October 2, 1792, was the day The Baptist Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Heathen was established in Kettering, England. It all began with twelve Baptist preachers and an offering equivalent to $50. William Carey was one of the preachers. On March 20, 1793, Carey and another missionary were set apart by this newly-founded mission board for service abroad. This event was the beginning of the modern missions era. Accordingly, William Carey is known as the father of this all-important epoch of Baptist missions.
Since 1792 many missionary societies, agencies, and boards have been established to assist churches and missionaries to do the work God has commanded them to accomplish. Baptist International Missions, Inc., organized in 1960, is an example of such an agency.
There were only twelve Baptist preachers who attended the meeting in Kettering, England, to discuss what their churches could do to reach the unreached world with the Gospel of Christ. Bear in mind, the population of the world at that time consisted of 750 million people.
In 1960 there were over 150 fundamental, independent Baptist pastors who met in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to address the need for implementing the missionary outreach of their churches. The task of world missions had tripled since William Carey was commissioned to be a missionary in 1792. Their churches were faced with the challenge of preaching the Gospel to a world with over 3 billion people. It was unanimously agreed that there was a bona fide and urgent need to establish a fundamental, independent, Baptist faith mission. Before this history-making meeting ended, God led these men to start a mission agency that would serve the global needs of their churches.
The first field of service for this new agency was the Belgium Congo of Africa. It began by assimilating the ministry and missionaries of the Old Congo Gospel Mission that had dissolved and the missionaries were earnestly pleading for help.
The name selected for this newly organized mission was Baptist Faith Missions.
Shortly after this decision, it was learned that there was another mission by that name; consequently, the name was changed to Baptist International Missions. When it was incorporated it became Baptist International Missions, Inc. BIMI, as it is known today, has enabled those initial churches and thousands of others to expand the worldwide sphere of their local church ministry.
It must be understood that the Lord Jesus Christ was speaking to His church when He said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Since the command, or GREAT COMMISSION, was given to the local church, the mission agency exists only to serve the church and her mission.
In Acts 13, the Holy Spirit gives a record of the great commission being obeyed when the Antioch church sent out Barnabas and Saul. This is an excellent example for Bible-preaching churches to follow; however, most churches are not able to give full support to their missionaries, but they can follow the example of the churches of Macedonia. In II Corinthians 8, we read how these churches, in response to an urgent plea made by the Apostle Paul, together provided money needed to meet Paul’s challenge. Even though these churches were experiencing trials of affliction and deep poverty, they gave all that they could possibly give to help meet the needs of others. God, through His grace and power, honored their faith and the sincerity of their love by providing money for them to have a larger part in this mission effort. This was a perfect picture of God’s provision for missions.
Today, mission boards like BIMI expedite this method of collecting and processing money donated by various churches for missionaries and mission projects. To assure proper accountability, churches should select a mission agency of like faith and mission practice. Consideration should be given to the reputation of the agency and its dedication to the task of serving churches and the missionaries they have deputized. There are only a few churches (like most of the churches that were involved in starting BIMI) that are able to fully support and adequately care for all the needs of their missionaries. God will require the donors to give an account as to how the money is used that was designated for worldwide missions. The church must know that the missionaries agree with their doctrine and will duplicate their ministry.
It must be acknowledged that all mission agencies are not created equal. There are no two churches that are identical and neither are there any two missionary agencies that are identical. The organization and service of each mission is different. Every church must prayerfully choose the mission organization that will best serve their needs and assist their missionaries.
The name Baptist International Missions, Inc., describes our mission and defines our ministry. We are Baptist without apology. We are international in scope and our mission is to preach the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. Our strength is in church planting and in the training of national leadership. Jesus said, “I will build my church,” and He commanded His church to take the Gospel to the entire world. This can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit and by the support of God’s people. Our work has been clearly affirmed by Dr. Louis Baldwin, a BIMI Trustee, who said, “The mission of the church is missions and the mission of missions is church planting.”
The population of the world has doubled since the beginning of BIMI. This means that the need to implement the mission of the church and the mission of missions is greater than it has ever been.
The question is asked, “Why have a mission board; what does BIMI do for churches that they can’t do for themselves?” Numerous answers could be given, but the most important factors, though not limited to those described below, are:
• Introduction to churches — identification and endorsement provides an access to over 6000 supporting churches…
• Provides a support base — governed by a rotating trustee board consisting of pastors who share the same faith and have the same mission philosophy of sending church pastors…
• Candidate school training — for deputation, mission work and church planting…
• World missionary capability — competent, responsible, creditable …
• Immigration — visa assistance, acquiring permission to live and work in a foreign country…
• Providing authorization — letters to foreign governments assuring financial support and guaranteeing repatriation when required…
• International insurance — medical service, medical evacuation…
• Field directors — years of mission experience, knowledgeable of world conditions, cultures and religions…
• World Mission Center — sufficient operation, providing full service to churches and missionaries, freeing the church of many responsibilities…
• Processing support — donor receipts, banking, wire transfers, international drafts, IRS accountability…
• Prayer/News letter service — efficient assistance to missionaries in communicating with their supporters…
• Critical correspondence — dedicated support staff available to respond promptly to questions and concerns via e-mail, telephone, fax and postal mail…
BIMI is committed to serving missionaries in what might be the terminal generation.
In recent months, missionary needs have been greater than ever before. Accidental death, house break-ins, abuse, robery, violence, and hostility have been experienced by a number of missionaries in different countries. These tragedies have required hours and days of attention. BIMI’s leaders and office staff worked diligently to assist these missionaries and their churches. Good international insurance and funds from the BIMI emergency fund have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars needed because of these tragedies. Some needs would have been beyond the ability of a sending church to provide. However, the combined resources of many churches made it possible for BIMI to assist all of these missionaries with their various needs.
The Third Millennium of Missions is here. The church of today has the responsibility of reaching a world of over 6 billion people with the Gospel of Christ. BIMI is ready to assist your church in obeying The Great Commission.
