by Dr. Lou Baldwin

The world evangelism mandate that Jesus gave us is, without a doubt, a “Great” Commission. I’m not sure if it is so termed for its importance, for its Commissioner, or for the enormity of the task. Perhaps, it is “great” for all of those reasons.

Urgency is a great factor when we consider our marching orders. Surely, we are all aware of the ticking clock that is life and our final stretch before the end of it all. We don’t know when the Lord will return. But so true are the words of a familiar gospel song: “If back then it seemed so real, then I just can’t help but feel how much closer His coming is today.”

What more patent reminder is there of our presence in the last days than the recent Katrina disaster? Watching the coverage of the hurricane’s direct impact on hundreds of thousands of people, I could not help but be reminded of the necessity of the gospel. So many people need the Lord, and they sure do need Him now.

The tragedy conveyed yet another message. This one was about the value of coordination. In the ensuing days or, more accurately, hours, the “blame game” began. Frustration fueled by the perception of inadequate speed in the relief effort led to finger-pointing and criticism of every level of government.

Of course, the media was eager to highlight the darkest.phpects of the situation. Yet, real progress became irrefutably evident when the responsible relief parties began to work together. Focus on the most critical needs and coordination of resources yielded results that ultimately saved lives and hastened the next phase of recovery.

Bible-believing Christians are involved in the greatest relief effort in history. We have the antidote to the disease of the soul. We have water to quench spiritual thirst. We can offer shelter to those who have no place to turn. We have the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is it possible, however, that our work is stymied due to a lack of focus and collaboration?

As Independent Baptists have we become accustomed to working alone, each of us engaged in our own part of the Great Commission with limited regard for the potential that exists with real teamwork?

What a shame it would be for us to fail simply for failing to work together.

Urgency and coordination are the driving forces behind BIMI’s newest venture, “The 100 Nations Project.” Since its inception God has allowed BIMI to help local churches put more than 1,000 missionaries in eighty countries around the globe. The vision of The 100 Nations Project is to expand into 20 additional countries with 500 additional missionaries and scores of new partners working to accomplish those goals. Prayerfully, all of this is to be completed by 2010 when BIMI will celebrate fifty years of ministry.

We realize that more than 1,000 missionaries in eighty countries represent a remarkable enterprise. But how modest is this presence in the grand scheme that is the harvest field! BIMI missionaries numbered with those of other Independent Baptist agencies have ratios of one to many millions in most of these places around the world. Many countries have no Independent Baptist voice at all. The enlistment of more missionaries in more locations is an obvious necessity.

Extending laborers to twenty new countries with 500 new missionaries in five years, though ambitious, is probably considered by most to be a worthy undertaking. But the fuel for this goal is in a yet third prong of the project: establishing partnerships with churches, colleges and individuals to provide the funding and prospective missionaries for the project.

Concerted effort with those who believe in world evangelism is paramount. As a mission agency our purpose is to assist local churches by identifying specific areas of need and opportunity and to provide guidance for smooth deployment. It is neither the responsibility nor desire of BIMI to call and commission laborers to the field. That authority is reserved for the Spirit of God and the local church, respectively. I said that to say that this endeavor, which we believe is manifest by the leading of God, cannot be realized exclusive of the understanding, prayer and participation–both physical and financial–of the local church.

Because we know this to be true, and, by the way, biblical, we are not embarrassed to call upon churches, Bible colleges and the saints of which they are comprised to consider our vision and make it their own. We are praying that churches and schools will welcome BIMI representatives to communicate the exciting details of The 100 Nations Project. In so doing, we can educate, encourage and enlist more servants for the work of evangelism.

Human nature often breeds skepticism of any new venture. Pioneering tasks never have long waiting lines. But in reality, the efforts of The 100 Nations Project are not new. This is a continuation of what BIMI has done for more than four decades, the only difference being that of a more dynamic and concrete focus on “less evangelized” areas and a more intensive appeal for servants and resources. In short, we’re stepping it up.

Austria, Belize, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Estonia, Gabon, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Lithuania, Madagascar, Martinique, Mongolia, Namibia, Rwanda, Singapore, Slovenia, S. Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Uruguay–These are the 20 countries chosen for expansion.

You may ask, “How and why were these twenty additional nations chosen?” The obvious consideration was that these countries are presently open for mission work. Praise the Lord! This has not always been the case. An open door is always an opportunity. Then, of course, our field directors provided great input as to which places to target. Finally, the sad reality of how few Independent Baptist missionaries per capita there are in these countries weighed heavily upon the prayerful decision-making process of the General Director/President and all of those involved.

How wonderful it will be to know that our labor is that much closer to the “uttermost parts of the earth.” These countries, not unlike the eighty where BIMI missionaries currently serve, need many, many more missionaries. This is the first step to what we pray, should the Lord tarry, will blossom into exponential outreach.

As a pastor, I was excited when I first heard about The 100 Nations Project for several reasons. First, it will help Crossroads Baptist Church concentrate our support toward a more visible goal. Second, it will cause us to be stirred for countries where BIMI missionaries are as well as for those where they are not. Third, our vision is broadened and we will become more educated about the need of the gospel in places that many of us have never even heard of, and most likely will never go. Fourth, it urges us to avoid the danger of complacency and satisfaction with a self-proclaimed adequate missions program. All of these things translate into the great potential for awakening servants in my congregation to a heightened sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s call.

BIMI is praying that God will move this way in churches and colleges around the country. “The 100 Nations Trips,” a series of survey trips, is a part of the plan. These exciting and informative “excursions” are being coordinated as unbiased opportunities to allow prospective missionaries to consider God’s direction in their lives. “The 100 Nations Service” is an opportunity for churches and colleges to have a field representative come and share the heart of the effort through a stirring multimedia presentation, a passionate challenge from the Word of God and personal interaction with the pastor and congregation. BIMI is committed to doing whatever is necessary to communicate the vision of this project.

The funding of The 100 Nations Project follows a similarly clear pattern. One Hundred churches giving $100 per month will enable BIMI to provide a number of scholarships for the survey trips in addition to funding related expenses including start-up funds for newly planted churches. Once again, we are reminded that missions-giving is not donation but investment.

As I see it, cooperation is fundamental to the success of The 100 Nations Project, but not simply at the church and college level. By virtue of implementation, BIMI field directors have committed to work together by making The 100 Nations Project the foundation of their individual presentations. Promoting a concerted goal increases overall effectiveness, not in lieu of individual ministries but rather by honing efforts to make each little “field patch” a supportive and producing part of the great harvest.

For more information on how you can be a part of this exciting new expansion, please contact BIMI at (423) 344-5050.

Dr. Lou Baldwin is pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Bailey’s Crossroads, VA, and the chairman of the Board of Trustees of BIMI.