by Ron Bragg - BIMI Africa Director

The ministry of Baptist International Missions in Africa goes back to the mission’s inception in the early 1960’s when a handful of missionaries from the Congo Gospel Mission presented their needs to a group of pastors in Chattanooga, Tennessee. These servants of God, who were expelled from the Congo, desired a Baptist mission with an international scope. Thus, Baptist International Missions, Inc. was formed. From that humble beginning, BIMI has grown into a force of over 1,000, serving in over 80 countries. In Africa alone, we have 112 missionaries heralding the Gospel in 12 different countries across the continent. These missionaries are hard working, innovative, sacrificial, and determined to saturate Africa with the Gospel of Christ. As Paul states in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Truly, God has begun and is doing a good work in the lives and ministries of these missionaries who are scattered across this vast continent. We have the confidence in Him that He will perfect the efforts of these servants and perform His will in their ministries.

The continent of Africa is immense. One can easily put the continental United States inside the Sahara Desert alone. Even with modern aviation, it takes longer to fly from West Africa to South Africa than it does to fly from New York to West Africa. In spite of the continent’s immensity, BIMI has made significant progress during the last 48 years. There are over 230 churches preaching the Gospel each and every week. There are presently 33 Bible institutes and colleges that are teaching the next generation of African leaders sound Bible doctrine and practice. There has also been the addition of special ministries, such as medical clinics and orphanages, which work directly with their local churches in assisting to proclaim the message of salvation.

However, a great price has been paid. Just recently, we have seen three of our faithful missionaries enter the gates of Heaven: Kyle Guimon labored for 11 years in Uganda and both Johnnie Todd (in Ivory Coast and Ghana) and Joel Bain (in South Africa) had given over 30 years of faithful service. Other families have experienced sorrow. Both the Matt Stensaas and James Pridgen families (both in Uganda) laid to rest infant children they lost in Africa—all for the glory of God.

A great price has also been paid through language study. David Edens, in spite of constant malaria attacks and other physical difficulties, has been faithful for 37 years in translating the Gospel into languages of the nomads in the Sahara. Dan Olachea continues to progress with his New Testament translation into Runyankore, the language of southwestern Uganda. Recently Lawrence Lantz in Uganda and BJ Shultz in Tanzania have both preached their first sermons in local languages. How exciting it is for the local people to hear the Gospel preached directly to their souls by these committed servants of God. Missionaries, serving with BIMI have dedicated themselves to the task of planting churches all across Africa. They are willing to pay the price, as the early missionaries did, to pave the way for others.

The cry from Africa is “Where are the replacements?” God has started a good work in Africa, but we are only skimming the surface. As one missionary said, “We feel we are just punching holes in darkness.” In the book of Nehemiah, opposition from Sanballat and Tobiah hindered a great building program. Today, worldliness, apathy, and selfishness seem to be the hindrances in the great program of worldwide evangelization. However, we must remember that once Nehemiah started his work—even with all the difficulties—the wall around Jerusalem was finished in record time. What the Lord starts, He wants to finish (Phil. 1:6). Today, God is looking for willing servants who will take the “sword and the trowel” of missions and finish the work of evangelism in Africa.

The leadership of BIMI has a dream of having 500 new missionaries in 100 countries around the world. What a vision! It was William Carey, that great missionary to India, who said, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” I like big and bold dreams! However, I remember Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., who said, “Dreams without a plan are just dreams.” In our efforts to reach Africa, God has given us a plan for this dream—The 100 Nations Project. It is an innovative plan to get more exposure to the churches and recruit new missionaries for the mission field.

Recently, missionary Eric Bohman and I visited the needy field of Namibia, near South Africa. There are over two million people and only one independent Bible–preaching missionary for that entire country. Space limits me to tell of Madagascar, Rwanda, Mali, Burkina–Faso, Gabon, Cameroon, and other countries in Africa that are open to missionaries, but have very little Gospel witness! We are also concerned about Niger, Senegal, and Zambia, where BIMI has only one missionary family in each place for the entire country. Again, the cry comes from Africa, “Where are the laborers?”

In this modern missionary movement of today, every type of individual is needed! Yes, preachers and soul-winners are required—but so are nurses, teachers, translators, and technicians. Several godly single ladies have joined our team in Africa, and they as well are filling an important void. All are needed for the furtherance of the Gospel in this Dark Continent! For 35 years, I have watched BIMI progress in Africa. Sometimes as the director, I feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the task and the vastness of the continent. God is moving in Africa! He is calling up another generation of missionaries who will labor alongside our veterans and continue in the work.

What is the next step of commitment for you? God has begun a good work—He is calling all of us together to fulfill His divine plan. Will you allow Him to perform His work in you? Could God be calling you to serve in Africa?