMB workers in that region. He succeeds Bill Bullington, who is retiring Sept. 1 after 38 years of service.
Arnett, 48, and his wife, Kathy, were appointed by the IMB in 1986. He has served as director of research and human needs response coordinator for the region and taught at the Baptist School of Theology in Lome, Togo. Prior to missionary appointment, he was pastor of churches in Turney and Strasburg, Mo.
Trustees clarified their policy on enlisting non-Southern Baptists to serve in volunteer projects, following concern expressed by their overseas committee in May about an increase in those numbers.
The policy now states that only members of Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) churches can fill positions on projects that involve church planting, preaching, teaching and similar functions.
Exceptions may be made for members of other evangelical churches for projects that include activities such as human needs ministry, prayer and Scripture distribution.
Only members of SBC churches may serve as leaders for volunteer teams.
The policy also states that all groups working with IMB missionaries are expected to work within the parameters of the Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M), just as the missionaries do.
During a July 12 appointment service at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, 58 new missionaries shared how they came to understand God’s heartbreak over a lost world and made the decision to obey His call to live a missionary life.
“Three years ago, during an early service at church, God opened my eyes to a lost and dying world,” one appointee said. “I committed that morning that I would give my life and future to go and proclaim the gospel of Jesus wherever He would lead.”
Another appointee said, “Twelve years ago, God called me to be a missionary. At that time, He said, ‘I died on the cross for you. What have you done for Me?’”
(BP)
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