Southern Baptists gathered at First Baptist Rogers Rogers, Arkansas, Wednesday (Feb. 4) to support and send 41 International Mission Board missionaries who are going to the nations to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
IMB President Paul Chitwood opened the Sending Celebration thanking the church for hosting and thanking all Southern Baptist churches for cooperatively making it possible to send missionaries and follow the Lord’s leading.
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He recognized the church for what he referred to as “unprecedented” support. Last year First Baptist Rogers gave $674,000 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
“This year, they’ve doubled that gift.” Chitwood said, as the congregation applauded. Steve Ellis, executive pastor of missions and church planting at First Baptist Rogers presented a check to Chitwood for $1,356,809.
Twenty-two IMB missionaries, with their 20 kids, claim First Baptist Rogers as their sending church, and the congregation currently has four candidates in the pipeline, waiting for their time of service overseas.
Chitwood described the 180-year partnership of Southern Baptist churches and the IMB as an “incredible missionary-sending model.” He honored the way Southern Baptists care for thousands of missionaries they have never met or even seen. “You love them and you pray for them, and you give generously to support them,” he said.
After Mark Dance, executive director of Arkansas Baptists, offered a word of prayer, attendees shared a time of worship and observed a presentation of flags representing numerous countries, including those where the 41 missionaries will be serving.
Todd Lafferty, IMB executive vice president, introduced the testimony time for the missionaries, noting most could not be shown or their voices heard because they will be serving in hard-to-reach places and do not want to compromise national believers or the spread of the gospel.
“As you hear their stories tonight, pray about your involvement in international missions,” Lafferty said. “Perhaps God is calling you to a deeper commitment to His work around the world through praying, giving, going and sending.”
The next Sending Celebration will be at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, June 9-10.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Chris Doyle and originally published by the International Mission Board.
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