Tuesday, June 4, 2002, was a day to be long remembered by all who were present at the World Missions Center of BIMI.

From 2-4 PM a reception was held for Dr. and Mrs. Don Sisk in the William Carey Room. This was in honor of their service at BIMI, and to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. This time afforded an opportunity for scores of friends to express love and appreciation for two of God’s choice servants.

At 7:00 pm everyone assembled in the Lee Roberson Lodge for the Gratitude and Inaugural Ceremonies. The service began with the Candidate School Choir, singing, “To God Be The Glory,” directed by Dr. Robert Meyer; After an official greeting and welcome to the many guests, Dr. Clarence Sexton gave the opening prayer. Again the message of missions was given in music by the choir singing, “Here I Am Lord” and “Seeking the Lost”.

Dr. Lee Roberson, appropriately chosen, gave the first message of the ceremony. The Lee Roberson Lodge was named in his honor since he was the man God gave the vision of having such a mission. He had a vital part in the founding of this good mission and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since its beginning in 1960.

Dr. J.R. Faulkner was asked to give an account of the beginning of the mission. From the archives and from his fond memories, he told of our Lord’s divine intervention in the ministry of missions in the Congo. The story was awe-inspiring and blessed by the Lord as it was told.

Dr. Lew Baldwin lead in a prayer of gratitude for Dr. Sisk and his 19 years of service as General Director and for the future leadership of Dr. James Ray.

Words cannot explain the tears that were shed and the emotions felt during the next eight minutes while seeing a video of Dr. and Mrs. Sisk. Everyone laughed and cried as they were reminded of how much the Sisks have meant to all who know and love them. It was indeed a trip around the world.

After the video, their son, Tim, spoke for both himself and Renee’ (daughter) and their families concerning the Godly impact their parents have had on them.

Dr. Gene Payne, pastor of Dr. James Ray when he was a young man and when he was called to preach, spoke about those early days in Georgia. Brother Payne, a distinguished singer, sang a powerful song of encouragement for the Rays entitled “GO ON.”

During the second hour of the ceremony Dr. Lew Davis was called upon to officially represent the Board of Trustees and install Dr. James Ray as President and General Director of BIMI. Dr. and Mrs. Ray were presented to the congregation and the resolution of the Board of Trustees was read.

“Inasmuch as Dr. Don Sisk has been led of the Lord to step down from his nineteen years of duty as President/General Director of Baptist International Missions, Inc., and inasmuch as we cherish all he represented before us and gave us as an ideal leader, and inasmuch as God has blessed this organization by preparing another to assume the mantle of leadership responsibility and inasmuch as the Board of Trustees has acted upon the leading of the Lord in electing Dr. James Ray to the office of President and General Director and received his acceptance of it, we hereby on this Tuesday, June 4, 2002, publicly declare Dr. James Ray the President and General Director of Baptist International Missions, Inc., and happily install him before you to his new office for the glory of God, for the good of our churches and missionaries everywhere, and the pursuit of precious lost souls around the world.”

After this reading, Dr. Sisk was asked to come forward. With Dr. Ray kneeling and Mrs Ray and Dr. Sisk at either side, Dr. Sisk offered a prayer of dedication. In his prayer he asked that God would give Dr. Ray a fresh anointing for this new job, and wisdom as he seeks to lead BIMI and that he would be fruitful in every area of life. Brother Sisk asked the Lord to get honor and glory in everything that will be done in the future ministry of BIMI.

Dr. Davis, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, then presented gifts of appreciation to Dr. and Mrs. Sisk and Dr. and Mrs. Ray. A laptop computer and video projector were presented to Dr. Sisk to aid in his future teaching and preaching ministry. Dr. and Mrs. Ray were each presented special edition Nelson Bibles representing their new task to lead BIMI in the carrying of the Word around the world.

The service closed with a farewell address by Dr. Sisk and an inaugural address by Dr. Ray. (Remarks from Dr. Ray’s address are reprinted on page 2.) Dr. Sisk recounted God’s work in his life from his boyhood in rural Kentucky to his salvation in 1949, his early years as a pastor, his successful ministry in Japan, his time as Far East Director and the past 19 years as the President and General Director. He thanked all the people God had put in his life to uphold and assist him in his job.

June 4, 2002, was truly a day to be remembered in the life of Baptist International Missions, Inc. The remembrance of a God-blessed past is the foundation for the assurance of a God-blessed future.