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IRVING?International Mission Board trustees meeting April 7-9 at the DFW Sheraton Hotel in Irving welcomed as heroes the overseas regional leaders of the Southern Baptist missions agency, and appointed 92 new missionaries during services at First Baptist Church of Sunnyvale.
The trustees elected new officers by acclamation and approved recommendations without dissent. They also prayed for the international missionary force that numbered 5,271 at the close of last year and honored those who served before them.
IMB President Jerry Rankin suggested the unused ballots from the officer elections be distributed to allow trustees to “stuff the ballot box” with written notes of appreciation to outgoing trustee chairman John Floyd.
“Your leadership has unified us, kept us focused not only on the mission task, but on our Lord Jesus Christ,” Rankin told Floyd.
Trustees passed the chairmanship from Floyd, a long-tenured missionary, professor and pastor, to 38-year-old Paul Chitwood after nominator Charles Smith of Sturgis, Miss., predicted “a continuation of capable leadership” by Chitwood, pastor of First Baptist Church of Mount Washington, Ky.
Chitwood chaired the missions personnel committee, teaches at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and served as Kentucky Baptist Convention president in 2005-2006. He oversaw the review of revisions to missionary candidate qualifications relating to baptism and private prayer language. Both measures were approved as guidelines by which candidate consultants evaluate what Chitwood termed “the clear Baptist identity” of prospective missionaries.
Also elected were Simon Tsoi of Mesa, Ariz., first vice-chairman; Mike Smith of Jacksonville, Texas, second vice-chairman; and Deborah Brunson of Jacksonville, Fla., as secretary.
Tsoi serves as executive director of the Chinese Baptist Fellowship and was a member of the committee that revised the Baptist Faith and Message in 2000.
Smith has directed Dogwood Trails Baptist Area for 20 years and chaired the ad hoc committee that clarified IMB guidelines relating to baptism.
Brunson first served as an IMB trustee while a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas and was appointed again last year, having relocated to Florida with her husband, Mac, who pastors First Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Both churches have given gifts of over $1 million through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.
In his report, Rankin described travel that he said ranged from observing the passionate commitment of missionaries serving in Asia to the similarly isolated and dedicated pastors of the Dakotas Baptist Convention. In every setting, he said he found appreciation and support for the work of Southern Baptist missionaries.
In joining with Tom Elliff, senior vice president for spiritual nurture, for a weeklong conference at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Rankin said he observed “a powerful demonstration of commitments to missions” as students emptied the auditorium and flooded the altar.
“I was significantly encouraged by the trust and commitment to partnership with Southwestern Seminary,” Rankin said.
Both Rankin and Overseas Operations Vice President Gordon Fort commended the multiplied interest of Korean-American churches in developing strategic partnerships. Fort said a Korean language track has been added in training missionaries as the number of Korean Americans responding to global missions continues to climb.
Fort said he was reminded during a visit to Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Ark., of God’s perspective that “every language, every people, every tribe, and every nation” will stand before his throne. He told of 450 members who packed the aisles to express their commitment to global missions during an invitation that extended for 40 minutes
“What would happen if we turn loose 17 million Southern Baptists and the resources they bring?their talents and training, and reignite them with fire from Heaven and that group was unleashed upon the world in this generation?” Describing an unprecedented opportunity to press the cause of missions, Fort said, “This is not the time for us to back up ? and take a break.”
Trustees demonstrated their confidence in IMB leadership to follow that mandate as they applauded each regional leader present for the meeting.
“Our missionaries are the finest and most fearless people in the world. They are our heroes and deserve our appreciation,” said trustee Chuck McAlister of Hot Springs, Ark., in his report as chairman of the
IMB overseas committee. “We have forged wonderful relationships between staff and trustees and had a great two years together.”
Trustees approved the appointment of the newest missionaries who were commissioned at First Baptist Church of Sunnyvale on April 9, as well as personnel transfers, resignations and retirements.
Trustees also approved recommendations from the administrative committee outlined by overseas committee chairman Steve Swofford of Rockwall, including an expectation of political neutrality by IMB personnel in avoiding solicitation and use of government funds, as well as granting regional leaders in consultation with key vice presidents the authority to terminate field personnel immediately.
Previously, terminations did not take effect until approved at the next board meeting. The change allows for an appeal process that could lead to reinstatement.
More than 80 percent of IMB missionaries now serve in long-term assignments with short-term personnel surpassing 1,000 for the first time since 2005. Executive Vice President Clyde Meador said the IMB has the lowest attrition rate of any mission sending organization, reporting 4.4 percent for last year. Of the 5,271 active missionaries at the end of last year, 54.4 percent are female and 45.6 percent are male.
With nearly 91 percent of personnel serving overseas, Meador said the IMB is able to support more missionaries with fewer stateside staff.
“We want to have adequate staff to do the job, but at the same time not use any more resources than we must because our primary purpose is to have missionaries out on the field,” Meador said.
Trustees applauded the commendation Floyd received from SBC President Frank Page, who credited the outgoing chairman with having “charted difficult waters these last couple of years,” doing so with “grace and class.”
Floyd began his tenure during the year in which former Oklahoma trustee Wade Burleson was prevented from committee participation after violating trustee rules. Floyd pledged he would not allow Burleson’s actions to distract them from a focus on “the urgent need to take the gospel to all nations.” He told trustees in January that Burleson’s latest attempt to explain his actions did not represent an apology, and Burleson subsequently resigned.
Floyd concluded his service by reminding the board that “everything we do has to be measured against our purpose statement that we will lead Southern Baptists to be on mission with God to bring all peoples of the world to saving faith in Jesus Christ.”
Praising record-setting gifts to the annual mission offering and Cooperative Program, as well as increased missionary appointments and volunteer participation, Floyd challenged trustees to be open to tweaking the IMB structure to allow creative change, anticipating that a new strategy may arise from an upcoming retreat Rankin will have with regional leadership.
Though encouraged to learn missionaries “have more training than we recognized,” Floyd said many apprentices in evangelism and church planting lack valuable experience. “I encourage us to be sure where mentoring is intended, that it is implemented.”
