40 and Growing

by Dr. Don Sisk

June 6 was a great day of celebration at the World Missions Center. We had special 40th Anniversary services with many pastors and friends present. We are rejoicing in the fact that forty years ago Baptist International Missions, Inc., (BIMI) was organized as an independent Baptist mission organization. God’s endorsement of and blessing on this ministry of faith is most apparent.

For forty years BIMI has shown significant growth.

1. We have grown numerically. In the beginning there were only eight missionaries who joined the organization. Every year for forty years there has been an increase in the total missionary personnel with BIMI. This is a miracle from God. The number of missionaries has continued to grow and we now have over one thousand missionaries. This is a wonderful testimony of the fact that God was truly in the organization of the mission. However, the expected attrition rate has increased, which means there must be a large number of missionaries added annually.

2. We have grown financially. Every year for forty years there has been a significant increase in funds contributed to missionaries through BIMI.

3. We have grown in our attitude of servant-hood. From the beginning BIMI has been a service organization. I believe that we can truly say that through the years we who are in leadership positions at BIMI have truly grown in our attitude as servants of churches and missionaries. We have no other reason to exist. We rejoice in the privilege of serving Christ and His church.

4. We have grown in our usefulness. Because of what God has done for and through BIMI, the organization is of great value to a missionary who chooses to affiliate with BIMI. Every missionary has financial credibility because of the careful scrutinizing of all funds that come through the World Missions Center. A yearly outside audit gives credibility to the financial accountability and trustworthiness of the mission. The missionary also has great accessibility to literally thousands of churches that know and support other missionaries through BIMI. As a BIMI missionary he has an opportunity to work with other missionaries of like faith and practice. Additionally, he has a field director to whom he has constant access. The field director also serves as a point of accountability for the missionary.

The mission has become more useful to churches because of the many ways that we are able to help them and their missionaries. Thousands of churches look to BIMI for direction in various areas concerning worldwide evangelization. Many churches look to BIMI for mission help and personnel. The mission provides various types of literature and mission conference materials as well as help in other areas of mission expertise.

In addition to being useful to churches and missionaries, BIMI has become very useful to many schools across America. BIMI missionaries are often invited to speak in chapel services and special mission classes. Our missionaries have taught mission courses in various Bible colleges across America. We provide mission personnel for college missions conferences. We are also requested to give advice regarding what type of training is needed for the mission major. It is a great joy to work with many good Bible colleges for the purpose of worldwide evangelization.

When we look at the growth of the mission, I believe we have to ask ourselves the question, “Why?” In my own mind there are several reasons for the phenomenal growth of BIMI.

1. I believe that BIMI was started for the right purpose. Back in 1960, independant Baptist churches were being planted and existing churches were starting independent missions programs. Many of the missionaries were going to the mission field from these independent Baptist churches with inter-denominational missions. This was creating quite a problem. While there were other independent Baptist missions organizations, very few of them were working in the southeastern part of the United States. The one hundred and sixty pastors that met together at Highland Park Baptist Church in June of 1960, felt a definite need to have a fundamental, independent Baptist faith missions organization. Their God-given purpose has been justified.

2. The mission was started with right principles. From the beginning it was to be a strong local, church-centered missions organization. It would be a Baptist organization with every missionary being a member of an independent Baptist church. That church would serve as the sending church for the missionary. Thus, the mission has never sent missionaries to the field; they are sent by local churches.

3. The mission was started with right priorities. From the very beginning, evangelism, church planting and training of nationals have been emphasized. Every missionary who serves with BIMI is encouraged to be a personal soul-winner, make disciples and to teach new believers. Every missionary is working for the purpose of establishing independent Baptist churches. The ultimate goal is for those churches to become completely indigenous.

4. Why has BIMI been blessed for these forty years? I believe that one of the greatest reasons is that from 1960 to 2000, BIMI has continued with the program that began in 1960. Several years ago I heard of a sign in a storefront in New York City. It was quite a large sign that simply said, “Out of Business.” Under the big letters “Out of Business,” there was a sentence in smaller letters that stated, “We forgot what our business was.”

Thank God, for forty years we have not forgotten our initial purpose, principles, priorities and program.

The final question we will deal with is “Where do we go from here?”

1. God has set before us a great open door. We have more opportunities now than we have ever had. God has given us a wonderful World Missions Center consisting of eighty acres, a forty thousand square foot administration building, a newly constructed lodge, several dwelling houses and large storage buildings. Our goal is to build duplexes to house full-time workers here at BIMI as well as multiple dwellings to house those who come in to work on a part-time basis. Thank God for the physical property of BIMI.

2. God has given us a good number of seasoned men as leaders who have been in missions for forty to fifty years. There is intermediate leadership from men who are in their forties who have been missionaries or in mission work for fifteen to twenty years, and younger gifted leaders who can take on roles of leadership in the future. There is a good balance in the age as well as the experience factors of the leaders of BIMI. All of these men are dedicated to keeping BIMI what it has been for forty years and for leading it to new heights.

3. BIMI has some of the greatest innovative minds in missions serving as field directors. Also, God has also given us a wonderful home staff with a highly qualified business manager and office manager. Additionally, there is a host of people who sacrificially serve here at the World Missions Center.

4. God has given us several couples that are serving on a voluntary basis. However, there are so many needs that still exist. Thus, we are praying daily that God will continue to provide the personnel to carry on the great work that He has begun and has sustained for these forty years.

All of the accomplishments of BIMI can be attributed to the following:

The fact that God was working in the beginning of the missions organization and that He has blessed and sustained it for these forty years.

There are thousands of independent Baptist pastors across America that believe in what BIMI is doing. There are many presidents of Bible colleges who are fully persuaded that BIMI is on the right track and is doing that which is biblically correct and appropriate for our generation.

We thank God for forty years of growth. It would be easy after forty years of service to rest on our laurels. However, with the innovative leadership at BIMI today, the past is only a prologue. The greatest growth and the greatest usefulness of BIMI will be seen in the future.