herethere

contents

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NAMB Presidents Letter

14

26

NAMB is a Southern Baptist Convention entity supported by the Cooperative Program

and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is a
registered trademark of Womans Missionary Union. Postmaster: Send address changes
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Because of your valued support of the Cooperative Program, we are able to offer you
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Art Director
Shawn Elledge

Vice President
of Marketing &
Ministry Support
Kim Robinson

Design
Steve Beaver
Photo Editor
John Swain

Senior Director
of Marketing & Events
Dustin Willis

Photographer
Susan Whitley

Editor
Joe Conway

Intern
Makayla Sykes

Contributors
Evelyn Adamson
Caroline Anderson
William Bagsby
Matt Carson
Gary Gnidovic
Mark Hallock
Anne Harman
Chloe Lewis
Patricia McCarty
Jorge Mendoza
Tobin Perry
Tyler Sanders
Mark Sandlin
Kate Weatherly

8 City Pages

10 From planter
to president
10
14 Unity
on mission
26 Leaving the
roads behind

44

Managing Editor
K. Faith Morgan
Associate Editor
Meredith Yackel

4 The Pulse

36 Qualifying the called

44 Aiming to reach
the nations

2016 ON MISSION

On Mission highlights missionaries, chaplains, church planters and churches

working to reach North America for Christ. On Mission is a publication of the North
American Mission Board, SBC.

President
Kevin Ezell

52 Recommended

56 My Turn

57 IMB Presidents Letter

Give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering at AnnieArmstrong.com/Donate. Give to the Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering at imb.org/Lottie-Moon.
volume 19 | number 2

namb presi dents letter

Solid here, stronger there

By Kevin Ezell, NAMB president (@kevezell)

I believe North America needs more churches.

Some people would say Im too focused on that! I

n 1 Corinthians 12, Paul outlines the different

believe new churches are the best way to introduce

roles we each play within the body of Christ.

new people to Jesus, but there is another impor-

Each is important as the Church carries out the mis-

tant reason to start new churches here. These are

sion of God.

the churches that will support and send tomorrows

missionaries.

It is the same with the mission field. In Acts 1:8, Jesus

sent out His followers telling us to be witnesses in

The North American Mission Board helps plant

Jerusalem (your city), Judea (your state), Samaria

churches with missions in their DNA. We require

(your nation) and the ends of the earth. Every part

that they give to missions6 percent to the SBC

of the mission field is dependent on the other.

Cooperative Program; 4 percent to other SBC missionsand we expect the new church to start a

What if your church neglected your city as a mis-

church in the near future.

sion field? You would stop seeing new believers.

Eventually, you wouldnt have anyone to send out

We also encourage them to partner with the Interna-

to the farther mission fields. In fact, ultimately, you

tional Mission Board to reach an unreached people

wouldnt even have an offering to send!

group. In these ways we are helping to ensure there

will be a solid base of churches at home to continue

This illustrates how much what we do here (at home)

supporting the mission around the globe.

impacts what we are able to do there (globally).

Your donations to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative
Program make mission strategies a reality. Give at AnnieArmstrong.com and imb.org/Giving.

Discover your churchs next missional opportunity at namb.net/SendMe.

the pulse

Measured

Heard
We recognize that not
everyone will be a church
planter or a pastor. We have
medical and dental professionals
in our churches. This will provide
an additional gospel outreach
opportuniy for them and others.
David Melber, vice president of Send Relief at the North American Mission Board, on the
purchase of two mobile clinics for compassion ministry

Women more devout

than men
When religious individuals from around the world
were polled on the importance of their religion,
women were shown to be more devout than

Generational responses
to Scripture

men by several standard measures of commit-

A recent survey conducted by the American Bible

ment. It is estimated some 97 million more

Society and Barna Group tracked the Scripture-

women than men (representative of 192

reading habits as well as thoughts on how Protes-

countries and multiple religions) claim reli-

tant adults and teens in the U.S. relate to Scripture.

gious affiliation as of 2010.

When I read the Bible, I read for:

Source: Pew Research, March 22, 2016

Teens: 22.8 min.

Adults: 35.1 min.

Source: NAMB, April 18, 2016

Mobile faith
A recent AT&T survey asked participants how their

Jeff Christopherson, vice president of Send Network at the North American Mission Board, on
the process of multiplying disciples

World Relief and World Vision also showed that one out of 10 churches decided

Source: NAMB, April 21, 2016

phone helped them practice their faith.

42% download music

38% Stream services
Research
32% or study
24% Give or donate
Pray or meditate
22% using apps
Listen to or

Source: Leadership Journal, Winter 2016

Caring for refugeesor not

You are not making real

disciples if they are not
disciplemakers.

Teens: 67%

recent telephone survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors and their churches

Adults: 84%

showed that 72% had not discussed caring for refugees locally and 63%

had not discussed caring for refugees internationally. The survey sponsored by
to not get involved at all locally. There are currently an estimated 20 million refugees around the world, and the United States plans to resettle approximately

The hardest thing in this

ministry is just sitting down and
listening to their hurts. They
come, they arrive with little
children just with the clothes
on their back, because back in
Syria their homes are destroyed,
their businesses are destroyed
women have been rapedreal
torture goes on among men and
young men in Syria.

I would rather read the Bible in print

than on a device:

85,000 refugees in 2016.

Source: ChristianityToday.com, February 29, 2016

I prefer the New International Version:

Teens: 40%
Adults: 20%
I prefer the King James Version:
Teens: 20%
Adults: 41%
The Bible teaches the truth will set you free:

Moral dilemma?
A recent survey from Barna Research showed
teens and young adults rank not recycling

Teens: 43%
Adults: 41%
The Bible has too little influence in the U.S.:
Teens: 78%

as more immoral than viewing porn. The

Adults: 74%

poll also showed Christians are less likely

to view porn (25%) compared to the general population (72%).
Source: Barna Research, April 6, 2016

Busyness is my number-one reason

for not reading the Bible:
Teens: 71%
Adults: 42%

Peter Matheson*, Christian worker, on interacting with refugees

Source: Christianity Today, March 2016
Source: Baptist Press, December 1, 2015, *Name changed

the pulse

Abortion in the United States

ut of all pregnancies in the U.S., 51% are unplanned. Forty percent of

those end in abortion. Thirty-seven percent of these abortions are per-

formed on women who are Protestant. LifeWay Research also discovered that
among women who have had abortions, 49% feel that pastors teachings on forgiveness dont apply to women who have terminated pregnancies.
Source: Facts & Trends, Winter 2016

Noted

Worldwide
web speeds

Family matters
TIME for Kids and KidsHealth.org recently sur-

In the past three years, internet speed

veyed parents and their children and found

in the U.S. has tripled according to

that 67% of children reported they got along

the Federal Communications Com-

well with their parents, while 66% of parents

mission. Regardless of this progress,

said the same. Their research also showed that

it still lags behind several other countries. In

a report by tech firm Akamai, the U.S. ranked 16th in internet speeds
with South Korea ranking first. Other countries ahead of the U.S.

Financial infidelity

recent poll from the National

Endowment for Financial
Education discovered that 42% of
adults in committed relationships
admit to being financially unfaithful. Financial
infidelity includes hidden banking accounts,
hiding big purchases or
covering up bad investments. Since 2011, they
have seen an upward trend in
these lies from only 31 percent.
Source: The Week, February 26, 2016

included Sweden, Hong Kong, Czech Republic, Canada and Latvia.

attend church at least once a month use their cell phones during the

service. Half say they use their phone to look up Scripture and song lyrics. Onequarter of the surveyed admitted to also using their phone to text, post on social
media, watch videos or play a game.

Source: Christianity Today, January/February 2016

Source: TIME, March 14, 2016

This year will mark the most ethnically diverse

electorate in U.S. history. For the first time, onein-three eligible voters will be Hispanic, Black,
Asian or some other racial or ethnic minorities,
a net increase of 7.5 million voters since the
2012 general election.
Source: Pew Research, February 3, 2016

Evangelicals today
graphics of Evangelicals are not necessarily White,

Abortion clinics
in decline

suburban, Southern and Republican.

Due primarily to conservative lawmakers pass-

Contrary to what most may assume, the demo-

30% Evangelical
of White Americans
29% are Evangelical
of Black Americans
44% are Evangelical
of Hispanic Ameri30% cans are Evangelical
of Americans of
17% other
ethnicities are
Evangelical
of Americans are

ccording to a recent survey from AT&T, one-quarter of Americans who

proud of them.

Voter diversity

Source: The Week, January 15, 2016 and Akamai.com

Mobile devices:
enhancement or distraction

only 58% of children felt their parents were

Source: Christianity Today, April 2016

ing legislation that makes abortion clinics

more challenging to operate, there has been
a decline in abortion providers. According to
Bloomberg, at least 162 providers in the U.S.
have closed their doors since 2011.
Source: Bloomberg, February 24, 2016

Pew graduation
Fifty-nine percent of Millenials who grew up
in church are leaving, making them the U.S.s
most unchurched generation. Barna says six of
10 senior pastors agree that youth ministry is
one of their top priorities, yet many lack a clear
strategy in the development of the ministry.
Source: Barna Research, April 6, 2016

c i ty page

St. Louis

Shanghai

CURRENT CHURCH PLANT

POTENTIAL CHURCH PLANT

IMBs Shanghai City Guide outlines specific information to help you decide whether Shanghai is the place for
Learn more about how God is using church planting to reach the lost in St. Louis at namb.net/StLouis.

76%
Anglo

19 %
5%

Other

72%
lost

African
American

2.7 million people live

in the St. Louis area. 76%
are Anglo, 19% African
American, 3% Asian &
Pacific Islander, 2% two or
more races and less than
1% Native American.

ith a name like St. Louis, you expect a deeply-religious culture. If

I meet an Anglo person from St. Louis, I immediately ask, Are you
Catholic or Lutheran? says Send City Missionary Noah Oldham.

Another defining feature is racism. We can trace a lot of that back to the 1960s during the Civil Rights movement, says Oldham. Unlike most of the cities in Southern

An estimated 71.8
percent of people in
St. Louis are lost.

states, St. Louis never had a race riot. So we had ours in 2014. The church now has an

you. The guide also has Q&As with expats. To download, go to imb.org/Send and select Cities.

hanghai is home to more than 200,000 expats. A majority of professionals in this

24

million
11%

Bible-based churches, but we wanted to be self-supported, a Christian working in

Shanghai writes. I found several job postings that matched my experience. I submitted my resume. That week I had two job interviews.
Ministry in Shanghai is similar to ministry in U.S. cities. The difference is most people
have never heard the gospel, and many dont have access to the Bibles message.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, SBC Annual Church Profile, 2010 U.S. Religious Census: Religious
Congregational and Membership Study. Compiled by the Center for Missional Research, North
American Mission Board.

Atheist

My wife and I wanted to move to China to share the gospel and to help build up

opportunity to come in and let the gospel heal the city in the show me state. How
is God calling you to show His love to and for the people of St. Louis?

89 %

megacity speak English, making it an ideal place to work and serve.

Sources: Access1040.com, IMB Global Research.

Muslim

Christian

Atheism is the official

religion of Shanghai with
89 percent claiming no
religion. 11% are professing Christians, and only
0.4% are Muslim.

Shanghai has a
population of over 24
million people and is
the largest city in China.

i nterv i ew
Following 25 years as a church planter,
pastor and SBC leader, Jeff Iorg has
led Golden Gate Baptist Theological
Seminary for 12 years. He and his wife,
Ann, have three adult children.

From planter
to president
Jeff Iorga former church planter and current president of Golden Gate Baptist
Theological Seminary*shares wisdom and insight from his time in ministry.

ON MISSION: Share a little about your

Now its one of the largest Southern Baptist churches

church planting journey.

in Oregon. Its a remarkable story of people com-

Jeff Iorg: We were much like a lot of the church

into missions, become pastorsits been healthy in

planters NAMB works with today. We were a young

every way, but it was hard in the beginning.

couple with a passion for reaching people and an

10

affinity for the West. We were willing to take a big

One thing I would emphasize is, we didnt have a

risk, so in 1989, my wife and I and three childrenthe

surge of rapid growth. We never had an easy day. It

youngest of which was only 6-weeks oldmoved

was challenging to try to reach one more family, one

to Portland, Oregon, to a suburb called Gresham.

more person, every week. Thats how our church

We planted a church with four families in a middle

grew, just little by littlenever a surge of people.

school gymnasium. It was difficult. We grew very

slowly. We were trying to reach non-Christians and

While we celebrate stories with big numbers, we

did not have a lot of transfer growth or people who

cant assume the planter working hard and working

came from other churches. But we stayed with it and

at it really slowly has something wrong with his strat-

started seeing breakthroughs in the lives of people.

egy or approach. Sometimes, its just hard.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOLDEN GATE BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

ing through the church to plant other churches, go

11

OM: How does church planting fit in the pro-

JI: Im mostly encouraged by the number of young

cess of carrying out the Great Commission in

leaders who are passionately giving their lives for

North America?

kingdom servicethe number of young adults

who are passionate for Jesus Christ, His kingdom

JI: I think church planting is at the heart of any

and His Church. I believe that leadership is crucial

strategy for fulfilling the Great Commission in

to the future of every organizationincluding the

North America. Church planting is evangelism that

Churchand when I look at the fact that we have

results in churches. Evangelism that doesnt result

right at 20,000 students in our six seminaries, Im

in churches produces rootless converts who, frankly,

very encouraged by that.

wither and die quickly. As the gospel goes into a

community, people start coming to faith in Christ,
theyre congregationalized, and churches emerge.
I cant think of any more important approach to fulfilling the Great Commission than evangelism that
results in new churches being started.
I would also add that evangelism that results in
Jeff Iorg speaks with students after
the final presidents convocation at
Golden Gate Seminarys Bay Area
campus that has been its home base
in California since 1959.

OM: How does your past experience as

skills necessary in an evangelism focus. What makes

a church planter influence how you equip,

us unique is that we are in the American West where

encourage and educate future church planters

there is an unlimited opportunity for church plant-

as president of Golden Gate seminary?

ing. Were in a setting where diversity and immediate practical application are possible.

JI: My experience as a church planter helps me

12

focus on the practical aspects of what really matters in

OM: Are there challenges specific to planting

church planting. It moves me beyond academic the-

in the West?

orysometimes written by people who have never

planted a churchto get to the core of issues that

JI: There is no Christian subculture in the West.

really do make a difference in whether a church plant

Thats both a challenge and an opportunity. When

is successful or not. My experience very definitely

church planters come here, sometimes its difficult

shapes the way I approach teaching church planting

for them because they dont understand most of

and the way I want our school to approach it.

the people they encounter will have never opened

existing churches growing is also important, but

I cant think of any more important

approach to fulfilling the Great Commission than evangelism that results in
new churches being started.

there are not enough churches in North America to

handle all the people living in this continent.
OM: What challenges does Christian higher

OM: How should ministry in North America

education face in the current cultural climate?

adjust with changing demographics?

JI: The current political/governmental climate is

JI: Ministry in North America is only going to

much more threatening to Christian colleges and

become more diverse. At Golden Gate, only about

universities because they receive federal funding.

35 to 40 percent of our students are Anglo, and that

They are at significant risk of losing that funding

reflects our population in California and in the West.

and, in essence, losing a significant revenue source

I think thats the coming trend for us as the Church

for student loans and other aspects of their finan-

in North America.

cial plan because of possible government action on

issues such as same-sex marriage or gender equal-

*Pending action at the Southern Baptist Convention

ity. Seminaries are not at as great a risk since we do

in June, Golden Gate Seminary may be renamed

not accept federal funding.

Gateway Seminary.

OM: What trend in the Church today is

encouraging to you?

a Bible. Its also a great opportunity because you

We teach the same kinds of things that other

have people who do not have some of the preju-

schools teachbasic missiology, evangelism, com-

dices and baggage that come with church experi-

To learn more about taking your next step as a church planter, visit namb.net/SendMe. Read more from Jeff Iorg

munity diagnosis and analysis and the interpersonal

ence, or sometimes even bad church experiences.

at ggbts.edu/President/Blog.

13

Unity on
mission
Send Relief helps churches expand their influence
By David Melber

as Southern Baptists around common causes

for the sake of the gospel. In John 17:21, Jesus

he Lord has orchestrated all of us

says unity is how people will know the Father

into the body of Christ for different

sent the Son. So, ultimately, Send Relief is not

purposes. And we, as the North

only for the sake of a project, it may be that

American Mission Board (NAMB),

easy first step we as Southern Baptists can rally

working through our partners, want to help

around as a unified effort demonstrating to the

people and churches take that next step. We

world that the Father has sent the Son.

want to see every member, every church, on

mission.

Current cooperation

Mercy and relief ministry have always been

In numerous circles outside of Southern Bap-

around. Jesus said, The poor will always be with

tist lifefrom the water crisis in Flint, Michi-

you. Hes almost implying this is a problem that

gan, to Katrina in New Orleanswe are known

were not going to be able to fix. So why be a

because of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.

part of something unsolvable?

They dont know us for anything other than

those gold shirts, and, along with that, many

PHOTOS BY MARK SANDLIN

14

But for people to have purpose and fulfillment

would say the most obvious testimony of our

in life, they must live a life on mission that aligns

cooperating efforts is Disaster Relief. So how

with faith. And mission that aligns with our faith

do we build on a 50-year collective effort of

is seeing needs around us and taking action.

individual partners, associations and state conventions that have come together to build this

One of the most exciting aspects of Send

cooperating network?

Relief is that the Lord could use it to unite us

(Continued on page 19)

15

There are a lot of people in a church that will

say, I cant preach. I cant sing in the choir. I cant
teach Sunday School. But I can run a chainsaw. I
can handle a shovel. I can cook. I can care for children. They become better church members, better
givers and are more involved and supportive of the
local ministries of the church.
Mickey Caison, executive director of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief

16

17

Poverty is not a lack of money. Its a broken relationship, and everyone has broken relationships.
Austin Hill, associate director of Stowe Mission in Columbus, Ohio

(Continued from page 15)

provides shelf-stable food for underprivileged chil-

There is great clarity in the mission of Disaster

dren to take home and eat over the weekend. It is

Relief. Heres a problem; were going to go fix it. We

run by volunteers from a local church partnered with

can bring that same clarity to hunger relief, poverty,

schools in their community to provide nutritious

international ministry and morewere going to

food for children who would otherwise go hungry.

see a need, were going to meet a need so we can

proclaim the gospel.

Medical and dental care

NAMB has purchased two mobile clinicsone

The next step

for dental services, the other for general medical

needs. The clinics are fitted with state-of-the-art

18

As we launch Send Relief, we begin with four pri-

equipment and can be utilized by medical and

mary focuses; ministry to internationals, hunger

dental professionals as part of outreach and ser-

relief, medical and dental care and home fire pre-

vice events for under-served communities. They are

vention.

available for Southern Baptists to use.

Internationals ministry

Home fire prevention

International Learning Centers have a natural draw

The Home Fire Campaign is the American Red

as many immigrants and refugees need to learn Eng-

Cross (ARC) national program for fire prevention.

lish to better navigate society. That service, along

Send Relief is partnering with ARC to enable and

with the use of the Bible to teach English, offers a

engage your church and local fire department to

unique way for volunteers from local churches to

provide smoke detectors in the homes of your

reach the nations in their own backyards.

community.

Hunger relief

David Melber is vice president for Send Relief at

Backpacks of Hope offers your church an opportu-

the North American Mission Board. K. Faith Mor-

nity to support neighbors in need and connect with

gan, managing editor for On Mission, contributed

local schools as an invaluable partner. The program

to this essay.

Take your next step on mission through Send Relief at namb.net/SendRelief.

19

Jesus never changes, and, therefore, the

spirit of our ministry should never change. We
should always be about sharing Jesus and His
love with others. After all, Jesus said, I was
hungry and you gave Me something to eat.
Kay Bennett, executive director of Baptist
Friendship House in New Orleans

20

21

Southern Baptists want to help people who

are hurting. Send Relief is going to greatly
expand the opportunities for churches and
individuals to serve.
Kevin Ezell, president of NAMB

22

23

The way to share the gospel with people is

to be a vessel of Gods concern and comfort
in their lives, says Send Relief missionary
Lorna Bius. Reaching the people of Appalachia requires a demonstration of true compassion as evidence of pure, gospel-inspired
motivation.

24

25

Off road is often the only option,

as with this 4x4 vehicle traveling
between Bwile and Shila villages in
northern Zambia.

Leaving
the roads
behind
A medical missions legacy
By Evelyn Adamson

avid Livingstone arrived in Africa in 1841 as a

missionary doctor, and for most of his remaining 32
years, he traveled into uncharted regions to share
the gospel. His medical training became a strategic
platform to serve the local people as he told them about Jesus.

Today, IMB missionaries Kenny and Lesley Vines and

As a medical doctor, Lesley shares Christ through

their three children build on Livingstones legacy in

her professional skills as Livingstone did almost two

Zambia.

centuries ago. She volunteers at a local clinic twice a

27

PHOTOS BY EVELYN ADAMSON

26

IMB

missionary

doctor,

Lesley

Vines, walks from the pharmacy to

her office at a local medical clinic
where she volunteers twice a week.

week to treat malaria, HIV/AIDS and other illnesses

common to the region. Her work provides invaluable
opportunities to meet the physical and spiritual needs
of those who come to the clinic.
Lesley says there has never been a distinction
between her professional life and her desire to serve
the nations.

If you have men who will

only come if they know there is
a good road, I dont want them.
I want men who will come if
there is no road at all.

I felt called [by God] to become a doctor, specifically

David Livingstone

to use [my medical skills] on the mission field, Lesley

says. I was called at the same time for missions and
medicine. There was no doubt.

In temperatures up to 120 degrees, Kenny and Jacob

Lesley says job skills, specifically medical training, are

traverse the river to meet with church planters in their

helpful when serving with IMB in extreme places.

homes or under large trees to provide guidance for

Bible studies, follow-up visits and church planting

The farther out you go, the more [medical missions]

strategies.

is needed, she says.

Life on the Zambezi

Because many families live an agrarian life, ministry

and Bible studies have to be adjusted to the crop
cycle. Kenny and the church planters often fluctuate

28

Kenny Vines works with locals to share the gospel and

their plans to accommodate the fluid farming sched-

build church communities along the same Zambezi

ule and the uprooting of families due to crop loss.

River where Livingstone once explored.

Despite timing irregularities, Kenny and Jacob work
He and Zambian church planter Jacob Lungu travel by

to expand the network of Christ followers along the

boat to share Bible stories and plant churches. They

Zambezi by investing their time in building communi-

often come face to face with Africas most iconic ani-

ties where they share the gospel.

mals along the way. Hippos, crocodiles and elephants

are real threats and regarded with caution by the

Pastors and church planters who have phones use

locals.

them to further mobilization and discipleship efforts.

29

30

31

IMB missionary, Kenny Vines, asks

a local church planter to read the
words on a box of anti-malaria
medicine to check whether the
church planter needs eye glasses.

Women in northern Zambia carry

their goods in baskets on their
heads as they walk to and from the
weekly village market.

Many along the river use texts and phone calls to stay

Sub-Saharan
Africa facts

pproximately 9,300 Africans

in contact and disciple one another.

However, more remote villages have almost no modern technology. There are no batteries, and there is
little access to consistent electricity or running water.

die every day from HIV/AIDS,

lower respiratory tract infections, diar-

These conditions present unique problem-solving

rhea and malaria.

opportunities as Kenny and Jacob distribute Scripture

to people in a largely illiterate society. They provide

Approximately 41% of Sub-Saharan

hand-crank radios that play Bible story recordings, but

Africans follow traditional religions

the radios often require repairs or need to be replaced

such as ancestral worship.

altogether.

One in 12 children in Sub-Saharan

Africa will die before his or her fifth
birthday. This is more than 12 times
higher than the average mortality rate
in high-income countries.

Kenny and Jacob say despite the challenges, the long,

arduous days on the river are worth the reward of seeing churches planted, the next generation of church
leaders developed and Jesus name being preached
in one of the most remote parts of the world.

There are 1,587 unreached people

32

groups and 478 unreached, unen-

The legacy of what Jesus Christ did years ago [has]

gaged people groups in Sub-Saharan

lived on through David Livingstone and is now passed

Africa. These groups make a combined

on to me and every other Christian, Kenny says. Its

total of 427 million people.

our job, our mandate, to take the gospel out.

Poverty, lack of education, political

Beyond our reach

instability, armed conflict and social

structures make young people vulner-

Beyond the river, on the opposite side of the coun-

able to traffickers.

try, paved roads leading toward northern Zambia

Sources: AfricaCheck.org, IMB Research, World Health

Organization, United Nations

and Lake Mweru crumble into dirt paths. Houses are

replaced with huts, and vehicles are scarce.

33

IMB missionary Kenny Vines draws

directions to another village in the
dirt for a church leader to follow.

I have found that I have no unusual endowments

of intellect, but this day I resolve that I will be an
uncommon Christian.
David Livingstone

Lake Mweru is not a tourist destination. Its surround-

doctors who claim to have the ability to protect from

ing villages are beyond the reach of electricity or

evil spirits.

running water. And two people groups living in this

region have no access to the message of Jesus Christ.

Aside from their spiritual beliefs, the physical remoteness of these Unreached People Groups (UPGs) is

The Bwile and Shila people are unreached people

the greatest barrier they have to hearing the gospel.

groups with no foreign or local missionaries working

Traveling from Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to Lake

among them. The Vines are praying for God to send

Mweru takes more than two days, and is as far as driv-

someone to share Christ with the Bwile and Shila and

ing from Boston to New Orleans.

plant churches in their villages.

IMB missionary and Zambezi cluster leader Kevin RodThe Bwile and Shila people are fishermen, shop own-

gers, who has lived in Zambia for more than a decade,

ers or tradesmen, and many depend on the lake for

says reaching the Bwile, Shila and other UPGs living in

daily living. Women gather at the shores to talk while

extreme places will require a bold, global church.

washing clothes and dishes before they return home

to cook and clean for their families. Fishermen cast

The pioneering spirit is definitely important for every

huge nets to catch fish from the lake and its water-

missionary, Rodgers says. I believe that for every

ways. Any fish the fishermans family does not eat is

missionary on the field, regardless of what you do

sold in the market to provide an income.

whether medical missions or business as missions

each one has an apostolic calling to leave their culture

34

The majority of the Bwile and Shila people practice

and people and go to another part of the world. You

traditional African religion or animismworshiping

dont do that without an adventurous spirit.

35

the spirit world by offering sacrifices to appease the

evil spirits. Their superstitions lead to visits with witch

Evelyn Adamson writes for the IMB.

IMB is committed to empowering churches to send people to share the gospel with people groups like the Bwile
and Shila in remote corners of the world. Go to imb.org/Send to find ways you can partner with IMB to take the
gospel message where it has never been heard.

Qu alifying the

called
By Tobin Perry

he Church of the Beloved had a problem. It wasnt

the kind of problem most 2-year-old, big city church
plants have either. They werent struggling to become
self-sustaining. They werent struggling to crack their
communitys missional code.

36

If anything, God was blessing the young church too much

if thats possible.
Daniel Chung, a church planting apprentice, stepped out in faith as he
planted a new church in Chicago.
Chung holds on to the truth of the
gospel and that Christ is proud of him.

37

Church plants may be the best way to reach new people with the gospel,
but few church plant growth projections put a congregation in the middle
of Chicago at more than 400 just two years after its launch.

Throughout the process, Choi kept interjecting

Debt piled up on the family. For three years the

what had first seemed like a strange idea.

family tried to stay afloat. In the fall of 2000, Chung

headed to James Madison University as a psychol-

The Church of the Beloved was

Maybe Chungwho had been the only other pas-

ogy major, still giving little thought to a future in full-

toral staff on the Church of the Beloved team

time ministry. The financial strain on the family hit its

should lead the Near West Chicago church plant.

zenith the next year as his parents and little sister

stopped in to see him at college as they moved to

growing rapidly, and pastor Dave

ed to be consolidated to an area
where everyone could worship together. Choi tapped Daniel Chung
(center) to lead the church plant.

PHOTOS BY GARY GNIDOVIC

Choi knew that the church need-

After the core team had considered the first three

Southern California where extended family would

candidates, Chois suggestion became even more

help them get back on their feet.

specific.
We prayed together, cried together and then they
Would you consider leading the effort in Near West

were on their way to California, Chung said.

Chicago on an interim basis? he asked Chung.

As happy as Chung was for his familys fresh start

Gods tutoring process

his lifeone that he struggled to fill. During the

Church plants may be the best way to reach new

could worship together. But as they prepared for

people with the gospel, but few church plant growth

the move, the team realized they were leaving some

Maybe theres no more of a clich statement about

next month, Gods tutoring work on Chungs heart

projections put a congregation in the middle of Chi-

people out. A handful of people probably wouldnt

Christian leadership than God doesnt call the quali-

moved into a new gear. Unlike his friends parents,

cago at more than 400 just two years after its launch.

make the 20-minute commute to the new down-

fied but qualifies the call. No one knows who first

his parents could no longer provide the comforts

town location.

said it, but many have seen the truth lived out over

or even the necessitiesto which he had been

the years.

accustomed. There would be no more holiday trips

But with growth came challenges.

home to see the family. They would not be able to

So the leaders of the Church of the Beloved made

38

on the West Coast, the move left a gaping hole in

Both the churchs lead pastor, Dave Choi, and its

one more significant decisiontheyd plant a new,

worship leader and student pastor, Daniel Chung,

independent partner church in the building they

were going through health problems. The church

were leaving.

Just ask Daniel Chung.

help with his expenses either.

39

Chung grew up attending Southern Baptist

I was angry at God for what had happened to my

churches in Maryland and Virginia. A son of Korean

family, yet He was the only one I had to go to,

But who would lead it?

immigrants to the United States, he rarely consid-

Chung said. He kept pressing on my heart, asking

ered a future in ministry. All of that began to change

me, Do you trust that Ill provide for you? Do you

The churchs core team began interviewing various

after tragedy hit his family when he was in high

trust that Ill provide for your family? Would you be

Choi, Chung and other core team members at the

candidates. They interviewed three candidates, but

school. His parents sporting goods store was the

willing to risk your whole life on that? Would you be

church had made the decision to consolidate and

none were the right choice.

subject of a devastating robbery that crippled their

willing to give me even more of your life?

had three worship services and two locations. God

was up to something in their midstand they were
wearing out in the process.

move to a building downtown where everyone

business.

Becoming a church planter

God is the one who is going to

draw people to Himself. And He
is going to use the whole church
to do itnot just me.

But it was meeting Choi, who was speaking at a

conference where Chung was leading worship, that

A first-year medical student and

started Chungs Chicago journey.

immigrant from China, Kari Xiao

found herself inside the doors of

We spent the week together at that conference,

Chung said. We really hit it off. Hes got that
dynamic personality, the evangelist type that really

Church of the Beloveds Near West

campus. Xiaos salvation is a living
testimony of how God alone draws
people to Himself.

draws people.
In November of 2001, Chungs crisis hit its crescendo during a Christian retreat when a pastor
led a prayer time, urging him and others to consider full-time ministry. Chung responded by surrendering his life to whatever God wanted to do
through him.
At that point Chung signed a blank check. He had
no idea what God intended to do with the rest of his
life. After college graduation, he headed to Southern California where his parents were still living.
When his parents church decided to plant a new
40

church, he joined the team, getting his first look

inside church planting.
Three months later he headed to seminary in
Orlando, Florida. At first, Chung followed God
into student ministry. During his time at seminary
he served as a youth pastor at a Southern Baptist
church in Orlando. He also discovered a proclivity
toward music and leading worship.

Two years later, as Chung wrapped up his seminary

studies, Choi invited the young man to join himas

him to do. He had watched Choi carefully over

too, said Chung. That has meant the world to

a worship leader and student pastoras he planted

the past two years as they had planted Church of

meas Ive taken this step of faithto know that

a new church in Chicago. As the two set out to plant

the Beloved. He seemed to be everything Chung

Dave is there behind me.

Church of the Beloved, Chung continued to learn

wasnta dynamic people-gatherer, a strong per-

from Choiabout leadership, evangelism, preach-

sonal evangelist and a gifted preacher. Chung

As a church planting apprentice, Chung is currently

ing and simply what it means to be a missional

didnt believe he measured up.

part of the North American Mission Boards (NAMB)

church planter farm system. NAMBs farm system

leader in 21st century Chicago. Throughout the

process, God blessed the new church far beyond

But as Chung talked it over with Choi and prayed

helps churches identify potential church planting

what the duo expected. Many peopleincluding

about the decision, he couldnt escape what God

team members and future church planters, and

young international college studentscame to

was obviously leading him towardplanting the

walks with those candidates through assessment,

faith in Christ. Disciples were made. New leaders

new church. Throughout the process, Choi contin-

training and coaching.

were developed. Eventually, they had to start three

ued to encourage Chung to be himself. Everyone

worship services just to keep up with the growth.

has a different leadership style, Choi would tell him

41

over and over again.

God shows Himself

faithfulagain

ultimately led to the fateful question Choi posed to

As he prays over me, knowing [comparing myself

Throughout the next year God would work faith-

Chung in the spring of 2014. Would Chung consider

to him] is one of my weaknesses, he tells God that

fully with the new church. New people joined the

being the lead planter of a new church?

he is proud of me. He prays, no matter what hap-

church. People came to faith in Christ. And Chung

pens with the church, that I should stand strong in

continued to grow as a leader. As he and the

the gospel and know that Christ is proud of me,

new churchs core team read through the book of

The young churchs decision to simplify the ministry

Chung wrestled through what God was calling

NAMBs farm system helps churches identify potential church planting

team members and future church planters, and walks with those candidates through assessment, training and coaching.

Romans together, God laid one particular verse on

brought Xiao to faith in Christ.

his heart. Now may the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may

When this church sees a newcomer, they are so

overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit

welcoming, Xiao said. Whether theyre a Chris-

(Romans 15:13).

tian or not, whether theyre homeless or not; a visitor could be an alien, and Im sure this church would

God was telling me through that verse, Hey, quit

be welcoming. That attitude really helped me to

your doubt. God is the one who gives you hope.

feel comfortable and to open up. I didnt feel like I

You can trust Him, Chung said.

was being judged.

First-year medical student Kari Xiao became a liv-

Xiao reminded Chung that God would equip the

ing, breathing reminder of Gods promise to Chung

young churchand himwith everything needed

and the new church. Xiao came to Church of the

to be His presence in the neighborhood.

Beloved, Near West through the invitation of her

roommate. An immigrant from China, Xiaos fam-

Through our journey with Kari, God reminded

ily had little connection with Christianity. But Xiao

me that the pressure to grow the church wasnt on

knew she needed help. She felt powerless to defeat

me, Chung said. God is the one who is going to

an eating disorder that was robbing her of any

draw people to Himself. And He is going to use the

sense of control over her life.

whole church to do itnot just me.

Through the consistent witness of multiple peo-

Tobin Perry is a contributing editor for On Mission.

ple in the young churchincluding ChungGod

42

43

Watch a video and discover more about how God is using church plants in Chicagoand how God can use
you in the Windy Cityat namb.net/Chicago.

For more resources designed to help you fulfill the everyday mission of God through your life, visit namb.net/
SendMe.

PHOTO BY CHLOE LEWIS

44

Aiming
to reach
the natio ns

45

With open hands, Jessica Lewis* (left)

prays with members of a Nepalese
church during a worship service.

I only loved the nations because of the Olympics,

but I never loved the nations for Gods glory.

A goal redirected

because of the Olympics, but I never loved the

nations for Gods glory.

INSPIREDIMAGES

While Lewis competed in several junior Olympics

and worked toward NCAA scholarships, she missed

In 2010, Lewis attended the Passion Conference in

out on typical high school activities.

Atlanta.

That was my life, and I really wanted to use it as a

Thats when God imprinted the worldHis

platform to spread the gospel and to be an influ-

worldon my heart, she says.

ence for the Lord, Lewis says.

God had to strip me of all of my dreams and my
At 18, however, she started having shoulder pain.

plans to say Jessica Lewis, I dont need you to be

She had stretched all the ligaments and tendons in

an Olympic gold medalist for My glory to be known

her shoulder and had to bow out of shooting.

in the nations, Lewis recalls.

It shot my dreams, Lewis says, intending the pun.

I spent the majority of my life trying to plan and fig-

I was really angry for a long time.

ure out how I could help God, says Lewis. Thats

essica Lewis* spent many hours asking God why. Look at what I could have
done for You, she told Him. If I were an Olympic gold medalist, I would have this

platform to be able to talk about Christ and share the gospel. Why wouldnt You want
that to happen? Look at all I could have done for You, Lewis remembers praying.

not how Hes called us to be. Since then, Ive just

In college, Lewis became a sports writer. She wrote
stories about the athletes she would have com-

46

decided to have open hands.

peted against.

Following to Nepal

teenage years traveling the nation. Her father put

It was hard, but it was so awesome because God

Her open hands led her to Nepal to minister to sur-

Lewis father ranked among the top 50 high-power

his shooting career on hold when Lewis needed to

gave me the opportunity to write about it, she says.

vivors of the April 2015 earthquake. She worshiped

rifle marksmen in the U.S., and she also trained to

travel more frequently. Later, he began shooting in

be a rifle shooter in the Olympics.

international-style competitions, so he and Lewis

Since her Olympic dream was no longer possible,

by the devastation and helped teach them their

could shoot together. Her mother was also heavily

she asked the Lord what trajectory He wanted for

value in Gods eyes.

I wanted to be just like my dad, Lewis says. My

involved as the family invested time and finances

her life.

parents sacrificed a lot for thatfor my dream to

into Lewis shooting career. They all believed she

happen.

had a legitimate chance to make the U.S. team and

Through that, I think He really seared the nations

Board (IMB) global missions catalyst and the team

possibly medal in the Olympic games.

on my heart, Lewis says. I only loved the nations

leader for the mission trip to Nepal, modeled how a

By Caroline Anderson

Lewis started competing at age 9 and spent her

with believers, prayed for women still traumatized

Lewis says Angela Wilson,* International Mission

47

A mission for
every season of life

ingle women, young mothers and empty nesters

Wilson sees the importance of helping women realize

all have a role to play in missions. Angela Wil-

their value in ministry and leverage their season of life

son,* IMB global mission catalyst, says women have

for the advancement of the gospel.

unique ways of serving in missions, no matter their

age or season of life, and she enjoys helping them.

Wilson is on the forefront of IMBs concept of limitless

missionary teams. David Platt, IMB president, has

Wilson says she often hears women say, I have

outlined how the mission entity can help see more

children, so I cant do ministry. She asks mothers if

Southern Baptists on the international mission field

there are any international students in their childrens

through the concept.

classes. The world is often at their doorstep, and opThe goal is to empower limitless missionary teams to

childrens circles of friends.

make disciples and multiply churches among unreached people for the glory of God, says Platt. Pic-

You dont need to put missions on hold because of

ture a global megacity, for example. Picture two fully

the season of life you are in. You have an opportunity

funded IMB missionaries living and working there.

because you have kids, Wilson says.

But picture also three or four professionals who get

Jessica Lewis worships in a Nep-

PHOTO BY CHLOE LEWIS

portunities for moms to serve abound among their

alese church building made of

bamboo while serving earthquake survivors.

paid by their own companies or by businesses in that

48

An older woman once told Wilson she had always

city. Then imagine three or four students on scholar-

wanted to participate in missions but pointed to her

ships funded by universities to study in that city, and

gray hair and said she was too old now. Challeng-

maybe several retirees funded by Uncle Sam. Now

ing that notion, Wilson said she and the older woman

we have a team of 10 or more mission workers while

could both share the gospel in a village, but they may

financially supporting two. If you multiply that by

not have the same results.

hundreds, you get the picture of limitless.

I could go and story the gospel, and a few people

Instead of their season of life becoming an excuse to

would listen, but women would gather from every-

not participate in Gods mission, we disciple people to

where and listen to you because of your gray hair.

see that their season of life is an opportunity to partici-

You have experience and age to your advantage,

pate in His mission, Wilson says.

Wilson told the woman.

If we equip and empower them, then those things
A group of Southern Baptist women recently traveled

dont become excuses to not participate. They actu-

with Wilson to Nepal. The majority had older chil-

ally become open doors, she says.

drensome had grandchildren. They had many opportunities on the trip to encourage younger mothers.

*Name changed

life on mission could, and should, be lived.

Lewis appreciates Wilsons wisdom and her heart
for missions to be incorporated into every aspect
of our lives. Wilson taught her, Were called to
live a life on mission wherever we are. Regardless
of season of life and location, were supposed to be
making disciples.

Back to high school

What if we were as intentional at home as we are on a

mission trip? Why dont we have
that mind-set and mentality
when we are at home?

I know I want to give my life awaywherever I

am in the worldto girls and women to help them

try at her church in Kentucky, and she wants to help

thrive and flourish in the gospel and teach them

the girls she disciples pray for the nations and their

what that looks like, Lewis says.

community. She took pictures of local international

stores, families and homes and displayed them in a

Lewis is currently involved in the high school minis-

photo album to inspire prayers for these locations.

49

Jessica Lewis (center) listens as a woman reads Scripture during a Nepalese

When I was trying to convince God I needed an

Olympic medal platform for Him to use me, I didnt
realize He has already given each one of us a platform
to leverage for His glory and fame across the nations.

church worship gathering.

She prays the Lord gives the girls a specific Scrip-

It required growth, an open heart and the desire to

ture verse to quote as they pray for the people and

put Gods plan ahead of what she had imagined.

places in the pictures. She also challenges the girls

to pray as they drive past them.

When I was trying to convince God I needed an

Olympic medal platform for Him to use me, I didnt

Lewis hopes to instill in the girls the same sense of

realize He has already given each one of us a plat-

urgency to share the gospel and to make disciples

form to leverage for His glory and fame across the

she felt while in Nepal.

nations. That platform includes our current city, our

current job, relationships, skills, talents and pas-

What if we were as intentional at home as we are

sions. We just have to be willing to be used right

on a mission trip? Lewis asks, admitting her own

now, where we are, not waiting for some other time

tendency to slack off. Why dont we have that

or place.

mind-set and mentality when we are at home?

Carolyn Anderson writes for the IMB.

New vision
*Name changed
Lewis says God has changed the way she views her
role in making His glory known among the nations.

50

51

PHOTO BY CHLOE LEWIS

Could Gods dream for you be bigger than what youre dreaming of right now? How can you open your hands
to Gods dream for glorifying Himself among nations? Visit imb.org/Send with open hands.

To support church planters in Nepal, go to NetCommunity.imb.org, and search for the keyword Nepal.

r ec ommended

Leading Gospel
The High-Definition Leader

Unleashed

In The High-Definition Leader, Derwin L. Gray contends that both the new con-

God calls Christians to prioritize sanctification in their daily lives as they continually

text of North America and the implications of the gospel require a new brand of

move toward being conformed to the image of Christ. Eric Mason calls this the

leadership for the Church.

victorious struggle in his latest book, Unleashed. Victorious in that Jesus has

Derwin L. Gray
(Thomas Nelson, 2015)

Eric Mason
(B&H Publishing House, 2015)

secured our sanctification, but a struggle in that we are called to be active pursuers
America is no longer just Black and White in terms of racial makeup; it is now

of holiness, Mason writes.

varied and multi-colored. It seems that, for the most part, society has adjusted,
but the Church is far behind in the process. My concern, writes Gray, is that we

Are you an active participant in your spiritual growth? Mason argues that until a

will find ourselves in a multi-colored environment throughout the workweek, yet

person completely surrenders and allows the Holy Spirit to intervene in all aspects

worship in monocolored, monoclass churches on the weekend.

of her life, she cannot transition from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. Mason
leans heavily on the work of the Holy Spirit who escorts us into greater intimacy

This new type of leadera high-definition leaderis one who not only recog-

when we take the initiative to be transformed into His likeness. Even the most

nizes the diverse nature of the North American context but also sees diversity as

skilled church-planting strategists are impotent without the power of the Spirit to

the expressed intention of God for the Church He is building through the gospel.

orchestrate the work.

The newness of this leader also includes rejecting traditional church planting wis-

Spiritual transformation is a topic that is revisited throughout the life of a believer.

dom that states successful church planting requires one to focus on a single eth-

Mason carefully unpacks areas of growth that contribute to this lifelong journey

nic and socioeconomic segment of the population but intentionally seek to build

including repentance, prayer and Gods Word. Mason also spends time on the role

a church that is diverse both ethnically and socioeconomically.

suffering plays in our spiritual growth and strongholds that hinder us from truly living in the freedom of Christ.

52

53

Grays case is both challenging and compelling. I heartily recommend The HighDefinition Leader to anyone thinking through the challenges of diversity in their

Unleashed does a wonderful job of balancing theological truths with practical

context and for anyone who wants to better understand Gods plan for the Church.

application that is perfect for both the new believer, who wants to take her first
steps, and the mature believer, who is striving to live a sanctified life. God is ready

Jorge Mendoza serves with BLVD through the North American Mission Board.

to unleash the power of His Son in your life. Are you ready?
Meredith Yackel is associate editor for On Mission.

Mission Leading
Church in Hard Places

Strong and Weak

Pastors Mez McConnell and Mike McKinley believe the Church and the gospel

Jesus words in John 10:10, I have come so that they may have life and have it

are for the poor and needy. McConnell says they wrote Church in Hard Places in

in abundance still strikes a chord in anyone who has ever taken a deep look into

the hope that the Western church will get better at bringing light to the dark and

his life and asked, Is there anything more to this life? In his new book Strong

neglected places too often found in their own backyards.

and Weak, Andy Crouch helps readers dig into what it means for us to live out an

Mez McConnell and Mike McKinley

(Crossway, 2016)

Andy Crouch
(IVP, 2016)

abundant life.
McKinley and McConnell discuss both effective and ineffective ways to reach
places of poverty. They believe if we dont help the poor see themselves as God

Using what would seem to be an oxymoron, Crouch bases his book upon the

does, weve left them trapped.

belief that true human flourishing (a.k.a. the abundant life Jesus calls us into)
comes when we embrace both authority and vulnerability. Through well-written

The authors write that reconciliation with God is every persons greatest need.

narrative examples and Scripture, he helps readers see four different options

Understanding the gospels message that humans are sinful causes people to

for the human lifeflourishing, exploiting, withdrawing and sufferingwhich

take responsibility for their sins. Recognition of spiritual truth allows people to

depend upon how strongly we embrace authority and vulnerability.

stop blaming poverty on others. And this same gospel has the power to transform livesbreaking the cycle of powerlessness, hopelessness, loss of meaning

Crouch also writes specifically to leaders, urging them to be more concerned with

and shame that men and women in poverty point to as their captors.

the flourishing of others than of themselves. In a year where lack of humility and
vulnerability have been particularly evident on the national political stage, Strong

They dont need bread; they need an entirely new way of life, McConnell writes.

and Weak will help Christ-followers see a biblical picture of the unique place vulnerability plays in the life of someone who wants to emulate Jesus.

McConnell and McKinley point to the local church as the solution. They outline
54

specific ways churches can minister to people in hard places, empowering and

Church leaders looking for a new lens to view the impact of sin on a lost world

enabling the church and believers to bring the bread of life to communities who

will be well-served by this book. Its also an excellent book to read together with

are in dire need of gospel truth.

a group of friends to discuss the nature of the gospeland its impact upon both
individuals and communitiesfrom a fresh perspective.

Caroline Anderson is a writer for IMB.

Tobin Perry is a contributing editor for On Mission.

55

imb presidents l e t t e r

my turn

Replanting vision
By Mark Hallock

Early on we made a commitment of reaching the

immediate community. Slowly, we began to see one

fter serving several years in youth ministry,

family, or individual, at a time come and visit. Our

I started to feel God lead me toward inter-

philosophy is simple: shepherd people, love them

generational ministry. I realized as I began to see

well, know them and be in their lives.

By Gods grace, we also started reaching the sur-

No time to slow down

rounding suburbs and the city core of Denver. People came who were just tired of playing church and
wanted to be a part of a mission that wasnt flashy or
coolthey just wanted to be faithful.
We were never interested in being a big church, so

By David Platt, IMB president (@plattdavid)

the United States and around the world. As I saw

firsthand in Europe, we dont have time to slow

couple months ago, I spent sobering time

down for a second in our commitment to spread-

in refugee camps in Europe where Inter-

ing the gospel among the nations.

national Mission Board (IMB) missionaries are

as we grew we decided to start planting churches.

serving. One camp built for 2,000 people housed

To do our part in fulfilling the Great Commis-

We raised up about 50 people within our congre-

approximately 15,000 with makeshift tents full of

sion, were committed to partnering well with

gation and planted a church in Littleton, Colorado.

men, women, children and babies. I was over-

churches across North America and around the

Before we knew it, we had 50 new members at our

whelmed by the suffering these refugees are

world, including the churches we plant among

church, so we knew we couldnt stop there. We have

experiencing.

the nations. Working with Southern Baptist

now planted seven churches throughout the Denver area.

56

churches here and indigenous churches there, we

At the same time, I was reminded of the historic

want to empower limitless missionary teams who

opportunity and unique capacity we have as

are making disciples and multiplying churches

kids graduate from youth group, they eventually

I love church planting, but my personal goal has

Southern Baptists to respond to this refugee crisis

among unreached peoples and places for the

graduated from church.

always been to see churches replantedto see

in a way that reflects the love of the God who we

glory of God.

God bring dead things back to life. Within the past

know is ultimately orchestrating the movement of

I saw a huge trend in church planting but thought,

year, we have now been able to replant a church as

peoples in the world, so people might know Him

This is the driving mission of the IMB, and we

Who is going to go to the declining churches?

well. Calvarys story continues.

(Acts 17:26-27).

are more committed than ever to seeing the lost

So my wife and I started praying through church

reached and the Church strengthened, so every

replanting. Not long after, we felt called to a dying

Mark Hallock is the lead pastor of Calvary Church

For more than 170 years, the Southern Baptist

nation, tribe, tongue and people might receive

church in Englewood, Colorado, called Calvary, in

in Englewood, Colorado, where he has had the

Convention has had a cooperative commitment

the gospel and be glad in our God!

metro Denver. It had dwindled to about 30 people

privilege to plant a network of churches through-

to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost in

who were worn out, but still had a desire to see the

out the Denver area and replant as well.

Lord do something amazing.

Find out if your church is a candidate for replanting at namb.net/Replant. The North American Mission Board

God has called all believers to play their part in fulfilling Christs commission. Explore your role at

hosts the first-ever National Replant Gathering, June 11-12 in St. Louis, prior to the Southern Baptist Convention.

imb.org/Send.

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EVERY
CHURCH
ON MISSION

volume 19 | number 2