International Mission Board (IMB) trustees updated the board’s strategic goals and objectives during its July 18-20 meeting at the Missionary Learning Center in Rockville, Va.
The new strategy plan reflects major commitments the board has made to fulfill the primary ministry assignments entrusted to it by the Southern Baptist Convention.
“God’s at work in the world, and this is what it will take to keep up with what He is doing,” IMB President Jerry Rankin said.
Key goals discussed and adopted by trustees include:
Engage all unreached people groups (i.e., begin reaching them with the gospel directly or through missions partners) with a population of more than 100,000 by the end of 2008.
Provide access to the gospel among the people groups by the end of 2010.
Increase the number of overseas baptisms – and the number of new believers and church members being disciple – by 20 percent annually.
Increase by 20 percent annually the number of new churches started, nurturing church-planting movements.
Send and support at least 1,000 new missionaries annually in anticipation of adequate giving by Southern Baptists.
Facilitate a growing involvement of 10,000 Southern Baptist churches in the global missions task by the end of 2008.
Challenge Southern Baptists to increase financial support to the IMB through the Cooperative Program by 5 percent annually and meet the goal of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering each year.
The revised goals and objectives, developed by IMB leadership, trustees and committee chairmen, will provide guidance for five years.
Meeting the goals- particularly the sending of 1,000 new missionaries annually after budget strains forced a temporary freeze on new appointments a few years ago – depends upon Southern Baptists, Rankin emphasized.
“The missionary candidates are there, the need around the world is there, the opportunities around the world are there,” he said. “It’s all contingent on adequate giving of Southern Baptists.”
(BP)
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