NAMB sharpens Mission Service Corps, anticipates surge in number of volunteers

By Tammi Reed Ledbetter
September 11, 2005
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The North American Mission Board has retooled Mission Service Corps (MSC), sharpening the focus of the 28-year old volunteer program to better serve all North American mission initiatives.

NAMB trustee David Fannin of Nassau Bay, Texas, predicted the number of MSC volunteers will increase significantly to between 7,500 and 10,000 by the year 2010 as a result of changes implemented in recent months.

In light of an ongoing need to find creative ways to expand missionary endeavors in North America while working within budgetary constraints, the changes to MSC could supply “a significant strategic component” in NAMB’s “continental strategy to more effectively reach North America for Christ,” according to a NAMB document.

“It’s actually putting the emphasis on the “m” of MSC,” explained Fannin, “fulfilling mission activities in the context of a church or association while falling in line with the mission strategy of NAMB and state conventions.”

Begun in 1977, Southern Baptists responded to the challenge put forth by then President Jimmy Carter to form a new volunteer effort among youth and retired persons. SBC leaders embraced a strategy that would dramatically increase missionary manpower in North America without the usual personnel costs. Over 8,100 volunteers have served in MSC since its inception, accounting for one-third of NAMB mission personnel.

“From the inception, MSC was established to focus on reaching the mission objectives of Southern Baptists, by providing a way where personnel could serve in voluntary missionary positions where salary and benefits funding were not available,” NAMB’s MSC director, Mike Riggins, stated in a paper reviewing the changes. In many states, the Southern Baptist church, association or state convention assists with housing or other costs so that MSC volunteers can work full-time. In some cases, MSC missionaries are covered by NAMB’s group health insurance when individual volunteers pay the premiums.

“Since it was originated to help accomplish Southern Baptist mission initiatives, the focus of Mission Service Corps efforts and resources must be to support and resource both NAMB’s Continental Strategy as measured by the six major mission objectives and stated mission strategies of our Canadian and state convention partners for the purpose of Kingdom growth,” explained Riggins in a letter to MSC missionaries, coordinators and state convention leaders.

Over the past year NAMB’s MSC staff met with those Southern Baptist partners in regional meetings to discuss various options for aligning the volunteer program with Southern Baptist mission goals. As a result, “The bar has been raised to move beyond general volunteerism to a missionary mobilization strategy aligned with NAMB and state convention objectives,” stated SBTC Missions Director Robby Partain.

Fannin considers it a no-brainer for MSC volunteers to line up with those priorities that include sharing Christ, starting churches, sending missionaries, volunteering in missions, impacting the culture and equipping leaders. Since these are the things Southern Baptists have sought to emphasize through NAMB, Fannin said the job descriptions of MSC volunteers should fulfill those strategies.

“One of our MSC’ers taught English as a second language in the associational office,” he said, “and that would fulfill one of the stated objectives of NAMB and Southern Baptists of Texas Convention by trying to impact the culture” as non-English speakers are equipped for ministry.

“If you want to be MSC, but act as a lone ranger out there doing your own thing that has nothing to do with the state convention’s mission strategy,” Fannin said he has to question why a person would volunteer for MSC. Instead, NAMB-commissioned MSC missionaries will fulfill the strategies of the SBC missions entity as well as the state convention partners.

There is no change in the criteria that those in MSC serve at least 20 hours each week, Riggins added, although the designation as a “career” missionary is available to those serving full-time. They will be asked to commit to serve at least 35 hours per week in an ongoing career-oriented capacity with annual supervisory review.

SBTC MSC director Janice Brooks of Kemah, Texas, wor