International Mission Board (IMB) trustees in their Aug 1-3 meeting appointed 79 new missionaries, received reports on missionary deployment and budget cites and processed missionary personnel changes.
The new missionaries were appointed before a capacity crowd of 2,200 at Ridgecrest, a Lifeway Conference Center in North Carolina. The Appointment service capped six days of seminars, workshops, testimonies and inspirational messages.
Almost 600 emeritus missionaries were guests for the week, attending their own track of conferences designed to help them with the challenges of retirement and update them on what God is doing through the IMB.
IMB President Jerry Rankin told the new workers that a passion for God is the only thing that will enable them to cope with the difficulties and discouragement they will face. “It’s not sufficient just to respond to the needs of a world that’s lost,” Rankin said. “It’s not sufficient for you to be going out of a sense of obligation that Christ said go and make disciples of all nations.
“There’s only one thing that will fulfill your call and allow God to empower you and use you, only one thing that will keep you there to preserve through the trials and discouragement, and that’s the passion God places in your heart.
“I pray that a passion for a lost world, a passion to be obedient to the call of Christ, a passion for God and the world that will know him will be what takes you to the missions field.”
Missionary deployment
The annual study of changes in missionary deployment showed long-term personnel numbers continued a pattern of strong growth while losses by attrition remained within the range typical of the past decade, trustees were told.
A steady increase in the total number of missionaries continues in 20014 with a year-end total of 5,057 (a net gain of 152), the report said. A net increase of 108 among long-term personnel (career, associate, apprentice) represented a one-year growth rate of 2.9 percent, the largest percentage increase in the category in a decade.
A net increase of 44 among short-term personnel (ISC, journeyman, Lifeway, masters) represented a one-year growth rate of 3.6 percent, the lowest percentage increase in the category in a decade.
The 10-year average annual growth rate for the combined categories was 2.6 percent.
In 2001, the board lost 270 missionaries by attrition, a rate of 5.1 percent the report noted. Since 1990, attrition rates have fluctuated between 3.6 and 5.3 percent. The average rate for the period is 4.4 percent. The three most common factors related to resignation were calling (18.5 percent), spousal employment issues (17 percent) and stateside job opportunities (16.3 percent).
Reducing spending
With the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering falling $6.3 million short of its 2001 goal, the board must reduce spending and manage its finances prudently, Rankin told the trustees.
The shortfall will be made up by cancelling $3 million designated for overseas capital needs and cutting the remainder from the board’s operating budget, Rankin said. Those cuts will not affect missionary support or strategic needs overseas. He offered trustees a word of encouragement, however.
“Yes, the stock market is in decline. Yes, charitable giving is diminishing. But last year Southern Baptists took $8.9 billion into their offering plates,” he said. “Less than 2.5 percent of that found its way to international missions.
Realigning priorities
“God has blessed Southern Baptists, and the resources are there. But our churches must realign their priorities, create a passion for reaching a lost world and join God on a mission.
“As we pray that the Lord of the harvest would continue to thrust out laborers into the harvest, let us also pray that the financial support will follow. We must not be distracted, but keep our eyes on Him and be obedient to our calling.”
Trustees processed transfers of six missionary units (11 people) from one field of service to another, resignations of 28 units (53 people), one termination and two medical disabilities. They approved 23 sales and transfers of property and endorsed three longevity salary increases for International Service Corps missionary units. They also received a report of $1.04 million disbursed for 36 hunger, relief and development projects in 12 of the board’s 15 regions.
Six of the missionary unites resigning (12 people) cited a Jan. 31 request to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as a factor in their decision to resign , said Avery Willis, the board’s senior Vice President of overseas operations. Five other units (10 people) had previously resigned over the request.
A total of 5,364 missionaries currently are serving overseas through the IMB.
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