From across the nation to the world: IMB celebrates missionaries

The International Mission Board celebrated the sending of 24 newly-appointed international missionaries in a service at Swift Creek Baptist Church in Midlothian, Virginia, Wednesday, Sept. 25. IMB trustees voted to approve the candidates during a meeting near Richmond earlier in the day. Dr. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, preached the message at the celebration, encouraging the new missionaries to “step into the missionary calling.”

From across the nations

The 24 missionaries represent churches across the United States — from Louisiana to Michigan and North Carolina to Hawaii. Families, friends, and pastors from across the country also attended the event.

IMB President Paul Chitwood told the gathered crowd, “We have come from all around the country, but we are here tonight because we anticipate what God will do all around the world.”

Paul Chitwood

IMB President Paul Chitwood reminded those attending IMB’s Sept. 25 Sending Celebration at Swift Creek Baptist Church in Midlothian, Virginia, that they had gathered from across the country “because we anticipate what God will do around the world.” (IMB photo by Chris Carter)

 

Loved, equipped, encouraged, sent

Ronny Raines, who pastors the First Baptist Church in Bradfordville, Florida, near Tallahassee, made the trip to Virginia to support a couple from his church who are going to a difficult area of the world.

“We want to be a church that prays, gives, goes and sends,” Raines said. “It’s very convicting for us to realize what this young couple is giving up to take the gospel to the nations. We are here to support them in their calling.”

Like the couple Raines came to support, each missionary testimony referenced a church family who loved, mentored, and encouraged them as they sought God’s will for their lives.

One such couple is Robert and Katie McMillan from Westside Baptist Church in Flushing, Michigan, who will serve in Europe.

“God used our churches and short-term trips to introduce us to missions,” Robert said.

Robert McMillan, Katie McMillan

Robert and Katie McMillan, from Westside Baptist Church in Flushing, Michigan, felt God’s call to missions after studying overseas. The couple, who will serve in Europe, were two of 24 missionaries appointed by IMB trustees Sept. 25 and recognized in a Sending Celebration at Swift Creek Baptist Church in Midlothian, Virginia. (IMB photo by Chris Carter)

 

“Before we met, we each spent time studying overseas,” Katie said. “These experiences exposed a troubling reality. We were overwhelmed by the emptiness prevalent among the lost people we met.”

Both Robert and Katie surrendered to God’s call to missions and attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

“I met Katie during my last semester, and she was immediately smitten,” Robert quipped.

After graduating from New Orleans, Robert worked in South Asia, and Katie worked in East Asia. God used that time to reaffirm their passion for the nations.

D.B. and Kristin Washer are another couple who sensed God’s call to missions as teenagers and whose church — Lane Prairie Baptist Church in Joshua, Texas — mentored and encouraged them. The couple will serve in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Our Southern Baptist church saw the calling upon our lives and gave us opportunities to serve.”

“Our Southern Baptist church saw the calling upon our lives and gave us opportunities to serve,” Kristin said. “There we developed a love for the word of God that drove us to study at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.”

Jerry Clements, pastor of Lane Prairie, and Matt Queen, professor of evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, travelled to Richmond from Texas to attend the celebration and support D.B. and Kristin.

Stepping into the missionary calling

Ronnie Floyd encouraged the new missionaries to “step into their missionary calling.” Referencing Acts 20:22, he reminded them that they were crossing over to the point of no return, just as Paul did when he was compelled to go to Jerusalem, not knowing the challenges he would face there.

“Nothing in your life will ever be the same again,” Floyd said. “Everything will be different. Anytime you step into the call of God, you step into change.”

Ronnie Floyd

Dr. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Executive Committee, challenged new missionaries to “step into their call” and encouraged Southern Baptists to “step into” their responsibility to send and support them in an IMB sending celebration at Swift Creek Baptist Church in Midlothian, Virginia. (IMB photo by Chris Carter)

 

While the missionary task involves stepping into the unknown, it also means stepping into the call of God, Floyd said.

“This is God’s purpose for your life,” Floyd told the new missionaries. “You are chosen for this moment. You were created for this moment.”

At the same time, the missionary calling does not come without sacrifice. It requires missionaries to “step away” from people they love, from their own control and from their own security, Floyd said.

“How can we finish God’s purpose if we are holding on?” Floyd asked. “We must let go.”

Finally, Floyd promised the new missionaries that Southern Baptists would step into their calling to pray for them and give generously to support them. He challenged the churches attending the celebration and viewing the service over livestream to “step into generosity like we’ve never seen before” by giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® and the Cooperative Program.

“We (as Southern Baptists) are stepping into our calling in relationship to you,” Floyd said. “We are going to pray for you. Southern Baptists by the millions will lift you up. Churches by the thousands will claim you as their own. You are being sent with the prayers of Southern Baptist churches.”


The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® is a registered trademark of Woman’s Missionary Union.