International Mission Board of Trustees | Phoenix, Arizona
Thank you for your ongoing service on the board as we work together to address lostness — the world’s greatest problem — with God’s solution, which is the gospel, by means of a missionary presence among those who have yet to hear the Good News. I bring you greetings from our state convention executive directors, with whom I was able to share this morning. All of IMB’s Cooperative Program dollars and the overwhelming majority of our Lottie gifts come from churches through their state conventions. As such, those state conventions are not only essential partners, they are among IMB’s strongest advocates.
What a great opportunity for us to have our Sending Celebration last night for our 62 newest missionaries, and to do so here in the southwest as an encouragement to Arizona Baptists. And what an encouragement to every Southern Baptist to realize that, of those 62 new missionaries: two were IMB missionary kids; 43 have some form of previous service with the IMB; and 12 more had joined IMB missionaries on short-term trips. So 57 of the 62 aren’t new to the IMB, they are coming back to the IMB. I don’t know of any stronger way to affirm the health and integrity of this sending organization than by having a new class of missionaries with 92% being repeat customers.
In other highlights of the week, we celebrated a missionary candidate pipeline that continues to grow, hitting a new decade high of 1,355, and welcomed Brian Trapnell as Vice President of Human Resources.
Most notable, however, we rejoiced over the launch of Africans on Mission. We heard from Daren Davis, who leads the Sub-Saharan Africa Affinity, on the launch of the Africans on Mission sending body, a partnership of 14 African Baptist entities that will now work together to send cross-cultural missionaries to all of Africa and from Africa to all nations. In the words of Dr. Mamitiana of Madagascar, the founding chairman of Africans on Mission, “Africa has always been on the receiving side of missionaries, but now it is time for us to send missionaries to the rest of the world.”
Should we pause to reflect upon the significance of this moment in salvation history, we would recognize that, 175 years ago, the first Southern Baptists began preaching the gospel in Africa. And now, in terms of the numbers of Christians inhabiting the various continents on earth, Africa is today the epicenter of global Christianity. But Africans had not yet significantly taken up the baton of missionary sending to get the gospel to the lost around the world. Until now. Might God use and bless the efforts of Africans on Mission.
IMB’s role in the formation of Africans on Mission could not be overstated, but that is only one example among many of how our investment in the globalization of the missionary task is inspiring sending among our Baptist brothers and sisters the world over. An important part of this investment is our objective to add 500 global missionary partners to IMB teams. Since the pandemic released its grip on the world, we have added 134 GMP’s to IMB overseas teams and have 136 more GMP candidates currently in the pipeline.
In addition to stewarding the influence of Great Commission Baptists, we steward Southern Baptists, a stewardship we embrace with the utmost care, integrity, and professionalism. With regard to the integrity with which IMB manages the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Offering resources entrusted to us by Southern Baptists, we were able to hear a report from our CFO on the latest audit during the trustee forum. In addition to what was presented to board members in the trustee forum, IMB audited financials for 2023 have been reviewed by the LFTT Committee and the Audit Committee. We are happy to report that we’ve received an unmodified opinion by the auditors, which is the highest level of assurance available. It is the gold standard of audit.
No property sales were used for operations. Reserves were funded at appropriate levels, including commitments to retiring missionaries being fully funded. And as always, 100% of the Lottie Moon Christmas offering proceeds were spent on the field. We’re thankful for the generosity of Southern Baptists and their faithful giving through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions. Simply put, the IMB would not exist without them. We are also thankful for the IMB finance team, both abroad and in Richmond. We are blessed to work with many men and women of integrity who love the Lord and desire to see the gospel proclaimed to the ends of the earth. The auditor’s opinion confirms, yet again, what we already knew, and indeed we are grateful.
Well into my 6th year serving as president, I’m grateful for the Lord’s continued favor upon the work of the IMB. Our missionaries serve with courage, sacrifice, and dedication. They face disruptions and constant spiritual warfare with an unwavering commitment to remain focused on sharing the gospel wherever they are, for as long as they can be there, with as many as they can.
Our stateside staff are working incredibly hard to give support to our missionaries, connect with churches, donors and denominational partners, serve missionary candidates, and keep the hearts and minds of Southern Baptists focused on working together to address lostness as the world’s greatest problem. We clearly observe a growing sense of unity across the organization and an organizational culture that is getting stronger and healthier.
Yet, in every area of work there is opportunity and room for improvement. At the end of every day, there remains at least 1,000 more things that I could have personally done to serve the IMB. But I retire every evening confident of this — the work of the IMB is the Lord’s work. We give ourselves to it as a privilege and a calling but never under the illusion that the Revelation 7:9 vision we long to see fulfilled will in any way be accomplished in our power or according to our plans.
But the vision will come to pass. Every nation, all tribes, peoples, and languages will someday be a part of that great multitude standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Might God find us faithful striving to do our part. But might God also find us full of faith that He will do what He has said in His word, with us or without us. As much as it depends on you and me, let it be with us, not without us.