Amid an array of colorful flags representing countries from around the world, 63 Southern Baptist missionaries, 12 of whom have Alabama ties, were commissioned Jan. 22 in Alabama. The appointment service was held at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills.
Although a cold rain fell outdoors, the weather did not dampen the enthusiastic spirit of the nearly 3,000 attendees who came to experience the service.
During his opening remarks, International Mission Board (IMB) President Jerry Rankin recognized appointees as well as their family members and friends. He also noted that the appointment service was the fourth largest in IMB history.
The two-hour celebration included inspirational music by Shades Mountain’s choir, orchestra and soloists; words of encouragement from Rankin and prayers for safe harbor by two IMB trustees from Alabama, Billy Hudgins, pastor of Hokes Bluff Baptist Church, and Laurelle Stoudenmire of Thomasville Baptist Church.
In Rankin’s charge to the missionaries he referenced the apostle Paul’s passion for missions. “Paul’s purpose was to make Jesus known,” Rankin said, warning them that they will be overwhelmed by the masses of people in the congested cities. “It will be easy to succumb to the temptation to say, ‘We’ll witness to as many as possible and hope that some of them will be saved.’” Instead, see all people as potential children of God and witness to them, he said.
Rankin urged the new missionaries to hold onto the purpose and to remember that while there is a price for being obedient to Christ’s call, there also is the power of “Christ in you.”
During the service, all 63 missionaries, the majority of whom were married couples, shared testimonies about their call to missions. Some appointees even fought back tears as they shared their stories. Although circumstances differed, the one constant among the disciples of Christ was their willingness to accept the call of missions work.
Georgia native Karman O’Kelley, one of two single women appointed, said she was excited to be doing God’s work in Eastern Africa. “God has laid the world before my eyes and His people upon my heart,” she said.
Auburn native, Karen Lee, and her husband, Hoover, will serve in Asia. Serving in that part of the world is significant for this couple because Hoover’s grandfather was led to Christ by missionaries in China.
Alabaster native Frances Courson and her husband, Kris, are going to Russia where they will plant churches for the deaf. While Kris gave his testimony, Frances signed for the congregation and vice versa.
The array of the missionaries’ jobs and responsibilities was as diverse as the people themselves. There was a representation of younger and older couples, as well as people with different ethnic backgrounds. One missionary being appointed was once a Buddhist before being led to Christ while in a refugee camp in Thailand.
Other couples with ties to Alabama include Judd and Michele Hough, Cottage Hill Baptist, Mobile; Birmingham natives Bobby and Tammie Greer who once attended First Baptist, Gardendale; George and Anne Nytes who attended First Baptist, Huntsville, during their years in Alabama; and Bob and Beth White who are natives of Cedar Bluff and are members of Tates Chapel Baptist Church in Centre.
In a show of support for international missions, host pastor Danny Wood shared with the congregation that Shades Mountain had made a commitment to international missions with the goal of having a missionary from Shades Mountain represented in every IMB region and time zone in the world by 2010.
IMB senior vice president for overseas operations Avery Willis shared a story from missionaries to Southern Africa, David and Janet Hooten. “Following a service David had conducted, a 10-year-old boy came up to David and told him, ‘I am a lost sheep.’
“There are so many lost sheep and someone has to go tell them the story of Jesus Christ,” Willis told the congregation.
IMB trustee Gene Dykes, a member of First Baptist, Center Point, closed the service with the benediction.
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