It’s All About Connections

Dennis Jennings, Associate Mission Director

Connection – the word is not used in the Authorized Version, but Jesus Christ suffered and died to make it possible for us to be connected to God: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

          We have the opportunity and responsibility to be connected to others as Paul instructed Timothy: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

          There is certainly an attempt at a connection to the lost implied by the Lord Jesus when He told us to go and make disciples of them. He said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

          We have a permanent connection to the Lord, a preparation connection to other believers, and a proclaimer’s connection to the lost.

          The BBFI Mission Office is also concerned with these vital connections. In fact, the vision of the Mission Office is to serve churches and their missionaries by embracing our role as the connection point for missions, pastors, missionaries, prospective missionaries and church members.

ConnectionPoint

It is to this end that ConnectionPoint is being launched. ConnectionPoint is about connecting individuals personally to whatever is needed concerning missions. For example, if the need is something as simple as contact information for a missionary, it is available through www.ConnectionPoint.net. Or maybe a missionary needs to build a new building or remodel an old one and needs a team from a church to come and help. This need can be made known through ConnectionPoint.

Prospective missionaries

          ConnectionPoint is also for prospective missionaries. Research and vision trip information will be available. The first ConnectionPoint Vision Trip is scheduled for March 6-16 with youth pastors and young people from the Dallas-Ft. Worth area going to Quito, Ecuador.

          Many missionaries are called when they are teenagers or young adults. These ConnectionPoint Vision Trips will lend themselves to regional youth events (the first one coming this spring in the Dallas/Forth Worth area).

          Young people will be challenged to consider missions with videos and testimonies of their own youth pastors and peers actually on the mission field.

Pastors

          Pastors will find a commitment to their ministries with PowerPoint sermon backgrounds, mission lessons and resources to promote missions in the local church.

          Missionaries will be able to post their itineraries to help pastors with scheduling speakers, and their videos can be put on the website to update pastors or inform congregations.

Churches

          The Daily ConnectionPoint is a one minute, Monday through Friday, missions-oriented newsletter that will be delivered to subscribers’ inbox each morning. This will help the reader start their day inspired and prayerful about missions through information about pivotal happenings, an important statistic, a devotional thought or an insightful article. Just one minute each morning can be used to heighten awareness about missions.

          The ConnectionPoint website will also feature scheduled, secure live chat events with missionaries. The live chat events will happen in February and will be announced on the website and via email.

Imagine …

          Imagine a missionary starting a church in a new city and needing someone to teach children, keep the nursery or help for a few months getting a building into shape.

          Demographic studies tell us more people are retiring earlier with good health, the means and the desire to go to the mission field. There are pastors who retire with good health who could spend two to three months on the mission field. Many retired pastors or members of our BBFI churches are available to help a missionary on a short-term basis. Nothing ignites a church for missions like having some of its own personally connected to the field, if even for a short time! ConnectionPoint will provide a way to connect those who can and want to help with those who need it.

          These are just a few of the aspects of the ConnectionPoint initiative. It is a work in progress, and we want regular input from pastors, missionaries and church members to help the Mission Office know what connections are needed and how those connections can be facilitated.

          The directors and staff of the BBFI Mission Office are committed to help you stay connected to the work of global evangelization. There is also a strong commitment to helping you find the resources you need to help you promote missions and encourage prospective missionaries.

          Check out ConnectionPoint at www.bbfimissions.com or www.ConnectionPoint.net.