More than 100 messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting said they wanted to explore career missions work during an altar call June 12.
The altar call — led by Tom Elliff, senior vice president of the International Mission Board (IMB) — closed the night with additional hundreds committing their lives to some other role in missions.
"This convention tonight is going to end at the altar," he said. "God has a yoke for you in terms of world missions that perfectly fits you. I rejoice in the lives that will be reached because of this moment."
The moment of commitment followed an upbeat report by Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board (IMB), about Southern Baptists’ advancement of the gospel in 2006.
But he still was unable to escape a few concerns addressed by messengers during the Tuesday night meeting.
A concern about embezzlement resurfaced when messenger Ron McGowin questioned the outcome of a motion he introduced at last year’s annual meeting. McGowin’s motion had called for an external audit of the Central Asia region’s monetary dealings between 1999 and 2005.
A note in the Book of Reports said a 2004 audit and "supplemental procedures" on the issue led to "appropriate action" taken by the board.
But McGowin, associate pastor to youth and recreation of First Baptist Church, Fairfield, Texas, asked, "Why have the IMB trustees decided against the use of external audits?"
Rankin responded that an internal audit had been performed as well as an audit by an outside firm.
"The trustees were involved in the thorough review of this. Policies have been put in place to prevent this from happening again," he said, noting that the board is honoring its "fiscal responsibility to the convention."
Another motion presented last year regarding trustee rights brought no discussion from Rankin or questions from messengers but was addressed in the Book of Reports.
The motion, presented by trustee Wade Burleson, called for an ad hoc committee appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee to investigate certain aspects of trustee protocol, including suppression of dissent and coercion into "a particular course of action."
The Book of Reports noted that the IMB board of trustees has "no authority" to question or investigate several of his concerns, including coercion and the nominating process of IMB trustees. It also noted that "all trustees have opportunity … to express and advocate minority opinions" but that "unified public support" is expected after a majority vote has been reached.
In regard to missions efforts, 2006 was a banner year for the board, Rankin said, noting a record Lottie Moon Christmas Offering that topped $150 million.
"Because of your faithfulness in giving, 784 new missionaries were appointed and sent out to the ends of the earth," he said. "Thank you on behalf of the millions of lost people."
In 2006, the IMB reached 104 previously unengaged people groups with the gospel as well as seeing 23,486 new churches planted and 475,072 people make first-time professions of faith in Christ, Rankin said.
And the Northern Africa and Middle East region — a "very difficult, difficult area" for the past decade — has seen more new missionaries appointed this year than the last three years combined, he said.
"We press forward driven by the vision that all peoples of the world have the opportunity to hear and understand and respond to the message of Jesus in their own language and own culture," Rankin said.
The IMB’s strategic plan includes getting the gospel to the remaining 2,029 unreached people groups by 2010. It also includes growing the board’s missionary force to 8,000 worldwide. The IMB currently has more than 5,000 missionaries in the field.
"Thank you for praying, thank you for giving and thank you for going," said trustee Chairman John Floyd.
"You’ve given more than ever before, and you’re not only giving, you’re going."
After the business report, messengers heard from several IMB missionaries and Christians from overseas, including a pastor from Turkmenistan who talked about how the gospel is "enduring, even thriving, in the face of persecution."
The pastor detailed for messengers what it is like to be tortured and threatened for his Christian beliefs, sharing how God is faithful to save. Messengers listened transfixed as he described how agents forced a gas mask over his head and waited for him to suffocate. As he struggled for breath, the mask was removed momentarily, then replaced and the cycle repeated. Still believers are continuing to accept Christ in his area. (BP contributed)
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