Finishing the task
Jon Konnerup
The BBFI philosophy is and has been that the local church is the sending agency — it all begins and ends with the local church. Church planting has always been the focus of the BBFI. Planting churches multiplies the glory of God more than anything else. On the other hand, missions shortens Satan’s time, and taking people from darkness to light means war to him. For our Fellowship to be effective in fighting this war, a critical key is making sure the churches that partner with the mission efforts of the BBFI continue to strengthen their commitment to the Great Commission.
World missions is the passion of God, and therefore should have a prominent place in our churches. It cannot be just another program among all the others. We must keep the “lostness” of the world in view — many don’t understand that those who have not heard are lost. When the great missionary Hudson Taylor was on his way to China, he was confronted one day by the ship’s captain. He said, “Taylor, do you think the heathen will be lost if you don’t go to China?”
Taylor replied, “I think the heathen are lost, that’s why I am going to China.”
When people see the news from around the world, they are reminded of hunger, the effects of corrupt governments, environmental destruction, the need for education, political instability, no freedom, lack of moral restraint, unclean water, and lack of medical assistance. We are much more likely to focus on physical needs than on invisible spiritual needs.
By saying the churches must continue to strengthen their commitment to the Great Commission, I mean they must teach and explain the spiritual “lostness” of the world. They must challenge and train members to surrender to be foreign missionaries and continue to encourage their people to give by faith. The Great Commission was not given to the Mission Office of the BBFI. We do not produce and send missionaries. However, I hear from some that the reason for the slow growth or even loss in numbers of our missionary force is because the Mission Office is not doing its job. I believe it is the responsibility of churches to produce and send missionaries as commissioned by God in His Word.
Let me give you some current information on the status of our mission force. This last fiscal year the Mission Office processed more than $40 million ($40,697,587.36). God is blessing churches and people are responding to the need of sending missionaries to the regions beyond.
I have been looking into the numbers of our missionary force and it is interesting to note that in 1999, the average age was 54, and this year it is 51. In fact, following are some interesting numbers concerning retired, resigned, and deceased (Attrition) as opposed to approvals since 1999.
Approved Attrition
1999 44 12
2000 36 16
2001 29 13
2002 29 28
2003 45 20
2004 41 35
2005 40 25
2006 32 25
Totals 296 174
*These figures include short-term and career missionaries
Luke 24:44–47 says, “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Do we desire to finish the task? If so, we must have local church leaders with a mission vision. They should be energized by this vision — where Jesus would be worshipped, loved, and obeyed among all nations. They would be highly relational — godly relationships prospering between churches, missionaries, the Missions Office, and leaders, all sharing information, experience, training, technology, and personnel, and all bathed in prayer by our church members. This would have to be international — leaders from Latin American, Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America working together for the same purpose. Serving together in ways that fully honor the Lord our God.
We can express our love for God in several ways. We are to love the world as God does. We may show our love for others by improving their health, advancing their education, and feeding their children. But I believe above all, we should love their souls enough to turn them away from eternal death to eternal life. Jesus said the proof of love is that we obey his commandments (John 14:15). And the commandment he repeated over and over following his resurrection was: go and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15), go and preach repentance and remission of sin among all nations (Luke 24:47), go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19) to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8).
What is the focus of the BBFI? It still is the completion of world evangelism, rooted in and coming from our local churches. Are we ready to reach a lost and dying world in order that we might finish the task?