By Dr. Clarence Sexton Edited and reprinted - BIMI WORLD Summer 1985

The Lord has done a wonderful thing in my life these past few days and I praise Him for it. A lost world came through the doors of our church. It was carried to us in the hearts of those who were here to speak in the Missions Conference. A number of wonderful missionaries spoke during the meeting. Our featured speakers were Dr. Don Sisk and Dr. Bob Dayton. Both of these men serve with Baptist International Missions, Inc. Dr. Sisk serves as the General Director for BIMI and Dr. Dayton as the Central America Director.

At Baptist International Missions there are men who serve as directors in different parts of the world where there are many missionaries. These directors are not men who have failed on the mission field and have returned to the home office, but rather, men who have been successful on the mission field winning souls and building churches. They bring with them, as do the other directors, a wealth of missions experience and a tremendous burden for the lost of the world. They are able to preach the truth of God’s Word with tears in their eyes because they have seen firsthand the pitiful plight of the unsaved on the road to hell.

Frankly, I had failed to see these directors as the missionaries they truly are. These men are directors, but before they ever accepted the responsibility of serving as directors, they were missionaries. After hearing the two men speak in the conference in our church, I am convinced that they are first and foremost MISSIONARIES. Perhaps it would be more correct to refer to them as “Missionary Directors” because they have become directors without ever ceasing to be missionaries.

Some may on occasion question whether or not these men who serve as directors are still truly missionaries. My friend, they have never ceased to be missionaries; their hearts have never ceased to hurt for the people in the countries where they served.

Never a day passes that they do not recall the precious souls God saved as they served Him in the land they loved, have now left, but will never forget. Never a day passed that they do not hear the tender voices of those they led to Christ and still love so dearly. Never a day passes that they do not see in their mind’s eye the beautiful faces of those they first thought to look so strange, but now prefer above all others. How their hearts must ache as they think of these, their “dearly beloved and longed for.” On occasion in some lonely motel room, while traveling to a missionary conference, after pleading with someone who will not heed, they may be heard to pray: “Dear Lord, it seems that today no one will go for Thee; and Heavenly Father, how my heart yearns to be with those yonder in the country that I love so. I think tomorrow I will announce to those near me that I am returning to the field.” And then they hear the sweet voice of Jesus whisper, “I know your heart is broken for those you learned to love and now long to be with. You obeyed my call; you served me well. And I allowed your heart to break so that now you might be able to serve Me in a greater way by going from church to church, challenging others to go and to give in my Name. I want to use you to stir others as I once used others to stir you.”

These missionary directors are men of God. Of course, there are times when they think of the day the Lord called them to be a missionary. It was a day when Christian friends and some family members rejoiced. It was a day when their pastors were proud and praised God for what He had done in the lives of these young men in their churches. But let’s not forget that they are still true to their calling, serving God as missionaries. No one can understand the needs of the missionary on the field more than these directors can understand.

With loving hearts these men link our churches with a lost world. MISSIONARIES they were called to be and MISSIONARIES they shall be until Jesus comes! These men need our prayers and deserve the financial support of our churches. This is the only way they can accomplish what God has called them to do.

Dr. Clarence Sexton

Pastor – Temple Baptist Church

President – CROWN College

Trustee – BIMI

P.O. Box 159

Powell, TN 37849