The International Mission Board (IMB) approved a new set of missionaries during their meeting in Orlando. The church sent the appointed missionaries into the world.
Eagerness to Serve God
In a report with The Pathway, approximately 52 new missionaries took part in the Sending Celebration on Tuesday, June 14. The event took place in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in California.
Many of the new missionaries expressed their eagerness to be sent out into the world.
Serving God, His People
One of these newly appointed missionaries is Jonathan Derbyshire. He was no stranger to serving God and his people in mission work.
He grew up in a family of missionaries. Derbyshire admitted that he never expected that he would follow in the footsteps of his parents.
Derbyshire shared that his parents were missionaries for over 30 years. He told the news outlet that while he admired their calling, he had other plans for his life.
While in college, he took up film studies. It was a chance encounter with Pastor Danny Akin, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The faith minister posed a challenge during his sermon: "Don't ask, 'God should I go?' but instead ask, 'Why should I stay?'"
Taking the challenge to heart, Derbyshire became part of the IMB Hands On student program. It was during this time that he decided that being a missionary was his calling.
He and his wife, Bethany, were part of the newly appointed missionaries.
Heart for Nations
Like Jonathan, Bethany had her own experience with missionary work. She told the news outlet that she came to know God when she was in middle school.
She shared that it was during this time that God gave her a heart for the nations. Bethany met with missionaries who were stationed in Papua New Guinea.
Bethany felt a desire to serve people in the farthest nations. She described her college years as a "spiritual greenhouse" for this desire to serve God in the mission.
The pair met at Southeastern Seminary. These days, they are doing the Lord's work to disciple students in Thailand.
Bethany said that they will take their mission work to other parts of Asia.
The couple has an infant daughter, Micah. They were sent out by Pillar Church in Washington, D.C.
Sending out into World
IMB President Paul Chitwood addressed the missionaries during the Sending Celebration.
Chitwood said that he was honored to send off the missionaries to do their Gospel work to make disciples out of nations.
He reminded the missionaries of their mission amid the sin and darkness of the world. Chitwood pointed out that they were Southern Baptists and that they served as a light to others.
According to Chitwood, the Southern Baptists have sent 25,000 missionaries to the nations. He stressed that each one made an impact on the world.
Chitwood emphasized the importance of missionaries in the world today. He encouraged those in attendance to take heart amid the difficulties.
He reminded the missionaries that many people die each day without coming to know Christ. Chitwood reminded them of their impact on the world.
According to the Southern Baptist Convention website, like-minded churches work together for one goal- to spread the Good News of Christ.
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