Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

KY workshop emphasizes ‘Every Church on Missions’

  • February 18, 2023
  • Kentucky Today
  • Kentucky, Latest News, Missions
Missions Mobilization Team Leader Eric Allen leads a large group of Kentucky Baptists in exploring four areas of missional engagement at the Every Church on Mission Workshop Thursday morning in Louisville.
(Photo courtesy of Kentucky Today)

KY workshop emphasizes ‘Every Church on Missions’

Every church — no matter its size or resources — can take a step toward missions involvement. 

How that can be accomplished was the focus of the first of six “Every Church on Missions” gatherings sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

Eric Allen, KBC missions mobilization team leader, told participants at the Feb. 16 session that “every church can be on mission. Your church is unique, you have skill sets, resources and people who are members who have experiences to draw from.”

He noted why it is important for every church to be on mission:

  • 41% of the world’s population is unreached, with little or no access to the gospel.
  • 30% of Americans have no religious affiliation — 70% claim an affiliation with Mormon, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Buddhists, Hindus.
  • 12% fewer identify as Christian.
  • Churches go on mission “because we are commanded to go,” Allen said, citing Matthew 28. “The disciples were told to go — Jesus didn’t tell them to wait. We’re challenging each other to go and share the gospel and be on mission. If my church doesn’t go, am I being disobedient? If your church doesn’t go, are you being disobedient? If my church doesn’t go, who will go?”

‘Delayed obedience is disobedience’

Allen noted that of 2,300 KBC churches nearly 700 reported they had not done any kind of missions activity.

“God expects us to go. There is no Plan B,” Allen declared. “Delayed obedience is disobedience.

“Also, if we don’t go, we are saying we don’t care about those who don’t know Christ. Our actions say that. We need to be more willing to go and be quicker to respond.

“God has not called all of us to be in full-time ministry work,” Allen acknowledged, “but He does call all of us to go on mission. He doesn’t give us permission to ignore the Great Commission.”

Citing Acts 13, focal passage for the ECOM conference, Allen said, “The first thing to do is pray and seek the Lord. The church at Antioch, led by the Holy Spirit, sent Barnabas and Saul out. They were supported, prayed for and blessed by that church.

“I believe it is the church’s responsibility to seek the Lord and have a concerted effort to identify needs and send them out, leading the charge to send them out. Here (Acts 13) was a concerted, organized effort to send people out on mission. Barnabas and Saul were two primary leaders in the congregation.

“The Holy Spirit said, ‘I want you to send [people] out,” Allen added. “Today we would say, ‘We have to keep them here’ (because of their roles in the church). In Acts 13, they were willing to send their best. Didn’t the Lord send His best?”

Thinking strategically

KBC missions strategist Doug Williams told the group each church should think carefully and strategically about living out the Great Commission. He noted that Forest Baptist Church, where Nathaniel Bishop Jr. is pastor, is finding ways to identify missions opportunities in the Newburg, the most diverse neighborhood in Louisville.

“You never know how God might use experiences of people in your church and the gifting of people in your church,” Williams said. “Have your eyes open to those opportunities.”

Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief director Ron Crow spoke about churches equipping members for missions.

“If you fail to equip, you are equipped to fail,” Crow said. “There needs to be planning.

“Not only are we to be involved in ministry, but to be equipping others for ministry. The key is always bringing others alongside us and equipping them to do ministry and missions. Jesus didn’t look at who they (the disciples) were, but who they could become. He took some of the most unlikely people and did amazing things through them.

“The most important resources you have in your church are the people,” Crow declared.

Allen added it is “not enough to equip if we don’t send them out on missions. We serve a sending God. God sent His best, His only Son, to us. He sent Abraham, Moses, Paul, the Holy Spirit to us, the Apostles. That is His nature. Jesus passed along His identity as the Sent One to us.”

Next steps 

There are a number of ways churches can take a step on mission, including being involved in a local ministry.

“They abound all around us,” Allen asserted. “It may be a short-term mission trip — maybe to eastern Kentucky or a vision trip to Salt Lake City. There are church planting efforts locally or elsewhere in the state. There is Disaster Relief work … there’s vocational ministry, serving as a pastor or missionary. All these are examples of sending out.”

Allen suggested churches do more than sponsor a missions trips.

“Partner with a missionary. Instead of sending 20 at one time, send four teams of five,” he encouraged. “Partnerships are really great in developing relationships between the church and a missionary.”

Caring for partners

Teresa Parrett, KBC missions mobilization coordinator, encouraged the group to care for people involved in missions.

“Being on mission is not an easy task,” she said. “There is a lot of stress; there are travel issues; it may be a whole different culture and a different language.

“If we don’t care for those we send, the team may become discouraged and burned out. Everyone in the congregation won’t go, but everyone can be part of caring for those who do go.

“First, pray for those who go,” Parrett said. “Send encouragement cards or email or texts. Send a small gift, remember them on their birthday, adopt a missionary or missionary family. Have a Zoom meeting — visit and get to know them; have a retreat for new missionaries.

“The important thing is to stay connected. Learn about their ministry as much as you can. Don’t let them feel they are out there all alone.”

Williams noted not everyone at the church at Antioch went on mission, but all were involved.

 “You have a part to play,” he declared.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Chip Hutcheson and originally published by Kentucky Today.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Kentucky church ‘looking forward’ after destructive fire
    Kentucky church ‘looking forward’ after destructive fire
    March 31, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Florida state convention preps for potential reallocation of CP funds, calls for kinder interactions
    Florida state convention preps for potential reallocation of CP funds, calls for kinder interactions
    March 31, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • 5 ways to reach out to immigrants in your community
    5 ways to reach out to immigrants in your community
    March 31, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Kentucky church ‘looking forward’ after destructive fire

Four days after a fire gutted much of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Somerset, faithful members of the Kentucky church gathered for a parking lot service

Florida state convention preps for potential reallocation of CP funds, calls for kinder interactions

The relationship Southern Baptists have with the investigative firm Guidepost Solutions continues to draw mixed reactions across the denomination. Some continue working through the issues

5 ways to reach out to immigrants in your community

Some churches are partnering with immigrant groups for ministry purposes, others are looking to reach immigrant groups within their surrounding areas. Here are some basic

person in red and black plaid long sleeve shirt using black laptop computer

Study: Should churches ‘count’ online attendance?

With the rise in online church services, many have different opinions on the acceptability or validity of online church attendance for those with the ability

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel