by Curt and Melinda Brown
BBFI missionaries to Austria
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sigmund Freud, Adolf Hitler, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Red Bull, Glock, The Sound of Music, United Nations/Vienna, Baptist Bible Fellowship International. Does this list seem to include something out of the ordinary or perhaps extraordinary? The BBFI became a permanent piece of Austrian history when the International Baptist Church/Graz was officially organized on June 6, 2010.
Pastor Don Baier and his wife, Becky, were in attendance representing Seminole Baptist Temple in Springfield, Missouri. As our sending pastor, he led the service and delivered the dedication challenge. Seminole has been the leading church in this long-term investment, being involved in “Project Austria” for the majority of the years comprising this endeavor.
With this organization, the BBFI joined the rich history of a small country which has given much to the world – both positive and negative. This quest began when pioneer missionaries Derryl and Kaye DeShields arrived in Austria in 1986 after being approved by the BBFI in 1984. After six years of service, their family returned to work in the U.S.A. He currently pastors Berryville Baptist Church in Berryville, Arkansas. It was appropriate that pastor DeShields should deliver the keynote challenge to our small congregation to commit to making a difference in Austria as well as reaching out to neighboring countries and the world. His message, “Power in Unity,” serves as a mandate for the responsibility of our new church.
The establishment of the Baptist Bible Fellowship in Austria has been a long-term commitment. The efforts have spanned more than 26 years and are now beginning to see positive results. All who have invested in the cause of missions in Austria share in this monumental achievement. The sacrifice of many churches, pastors, and individuals have combined to make this dream a reality.
On April 8, 2008, Austria officially recognized the Baptist Bible Fellowship/Austria and the International Baptist Church/Graz as non-profit organizations in Austria. Those formalities led the way for the June 6, 2010 official organization of the International Baptist Church/Graz.
This new venture in the history of the BBFI is hopefully only the beginning of what God will do in a part of the world which has been largely overlooked as a mission field. Europe was formerly the central supply of the world’s mission forces. However, many of the countries surrounding Austria have no representation by the BBFI.
The investment represented by this one church has been great. Is the investment of resources worth the establishment of the first church connected with the BBFI in a particular country? In a time when we read of the diminishing presence of the BBFI, we can rejoice in what God is doing! BBF/Austria is in the beginning stages of ministry and it is exciting. May we all be challenged to push the faith envelope a little further than ever before. Together, we can impact the world! May we be challenged as a mission organization to be represented in every country of the world! The major focus of our mission efforts must be on the future history of the BBFI. Our history is important and should serve as a driving force to inspire us to be part of future history in the making. Together, we have the opportunity to decide the future history of the BBFI. The choice is ours!
Europe has been often reduced as a mission outreach due to the expense of accomplishing such a task. The current religious climate is changing in a major way. The Catholic Church is being rocked by the scandal of abuse which has been covered up for decades. This abuse of power is being viewed as unforgivable by many Europeans. The Catholic Church has been effective in creating a sense of patriotism to one’s culture and nation which includes the church. Europeans are now leaving the Church as a result of disenchantment with the power it wields. This exodus will leave a huge void in the religious expectations of these nations. Europeans will either dismiss God and religion completely or search for alternatives. During this critical window of opportunity, we must provide solutions to the felt hopelessness. The Church is losing its grip on the population which is already losing its identity by being infused by the Muslim world. What will become of Europe? No one can know for sure but we can be sure that the spiritual climate is changing and we must be ready for the monumental task at hand. In many European countries, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are recognized religious organizations while Baptists are merely a registered cult. This reality forces us to view our commission in a different perspective. How can we effectively project the truth of the gospel in a world where we are considered a cult? We have no choice but to invest our resources in these “Christian” nations. To ignore the opportunities in Europe is a contradiction to the Great Commission.
On behalf of our family, we would like to express our gratitude first to God for allowing us to be part of the experience of what He is accomplishing in Austria and secondly to each church, pastor, and individual who has invested in this worthwhile venture. We would especially like to thank Seminole Baptist for their training and faithful support, both financially and prayerfully, throughout this process.