Through the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board’s Missions Mobilization Department, nine pastors recently trekked to Richmond, Virginia, for a “vision journey” at the headquarters of the International Mission Board.
Vision Journeys are regularly planned all over the world through the leadership of Chad McCord, director of the MBCB’s Missions Mobilization department, but this particular trip posed a unique opportunity to visit the missional sending arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Face-to-face
Though each pastor attending was aware of the task of the IMB, talking face-to-face with missionaries currently training along with multiple question-and-answer moments with IMB staff, “precipitated into an invaluable experience that further defines the importance of cooperatively working together to fulfill the great commission,” The Baptist Record reported.
The majority of the three-day journey took place at IMB’s International Learning Center, where IMB staff help to train and send missionary units, to provide care for field personnel, and to conduct meetings with partners.
“I don’t think Southern Baptist realize how much our cooperation means to each other,” said Mark Stevens, who directs new missionary training.
Deeper discussion
Stevens led a session with the team about his area of responsibility overseeing missionary training and a deeper discussion opened about the “member care” offered by IMB.
“Healthy support of missionaries is a triangular effort,” added Chris Derry, the church and campus engagement director. “We are church-centric from the very beginning in sending to planting overseas. As we send out missionaries from our churches through the IMB there is a healthy responsibility of care from the IMB home office, the team on the ground and the sending church.”
“You’re only here for a couple of days but we hope you are getting a healthy, missional, mark on your heart that you will never forget,” stated Chris Martin, director of convention strategies.
McCord’s goal of allowing the pastors the chance to hear more about the in-depth structure of the IMB was quickly delivered when boots hit the ground on the campus.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Tanner Cade, communication services director for the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, and originally published by The Baptist Record.
