The Southern Baptist Convention's Global Missions Endeavor
How the SBC mobilizes resources and personnel to share its faith worldwide through the International Mission Board.
- The Southern Baptist Convention's global missions are primarily conducted through the International Mission Board (IMB).
- Funding comes mainly from the Cooperative Program and the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
- IMB missionaries focus on evangelism, discipleship, and church planting among unreached people groups worldwide.
- This extensive effort reflects a core theological commitment to spreading the Christian gospel globally.
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) engages in global missions primarily through its International Mission Board (IMB). This organization is dedicated to sending and supporting missionaries who share the Christian gospel and establish churches in countries around the world, particularly focusing on communities that have had little to no exposure to their faith tradition.
How Global Missions Are Organized and Funded
The IMB serves as the operational arm for the SBC's international missionary efforts. It is responsible for recruiting, training, deploying, and caring for thousands of missionaries and their families who serve in various capacities across the globe. The IMB's strategic focus is often on "unreached people groups"—populations with no indigenous community of believing Christians able to evangelize their own people.
Funding for this expansive work comes from two main sources. The first is the Cooperative Program, which is the SBC's unified giving plan where local churches contribute a percentage of their undesignated offerings to support state, national, and international missions and ministries. The second, and perhaps most recognizable, is the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. This offering is a direct appeal to Southern Baptist churches and individuals, with 100% of the donations going to fund the IMB's overseas budget, covering missionary salaries, benefits, and support for their work.
The Missionary Journey: From Call to Field
The journey for an IMB missionary typically begins with a sense of calling, followed by a rigorous application and assessment process. Once approved, candidates undergo extensive training in theology, cross-cultural communication, language acquisition, and practical ministry skills. Missionaries are then deployed to various regions, often living among the people they serve for many years. Their work can include direct evangelism, discipleship, church planting, leadership development, and engaging in compassion ministries like medical aid, education, or community development, all with the overarching goal of sharing their faith and establishing local churches.
This global endeavor is a cornerstone of Southern Baptist identity and theology. It matters because it represents a significant, sustained effort to fulfill a core religious mandate to spread the Christian message worldwide, impacting countless communities through both spiritual and practical aid. The scale of the IMB’s operation makes it one of the largest missionary-sending organizations globally, reflecting a deep, collective commitment from millions of Southern Baptists to their mission.
Sources
- International Mission Board (IMB) official website
- Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) official website
