IMB appointment service set in Huntsville

In less than a week, nearly 200 flags of different nations will fly over Alabama, nearly 100 missions stories will be told and one message — a challenge to reach the world for Christ — will be given.
   
But, according to International Mission Board (IMB) President Jerry Rankin, the most important figures are the 89 new international missionaries who will be appointed less than a week from now in Huntsville — and the number of prayers Alabama Baptists will lift up on their behalf.
   
At the Von Braun Center Nov. 15 at 6:45 p.m., Alabama Baptists will have the opportunity to take part in an IMB missionary appointment service, “an impressionable experience that will thrill and inspire all who attend,” Rankin said. It is the first appointment service held in Alabama since a January 2002 service held at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills.
   
“Appointing and sending out missionaries in response to God’s call is one of the most significant things Southern Baptists do,” he said. “It is a rare occasion for churches in a given location to have access to an appointment service, and we are grateful for the Alabama Baptist State Convention for hosting our November service.”
   
Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), said his prayer is that a good representation of Alabama Baptists will be present for the service. 
   
“I am also praying that the Lord will use this occasion to call people into missions,” Lance said. “This appointment service will highlight our partnership with the IMB in Great Commission ministries here in Alabama and around the world.”
   
The service, which will serve as the Tuesday night program for this year’s Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting, will offer state Baptists a chance to put a face with the names of the missionaries for whom they pray.
   
Reggie Quimby, SBOM director of the office of global partnerships and volunteers in missions, said state Baptists can also see it as the fruits of their faithful contributions — their Cooperative Program (CP) offerings go to support these missionaries, as well as the other approximately 5,000 IMB missionaries around the globe.
   
“One of the things the people will see is that they have had a part in it,” Quimby said. “What we want participants to take away with them is the importance of missions.”
   
Before the service, a missions fair will be held at 4:30 p.m. Music by a mass choir and the Alabama Singing Men and Alabama Singing Women will follow at 6:30.
   
“During the program, Alabama Baptists will be challenged by the missions charge by Dr. Jerry Rankin, as well as the testimonies of the missionary appointees,” Quimby said.
   
The testimonies will make missions personal for Alabama Baptists during this time — and John Long, director of missions for Madison Baptist Association, said Huntsville-area church members intend to do their best to know their stories by heart.
   
“Forty-six churches will be hosting missionary couples or individuals to speak to their congregations Sunday (Nov. 13), and each one will have a host family in that church,” Long said. 
   
The host families will pick them up at the airport when they arrive on the Friday or Saturday prior to the service, then bring them to their homes to eat, get them where they need to go and provide them with what they need along the way.
   
“It will be a great time (for the host families) and will give them a person to pray for and watch for as they are being appointed,” Long said. “It will bring a personal touch to the appointment service.”
   
Wendy Norvelle, IMB spokeswoman, said sending out missionaries is one of the most important tasks of Southern Baptists.
   
“It’s one of the most exciting things we do to partner together to send Christ’s ambassadors to the ends of the earth and pledge to support them,” Norvelle said.