by Jon Konnerup
Reaping the Gospel harvest is always urgent. For every nation a missionary has gone to, every pulpit a pastor has preached from, every individual who has been spoken to, the words “Go ye into all the world …” have always been the motivation. It’s a charge as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago.
In 1950, the founders of the Baptist Bible Fellowship took up this charge:
“The basis of The Fellowship of the New Testament churches was a missionary enterprise. We call ourselves a Baptist Bible Fellowship; unless we have fellowship and promoting foreign missions, we are not a New Testament fellowship.”
– Noel Smith
The purpose of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International has the same urgency and relevance today as it did when we first came into existence — tell the world about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By sending out those who have been trained in our schools, the efforts of the churches of the BBFI in world missions have made an eternal difference in the lives of many. Countless thousands have been saved and over 18,000 churches have been started outside the United States. And yet, there are still billions in darkness searching to find the one who can bring peace to their hearts and forgiveness of sins.
We must work together to establish Gospel-proclaiming churches everywhere — churches that teach, preach, and live out the love of God, faith in God, the grace of God, and peace with God. This is why world missions is an important part of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International. As a Fellowship, we must unite around our passion to reach the world, inspire our people to go, and then support them as they step out in faith. How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?