Attending International Mission Board Missions College, the IMB noted, “can benefit all Southern Baptist churches.” This event offers hands-on training for pastors, church leaders, mission trip participants and church members who are engaged in short-term missions or who are interested in partnering with field missionaries.
The next IMB Missions College will be Jan. 22–25 in Richmond, Virginia.
Presenters representing all eight IMB affinities will attend Missions College. Lloyd Rodgers, IMB missionary who helps facilitate this experience, emphasized it’s a major IMB-wide training event on the calendar.
Entry, evangelism, disciple-making and more
A major part of Missions College is learning the components of the missionary task: Entry, evangelism, disciple-making, church planting, leadership development and exit to partnership. Church leaders who attend are encouraged to learn this IMB framework, which can enhance missions involvement at their churches.
“Talking about the whole missionary task from entry to exit and helping them understand that is a process that can take some time,” Rodgers said, noting if churches commit to reach a certain people group or a certain location of the world, understanding the missionary task will enhance their commitment.
‘A-ha’ moment
“I love it when participants get that ‘a-ha’ moment of what they thought was missions and realizing it involves a lot more,” he said.
Along with learning the missionary task, participants will develop skills and gain knowledge needed to effectively engage the lost in cross-cultural settings. The Missions College program facilitates interaction and builds relationships with IMB missionaries and staff from a variety of affinities, as well as other Southern Baptists who are passionate for missions.
Church members who have an interest in mission work have made multiple appearances. Brent Waldrep, IMB diaspora research strategist, recommended return trips to Missions College.
“In the first year [of attending Missions College] you’ve learned the basics,” Waldrep said. “And then you come back another year, and you’re a little bit more advanced. You choose a different session to be in and have chances to talk to more missionaries.”
Connections and investments are made with missionaries that last for years, and church leaders and members often feel more involved with what is happening in other countries for reaching the spiritually lost.
“People do return because they really love missions,” Waldrep said. “They love the lost.
They love the idea of missions.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Chris Doyle and originally published by the International Mission Board.
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