gospel

IN MOTION

spring 2 016

2
NAMB Presidents Letter

24

4 The Pulse

8 City Pages

10 Praying to be
reached

10
36

14 Multiplying the gospel in
military communities

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Art Director
Shawn Elledge

Vice President
of Marketing &
Ministry Support
Kim Robinson

Design
Steve Beaver
Photo Editor
John Swain

Executive Director
of Marketing
Joshua Harrelson

Photographer
Susan Whitley

Editor
Joe Conway

Contributing Editor
Tobin Perry

Managing Editor
K. Faith Morgan

Intern
Makayla Sykes

Associate Editor
Meredith Yackel

24 Love in action
36 Refining
the focus
44 From Virginia
to Vietnam

Contributors
Caroline Anderson
Chris Carter
Clint Clifton
Marie Curtis
Kate Gregory
Najlah Hicks
Wilson Hunter
Paul W. Lee
Andy Leininger
Jeanne Manire
Patricia McCarty
Meg Rushing
Rolan Way

44
2016 ON MISSION

On Mission highlights missionaries, chaplains, church planters and churches

working to reach North America for Christ. On Mission is a publication of the North
American Mission Board, SBC.

President
Kevin Ezell

18 Planting a home

Download the free

On Mission mobile app

52 Recommended

56 My Turn

57 IMB Presidents Letter

volume 19 | number 1

namb presi dents letter

Pews to action
By Kevin Ezell, NAMB president (@kevezell)

Encouraged, yes, but those numbers should be

7,000 and 20,000. In a Southern Baptist Convenoften remind our team that NAMB exists to

tion with 45,000 churches, we need more people

serve pastors and churches in a way that helps

becoming personally involved.

them be on mission. The fact that so many people

are dying daily without Christ, facing an eternity

We want to make it easier for pastors as they

separated from God, should break every Christian

encourage members to take new steps of faith and

heart. Every pastor, every church member, should

take Jesus outside the walls of the church. To help

have a sense of urgency that drives all of us out of

move them out of the pews and into action. This is

our pews and into action to the mission God has

not just an effort to get churches more involved with

called usacross the street or across the ocean.

NAMB. There are some outstanding local, state and

international ministries that have been developed

I am happy to report that we are partnering with

by our partners, and we want to hold up the best of

more than 700 Sending Churches through our Send

these and point churches toward them.

North America strategy. Each is planting a church

and seeing that plant through to sustainability.

Every church and every Christian can live life on

There are also almost 2,000 Supporting Churches,

mission. We are here to help pastors lead the way.

helping church plants thrive. We are encouraged by

Think of how our churches, our nation and our world

these churches that have moved beyond their pews

will be transformed if we all embrace this call.

and into their mission fields.

Your donations to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the
Cooperative Program make mission strategies a reality. Give at AnnieArmstrong.com and imb.org/Giving.

Visit AnnieArmstrong.com and namb.net for features on your 2016 Week of Prayer Missionaries.

the pulse

Measured

Heard
We must be careful to not let
fear get the best of us. It never
ends well for those who let fear
dictate their decisions.

Reaching 1 million

All by myself

ecent Barna Research on discipleship shows

that many Christians (38%) preferred tak-

Joseph Rose,* IMB worker in North Africa and the Middle East (*Name changed)

ing care of discipleship alone. Twenty-five percent

Source: IMB

preferred discipleship in a group setting, while only

16% favored a one-on-one model. Twenty-one per-

We need a battalion of
Christians ready to adopt, to
foster and to minister to orphans
and to mothers in crisis. But that
means real orphans, real women,
real persons, real familiesnot
idealized versions of what we
think they should be.
Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission,
on adoption
Source: RussellMoore.com, Dont Protect Yourself From Adoption, November 10, 2015

cent felt that discipleship should be a mix of all the

methods.

1,
T

en U.S. cities now have a population of 1 million or more. The United States Census Bureau shows that California (Los Angeles, San
Diego and San Jose) and Texas (Houston, San Antonio and Dallas) each hold three of these cities. New York City remains the nations

highest populated city. Other cities on the list include Phoenix, Philadelphia and Chicago.
Source: United States Census Bureau, May 21, 2015

Source: Barna Research, December 1, 2015

Failure to launch

ew Research is showing that young adults are living with their parents at the
highest percentage since the 1940s. As of 2014, 42.8% of males and 36.4%

of females between the ages of 18 to 34 are still living with their parents.

Divorce rate doubled

for those 50 and over

Source: Pew Research, November 11, 2015

Later-in-life divorces have doubled from 1990 to

2014. Although there has been a rise in divorce

We live in a nation of
surprising contrast. We are a
nation that goes to unbelievable
lengths to protect the rights of
individuals in every conceivable
way. And we are a nation
that embraces the wholesale
slaughter of the weakest and
most vulnerable among us.

among people 50 years and older, younger couples

have shown a decline in divorce. Sociologists have

Moving to Motor City

suggested that the increasing rate in the older

generations may be
due to the rise in life
expectancy.
Source: The Week,
November 13, 2015

Print still leads digital sales

Digital book sales fell by 10% in the first five months of 2015,
despite predictions that digital book sales would surpass
print by last year. As of 2014, digital books made up 20% of
the market, the same percentage that they had for the past

Frank S. Page, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, on abortion

several years.

Source: SBC Life, Winter 2015/2016, Babies Lives Matter

Source: The New York Times

etroits white population increased in 2014

for the first time since the 1950s. Some 8,000

white residents have moved to the city. Officials

attribute this rise to millennials moving into the city
due to lower housing prices.
Source: DetroitNews.com, September 17, 2015

the pulse

Noted
Generational family views

Only 1 percent
of pastors quit

Parents who have never shared a picture of their child on social media:
Millennials: 19%

The size of the American home continues to

Gen Xers: 30%

expand. The average size of a U.S. home in

Although pastoring is often a stressful and overwhelm-

Baby boomers: 53%

ing job, LifeWay Research, when polling a group of 1,500

Purposely buy their children gender-neutral toys:

found that only 1% actually leave the ministry every year.

Millennials: 50%

Regardless, it is still a tough job.

percent say theyre on call
24 hours a day

percent expect conflict

in their church

percent find their role

frequently overwhelming

percent are often

concerned with their familys
financial security

Source: ChristianityToday.com, September 1, 2015

White Christians
no longer majority
6

Baby boomers: 34%

than homes in the 1970s.

Source: The Week, November 27, 2015

Perceptions of Islam

Believe it is important to be married before having children:

Millennials: 42%

recent LifeWay Research poll given to

Protestant pastors regarding the characteristics of Islam showed that 17% saw
Islam as similar to Christianity. Although
still not in the majority, this percentage has
climbed from 9% in 2010. Thirty-four percent of the American public also agreed
that Islam was similar to Christianity. Other
characteristics polled showed that 49% felt
Islam promotes violence, 50% felt Islam promoted charity and 32% felt that Islam was
spiritually good.
Source: LifeWay Research, October 22, 2015

Gen Xers: 49%

Baby boomers: 51%
Choose to be stay-at-home parents:
Millennials: 23.2%
Gen Xers: 16%
Baby boomers: 22%
Are concerned with other parents judging the food their children eat:
Millennials: 30%
Gen Xers: 17%
Baby boomers: 11%
Source: Time, October 26, 2015

toward being more politically conservative.

Source: NationalJournal.com, December 8, 2015

businesses grew at an annual rate of 7.5%. This

growth rate is 15 times faster than U.S. businesses in general.
Source: The Week, October 2, 2015 (Associated Press)

Canadian
Cabinet balance
For the first time in Canadian history, the Executive Cabinet is now made up of 15 men and
15 women, making it a completely genderequal Cabinet. This change came after Justin

IMB workers in the hottest desert regions offer weather truth:

Trading in cigarettes for cannabis

Hispanic business
on the rise
Between 2012 and 2015, Hispanic-owned

have fallen below a majority of the U.S.

also shows that as they recede, they are moving

sizes have expanded again to the average size

of 2,657 square feet, making them 57% larger

How hot is it?

American adults down from 55% in 2007. Research

the average home in 1970. Since 2012, home

Gen Xers: 34%

ccording to Pew Research, white Christians

population. White Christians now represent 46% of

2012, according to Pew Research, was 1,864

square feet, which is 28% larger than the size of

pastors of evangelical and historically black churches, has

84
80
54
53

Wide-open
spaces

The hotel advertises cold showers.

I have washed the dishes using tap water

Trudeau beat incumbent Stephen Harper to

become the next prime minister.
Source: Relevant.com, November 4, 2015

Working late

lthough the use of cigarettes is showing a decline among todays college

and scalded my hands.

students, marijuana use is on the rise. According to a survey from the

We put ice in the bath water.

University of Michigan, 5.9% of college students admit to using marijuana daily

after the age 65 than there were only a decade

The computer sits on ice packs.

or almost every day. While many young adults know the dangers of smoking, The

ago. Almost 19% of American seniors are work-

We store crayons, play-dough, Tylenol and

ing today, compared to the 14.4% in 2004. Can-

Washington Post suggests that the legalization of marijuana in many states may

batteries in our refrigerator.

Three million more Americans are working

adas senior-aged workforce is also increasing.

have sent the message that smoking pot is safe.

I cracked a raw egg and it was half-boiled.

Nearly 13.4% over 65 have continued to work,

Source: The Week, September 18, 2015

Frogs come in to use the AC.

compared to 7.7% in 2004.

Source: IMB

Source: The Week, September 18, 2015

c i ty page

Las Vegas

London

Why is London
a strategic city?
W
 estern-friendly: Despite
diversity, most London
residents speak English.
E
 xpat jobs: Londons
Square Mile has 80 million square feet of office
space, 5 million square
feet of retail space and
17,000 businesses.
Unreached

people: Harrow is the most religiously

diverse borough in the city.
Regional

hub: In 2013,
72.3 million passengers
arrived at Heathrow Airport; 93% were international travelers.

CURRENT CHURCH PLANT

POTENTIAL CHURCH PLANT

30%

Hispanic

8
African
American

12 %

Asian/Pacific
Islander

45%
Anglo

11%

41

million
visitors

as Vegas is a city often defined more by its visitors than its permanent residentsafter all, 17 of the 20 largest hotels in the United States are in the metro
area. But this city is more than its guests. With 142 languages spoken in the

public schools, a foreign-born population significantly higher than the national aver-

ern Europe. Ethnic- and language-based communities are found

throughout the city. More than 300 languages are spoken among its residents.

If you come to do ministry in Las Vegas, its not a bunch of street ministry on the strip.

of London, I bet I heard 65 languages. When I got back home, I was waking up at

Real people live here. They just work down on the strip, says Send City Missionary

night hearing those voices and seeing those faces from all over the world. It was as if

Ben Barfield. Las Vegas is a lot more of a city than the one-dimensional gambling

God said, You dont have to go to the world; the world has come to you. The world

and drinking. Sin is prevalent, and its celebrated, but God is doing things here.

is in London, and that is where I want you to be.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, SBC Annual Church Profile, 2010 U.S. Religious Census: Religious
Congregational and Membership Study, compiled by the Center for Missional Research, North
American Mission Board

Sources: IMB Global Research, London.gov.uk, BBC.com, HeathrowAirport.com

(*Name changed)

None

48%

Christian

12 %
8%

IMB missionary Patrick Simms* visited London and noted, As we walked the streets
More than 41 million
people visit Las Vegas
each year.

29%

for the greater metro region), London is the largest city in West-

age and a large Mormon presence, its a metropolis of great diversity.

Native
American

2 million people live

in the metro Las Vegas
area. The population is
majority Anglo (45%),
30% Hispanic, 12%
African American, 11%
Asian/Pacific Islander and
1% Native American.

ith a population of 8.6 million (estimates range as high as 14 million

Jewish

Muslim
Eastern
religions

Over 4 million people

claim Christianity, but
a vast majority do not
attend church or pray.
48.4% Christian, 29.3%
None,12.4% Muslim, 7.5%
Eastern religions, 1.8%
Jewish and 0.6% Other.

97%
lost

It is reported that if you

are in your 20s in the
U.K., there is a 97%
chance that you are
not a believer and have
never met a follower of
Jesus.

Praying
to be
reached
By Kate Gregory
10

11

here were times when pastor Esteban Carrasco felt like giving
up. Witch doctors tried to cast spells on him, and villagers
had even thrown rocks at him and threatened to kill him if
he returned with his message of Christs supremacy.

After attending to medical needs,

Cheryl Cannon (center), a nurse
from First Baptist Church in Oxford, Miss., prays with Alejandro
Rodriguez* in his home in a mountain village in southern Mexico.
(*Name changed)

Fifteen years ago when I was 7 Esteban was praying for me to come
and help him. That blows my mind. What an honor that God used me to
answer Estebans prayer for more workers.

so much bigger than I ever imagined. Fifteen years

After a couple weeks studying the Bible with the

ago when I was 7before I was even a Christian,

missionaries, the couple accepted Christ as Savior.

before I loved Spanish, before I wanted to do anything internationalEsteban was praying for me to

Willis and Harrods home churches in Midlothian,

come and help him. That blows my mind. What an

Va., and Louisville, Ky., sent teams this past year

honor that God used me to answer Estebans prayer

to work alongside them. Their IMB team leader

for more workers.

Jeff Holemans home church, First Baptist Church

in Oxford, Miss., also sends teams to reinforce the

For Pastor Esteban Carrasco, IMB

Whats sobering is that others may be waiting for

missionaries Christy Willis and

people who may not be coming. People have been

Rebecca Harrod were an encour-

telling us, We have been waiting to hear about

They didnt just send us, Holeman says. They

Jesus, but there was no one here to tell us, says

want to be a part of what were doing. We have

Harrod.

a huge support group behind us, and they dont

agement and a God send.

efforts to connect with the unreached.

let go of us. Thats a two-way street. We value our

relationship with one another. Just because were

But Carrasco persevered. He planted three small

had heard about the Bible in their remote village.

out-of-sight, were not out-of-mind. We know this

house churches in an area of southern Mexico where

People told them what they should believe and

because of the way they love us.

there previously had been none. For 15 years he

what the Bible said to do, but no one had spent

prayed for more workers to multiply those efforts.

time in Gods Word with them. They developed a

When they sent us, they told us they would come

hunger to know Gods Word for themselves.

alongside us, says Holemans wife, Liesa. Its

PHOTOS BY WILSON HUNTER

Alejandro Rodriguez*, 78, and his wife, Mara*, 84,

When Carrasco saw Southern Baptist missionaries

Rebecca Harrod and Christy Willis walking toward
12

him, he told them, You are an answer to my

prayers.
IMB missionaries Rebecca Harrod (left) and Christy Willis.

amazing to see that they sent us, and are now comAt an elevation of more than 10,000 feet, their
remote village is one of the unreached areas Willis and Harrod have focused on spreading Gods
again they were told, You are an answer to our

Ocotln Zapotec with the gospelthe same group

prayers.
majored in Spanish in college.

God had been preparing Harrod and Willis to serve

All through college, I studied Spanish and I spent

there. Willis studied Spanish abroad and taught the

summers in Honduras. I prayed for years, God, what

language for seven years in the U.S., and Harrod

do you want for me? says Harrod. Gods plan is

Kate Gregory is an IMB writer and editor.

Word. When they encountered the Rodriguezes,

Harrod and Willis were tasked with engaging the

Carrasco was ministering to.

ing themselves.

(*Names changed)

Learn more about International Mission Board ministry to Central and South American people groups at
stories.imb.org/Americas

13

Multiplying the
gospel n military
communities
What is the Praetorian Project?

Excellent because everyone who comes to Quan-

While I was drawing up my own plans, God began

tico is leaving soonso the potential for spreading

to stir me to see the gospel spread through the

the gospel is unlimited. Awful because everyone

Marine Corps just as it had throughout the praeto-

who comes to Quantico is leaving soonso the

rian guard centuries before. I know, this was a pretty

potential for never really getting established as a

audacious ambition, but I was too young and inex-

church is high.

perienced at the time to realize that. At 24, with a

sweet wife and a 3-year-old son, I set out to plant

As God was calling us to plant a church in a place

a church near the crossroads of the Marine Corps.

of such transiency, I was confronted with the reality

that I knew little about the ins and outs of military

Church planting in Quantico was much more dif-

life and was clueless about how to reach service

ficult than I anticipated. Secretly I expected that

members and their families with the gospel. What

within a year (two at the max) hundreds of jar heads

I did know, which overshadowed my feelings of

would be worshiping Jesus and hanging on my

incompetency, is that Id been jarred by the words

every word. In reality, I wasnt able to get a Marine to

of the apostle Paul in the first chapter of Philippians.

attend a worship service for the first several months.

By year three of this experiment, all signs pointed to

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circum-

the fact that my dream would never become a real-

stances have turned out for the greater progress of

ity, and Pillar Church would soon be another casu-

the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause

alty on the church planting battlefield.

of Christ has become well known throughout the

By Clint Clifton

14

whole praetorian guard and to everyone else (Phi-

By Gods grace, that is not our testimony. Fortu-

lippians 1:12-13 NASB).

nately, great supporting churches and faithful mentors challenged me to press ahead despite my dis-

n 2004 God interrupted my life plans by calling me to plant a church near Quantico, Va. Youve probably
heard of Quantico because of one of the half-dozen primetime TV shows set there or because someone

This chapter caused me to wonder if a church could

couragement. Eventually we started seeing modest

you know has been stationed there.

harness the natural movements of the Marine Corps

progress with service members. Some military

(or the military in general) to spread the gospel

families joined the church, they invited others and

Quantico is nicknamed the Crossroads of the

Academy and the Marine Corps University, just to

around the globe. It happened through Pauls wit-

before long more than half of our families units were

Marine Corps because at one point or another

name a few.

ness to the praetorian guard; could it happen with

active or retired military.

my new church and me? These thoughts started to

most Marines will spend some time in Quantico.

Quantico is the combat development command

Every year thousands of service members and their

dominate my mind, and soon Id confessed to my

Through one-on-one discipleship and preaching

center for the Marine Corps. It is home to the

families cycle in and out of Quantico making it both

wife and my pastor that I thought the best place for

I sought to highlight the urgency in multiplication

Presidents helicopter unit HMX-1, home to the FBI

an excellent and awful place to plant a church.

us to invest our lives was Quantico.

from Scripture. The net result of this emphasis was

15

men in our congregation expressing an aspiration

Pillar Church of Woodlawn (Ft. Belvoir)

for gospel ministry. Two of these men were active-

Pillar Church of Kaneohe (MCB Hawaii)

duty Marines with a clear desire to plant churches

[A new plant is in the formative stages on

at other USMC installations. After years of discour-

the island of Okinawa.]

agement and an emotional abandonment of the

praetorian-like gospel movement that first lead me

Each of the churches is autonomousled by local

to plant at Quantico, the dream was back on track.

pastors and elders but networked together for the

spread of the gospel. Members of the churches

I began teaching these men what I knew about pas-

who are in the military are encouraged to view their

toral ministry and providing opportunities in our

future assignments as opportunities for kingdom

church for them to gain pastoral experience. Before

expansion.

long, the Marine Corps was pushing these men to

move on or transition out. The vast majority (some

In my observation, many churches have a positive

80 percent) of Marines are stationed in one of four

posture toward ministering to those in the military,

geographic locations: Washington, D.C., Southern

but few have ever considered that the movements

California, Eastern North Carolina and Japan. Con-

of the military could actually be harnessed for the

sequently, we sought to prioritize the establishment

progress of the gospel. Thats what the Praetorian

of churches in these locations. To date the following

Project isan effort to multiply the gospel through

churches are established or are being established:

the establishment of churches near military commu-

Pillar Church of Dumfries (Quantico North)

nities.

Pillar Church of Stafford (Quantico South)

16

Pillar Church of Jacksonville (Camp Lejeune)

Clint Clilfton serves as Send City Missionary for

Pillar Church of Oceanside (Camp Pendleton)

Send North America: Washington, D.C.

Pillar Church of Washington, D.C.

(8th & I/Pentagon)

This excerpt comes from the e-book, The Praetorian Project: Multiplying the Gospel through
Military Church Planting, available as a free download at sendnetwork.com/ebooks. Learn
more about church planting in military communities and view an interactive map at namb.
net/chaplaincy.

17

i nterv i ew

Planting
a home

Universal principles from a bicoastal, ministry-wife friendship

Although they live on opposite sides of the nation, Christine Hoover and Shauna
Pilgreen still find unity within their roles as church planters wives. In an effort to
reach a transient university community, Hoover and her husband, Kyle, planted
Charlottesville Community Church in Charlottesville, Va., in 2008. Pilgreen and her
husband, Ben, planted Epic Church in San Francisco in 2011 to reach the diverse city.

18

ON MISSION: Describe your initial transi-

started to look at college towns. We soon discov-

tion into church planting.

ered the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

When Kyle called the state convention, they said

CHRISTINE HOOVER: God started stirring our

they had been praying for two years for someone to

hearts for church planting two years prior to actu-

come and plant a church there.

ally knowing He was calling us to do it. People had

started asking my husband if he had ever consid-

SHAUNA PILGREEN: For us, we were newly on

ered church planting so often that we decided to

staff at Second Baptist [in Springfield, Mo.]. Ben had

consider it. We committed to praying about it, and

been preaching through Esther and challenging the

it became evident that it was what we were sup-

church to do hard things for God. It was through

posed to do. We knew God really wanted us to

this series that he told me that God was prompting

plant in a city with an influential university, so we

his heart to go to the hard places. So we started

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTINE HOOVER AND SHAUNA PILGREEN

They recently shared their experiences with On Mission.

19

the model church, but we have to go back to how

lots and rent.

Scripture speaks of church. Paul wrote these letters

to the church because of what their culture needed

OM: What boundaries have you built for you

and what the church needed to be to the people. I

and your family as you pursue church plant-

have to lean into the vision God has for us.

ing?

OM:

How

important

were

supporting

churches at the beginning?

SP: Focusing on a stable home was crucial for us

especially going into a culture that was going to
shock me, let alone my kids. At the very beginning,

CH: The help from other churches has been huge

it was all hands on deck. Now, if I get to do some-

for us. They sent teams and supported us for sev-

thing extra for the church, its a bonus. But from the

eral years. That has been keyto know you have

beginning, managing the home has had to come

financial support, prayer support, people support

before my role at church. It has proved to be healthy

and that you are not going out on your own. We

for us. I know this means more work for Ben, and I

are seven years in, and they are still sending people.

cant be jealous or angry if he works an extra hour

or two some nights. It does mean that hes coming

SP: Making that move felt like moving to the ends

home to hopefully a warm meal and a refuge. I have

of the earth at the time. Fortunately, we have a great

had seasons where I can do both, but I am in a sea-

network. We had about 17 churches that partnered

son right now where I am more homebound.

with us for the first three years.

OM: How do you avoid getting caught in the
comparison trap with other church plants?
CH: Well, I have actually compared our church to
Shaunas. They are in a leased building now, and we
looking at five strategic cities and felt called to San

its totally different when you have your own. Thats

dont have that yet. I think it comes back down to

Francisco. We spent 18 months planning, getting

the same when you start a church. I bought into this

being happy for Shauna and Ben. I want to rejoice

financial support and building a team. Then we

idea of what church looked like, but its totally differ-

when my sisters and brothers get a win in church

made the move.

ent when you are starting your own.

planting because I know how hard it is to get the

If you are not healthy as

a couple and a family, you are
not going to be able to build a
healthy church.

win. I cant make things happen. I cant make a

OM: How was the transition for your family?

20

CH: I totally agree. I know the ideas I had for my

building appear for our church. I can only be faithful

children regarding church were the ideas I had

to what God has called me to do.

CH: Its going to be different for everyone. It just

CH: My kids were pretty young at the time5, 2

already seen, and thats not what we have. Its hard

and 6 months. They grew up in church planting, so

to release those ideas, but God has called our chil-

SP: I would love a parking lot and cheaper rent. I

couple and a family, you are not going to be able

this is normal for them. I think the hardest part was

dren into church planting, too. He will provide and

would love to not have to check the calendar for

to build a healthy church. Figure out what is best for

on my husband and me. Taking on church planting

teach them in ways that are different than what I

Apple and Twitter conferences and Giants and

you, and always re-evaluate.

was really demanding. We had to figure out a new

experienced.

49ers games, so I can figure out if I am driving to

way of doing things.

takes communication. If you are not healthy as a

church or taking the train. If we are comparing, we

SP: I would encourage those who are starting out to

SP: I would add that the church that I grew up in

are thinking of tangible things. If we only shared sto-

build their boundaries at home before the church.

SP: As a mom, you can watch other moms raise kids

looked very different from how the church started

ries of the people, there would be no comparison.

The marriage and the home have to be grounded

and think you have an idea what it will be like, but

in Acts. I often look at my childhood church as

When I hear those stories, I forget about parking

and established before a church can be established.

21

From faking it to finding grace

Years in the wilderness as a church planters wife
By Meredith Yackel

believer to let me know that He was still alive and

wanted to use me in His work. That led me to learn how

onnie Cavanaugh was an experienced church

to follow Him again and get through the wilderness. He

planters wife. This was a role to which she had

revealed to me that I was a very fearful person. I had

become accustomed. She knew the dos and dontsthe

been in denial of that, but He helped me face my fears

spoken and unspoken expectations that fell on her. After

and find recovery.

several years away from lead pastoring, her husband,

Gerry, the national ministry leader for the Canadian

Connie admits that comparison played a significant role

National Baptist Convention, felt led to pastor again at

in leading her to her time in the wilderness.

a new church plant. This time would be different. He,

for one, would be bi-vocational, and Connie, after years

In the early years, comparison very much broke me

in what she called the wilderness, knew who God had

because I never felt good enough, or that I measured

created her to be and how that would play into being a

up, or did enough, or worked hard enough. I always felt

pastors wife once more.

like I could do more, or be more, and that eventually

broke me and was part of what drove me to the spiritual

Thirty years ago, church planting seemed more like a

wilderness where I stayed for about 10 years.

lone-ranger type thing, says Connie. One couple would

go out, plant their lives and try to establish a community

I thought I had lost my faith. It took years of tiny little

of faith in that place. As a result, the pastor was so iso-

baby steps of trusting Him and saying yes to Him. I was

latedespecially in Canada where churches are few.

not interested in my husband leaving the ministry be-

So the wife, if she is willing, becomes the sidecar on his

cause of my problem, so I just had to hang in there.

motorbike. She becomes very involved and entangled

22

OM: How would you encourage the wives of

can do. That is probably the richest blessing in

other church planters?

church planting. I remember praying at the beginning that God would provide chairs, and now I cant

in church planting. If you are someone like me who has

Although it took her years to get through this season, she

a lot of fears, and is quite fragile emotionally, that can

admits God used this time to show her His purpose and

CH: This is one of the best and hardest things I

even see the chairs because of the people that fill

break you. Thats what it did. I got lost in the wilderness.

true role for her as a church planters wife.

have ever done. I am so thankful that God pulled

them. I think of the stories that God is writing for

me out and put me in the position where I had to

them. They arent cookie-cutter stories; they are

Connie refers to this time as a rough season of spiritual

To find healing, I think the Holy Spirit knew I was going

trust Him in years of uncertainty. I know a lot of wives

complex and messy. But to be before the throne of

dryness. She became so burdened by the false expecta-

to have to face my fears. That took about 13 years, but

look at the tangible things and get scared. I under-

God one day and rejoice with all the people who

tions often put on the role of being a church planters wife

I made it through. I dont compare anymore. I am still

stand. I did, too, but I would say to go for it. You will

come through our church, that is what it is all about.

and hit a breaking point.

tempted to, but I snap out of it. I went from faking it to

experience Him in a way you have not before.

Christine Hoover (@christinehoover) and Shauna

finding grace. I was just following God one yes at a time.

SP: We have front-row seats to see what only God

God got a message through to me, though, when I

wasnt even listening. He found a way through another

Pilgreen (@shaunapilgreen) are published authors.

Meredith Yackel is associate editor for On Mission.

Connie Cavanaugh is an author and speaker. Learn more about her ministry at ConnieCavanaugh.com.
Discover more about ministry wife support at Flourish.me, and see a video of planters wives explaining what
their ministry looks like at SendNetwork.com/PlanterWives.

23

Christian worker Peter Matheson* (right) talks

with the father of a Syrian refugee family he
meets with on a regular basis. The mans family
was forced to escape war-torn Syria and made
the 25-mile journey to the border. (*Name
changed)

24

Love in action
PHOTOS BY CHRIS CARTER

A medical mission team from Mandarin Baptist Church in Los Angeles

crossed both continents and cultures to bring help and hope to Syrian
refugees in the Middle East.

25

26

27

Opposite: Physical therapist Katherine Lee*

gives a Syrian refugee family advice on how
to care for their son with a disability. Lee was
part of a team from Mandarin Baptist Church of
Los Angeles that traveled to the region to provide medical care and to seek opportunities for
additional outreach. (*Name changed)

28

29

Roughly 9 million Syrians have fled their homes

since the outbreak of civil war in 2011. According to the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 3 million
have fled to Syrias immediate neighbors: Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. There are 6.5
million people internally displaced within Syria.

30

31

Volunteers from Mandarin Baptist Church of

Los Angeles delivered food, baby products and
clothes and also provided medical care when
needed. Bottom right: Physician Stephanie
Lim* (right) shares pictures of her life in the U.S.
with a refugee family who was forced to escape
war-torn Syria. (*Name changed)

A young Syrian mother and her son look at an

Arabic Bible given to her by medical volunteers
from Mandarin Baptist Church of Los Angeles.

32

33

Pastor Paul Tu* (right) talks with members of his

church, Mandarin Baptist Church of Los Angeles, after a worship service. (*Name changed)

A nation in crisis
Pastor Paul Tu* from Mandarin Baptist Church of Los Angeles shares how
a medical mission teams trip to the Middle East impacted them long after
their return to U.S. soil.
By Rolan Way

Q: How is Mandarin Baptist on mission?

A: As a church on mission, we join God in His work.

Q: Why did you feel led to care specifically for Syrian

Wherever and whenever we see God working, we ought

refuges?

to respond to His invitation by joining Him. In Matthew

A: God is at work among Syrian refugees. If we ignore

28:19-20, God commands His people to go make disciples

this invitation from God to join Him at His work, we will

of all nations. As an ethnic church, we must be involved

miss the opportunity to reach these hard-to-reach people

in cross-cultural mission work to reach people beyond our

for Christ. We need to obey God and heed His call.

own ethnicity. Thank God that through IMB, people with

different cultural backgrounds are being called and sent

Q: How did serving in the Middle East impact your

to reach the world for Christ. When a church on mission

churchs medical team members?

is connected with IMB, it becomes a part of the mission

A: They came away with a better understanding of the

team that is acting upon the Great Commission.

International Mission Boards (IMB) work among Syrian

refugees and a firsthand experience on how receptive

Q: What is your prayer for the people of Syria?

the refugees are to the gospel. Love in action can open

A: I pray that the SBC family and Christians from all over

doors that were closed to the gospel. God can work

the world will respond to Gods call to do our very best to

through all kinds of circumstances, including a tragic

reach Syrians, by not only meeting their physical needs,

situation like the Syrian refugee crisis.

but also, most importantly, their spiritual needs through

the sharing of the gospel. I pray that thousands of Syrians

Q: What did God teach you on that trip?

will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I pray

A: God is in control of all situations. He desires everyone

that in the days to come, Syrian Christians and churches

to be saved, not even one to be lost. His way is higher

will become a major force to reach Arabic-speaking

than ours. When He calls us to go, all we need to do is to

Muslims.

obey. He will take care of the rest. In less than a month, a

team of professional medical people were put together.
34

*(Name changed)
Rolan Way writes for IMB.

See and read more stories of Syrian refugees displaced by the war and the IMBs ministry to them at
NAMEPeoples.imb.org.

35

Lead pastor, James Roberson,

helped Bridge Church simplify their
language into a three-step processconnect, grow and serve.

Refining
the focus
By K. Faith Morgan

ambiguity as to who we really are, says Executive

their spiritual journey, they can connect to God. No

Pastor Josh Edney. We spent a lot of time in that

matter where someone might be on their spiritual

season just trying to refine our language and get it

journey, they can grow with family. And no matter

to something that is clear and that everything can

where someone might be on their spiritual journey,

align tosomething that has focus and that every-

they can serve our city. We believe this helps create

thing can have movement toward. So we simplified

someone who can belong before they believe.

our language to three principles: connect to God,

grow with family and serve our city. Now everything

We have seen the greatest effect amongst our

As the church has become more established since

we do is filtered through that discipleship process

leadership, he adds. It has helped our leadership

its April 2014 launch, the leadership team sensed a

connect, grow, serve.

clarify our structure while communicating what a

healthy disciple looks like.

need to define a clear focus and vision for the fellowship.

The language we have established speaks to

everyoneno matter what spiritual condition they

As we were growing this past summer, we started

find themselves in, says lead pastor James Rob-

realizing that there was a lot of confusion and

erson. No matter where someone might be on

PHOTOS BY NAJLAH HICKS

36

n two years, Bridge Church has created a

flourishing and tight-knit family. Located
near Long Island University Brooklyn
(the boroughs largest university) and
Barclays Center, the young church has a
similarly youthful congregation to match.

Three members of Bridge Church demonstrate

their discipleship and exemplify the core values of
the church through their testimonies.

Connect to God
Lu Johnson serves as a leader on the connect team
at Bridge Church.

grew up in church, Pentecostal with my paternal grandparents and Catholic with my maternal

grandmother, and I thought this was normal. For

me, church basically equated to God. This way of
relating to God continued for several years until I
stopped going to church because I found no value
in it. I saw it as a system of rules, hypocrisy, discordance and untruthfulnessall of which, I wanted
no part of. In my mind, I thought, I can be a good
person on my own, I dont need to follow someone

37

with Him. I took to the Internet to find a church

that taught strictly from the Bible and not their own

We all come from different

walks of life, ethnicities, cultures
and outlooks but what binds us
together is Christ!

thoughts. A church that talked about Jesus and

didnt focus on choir or make a big deal out of the
worship team. In December of 2014, I decided to
stick with Bridge Church. I was hungry for God.
On August 9, 2015, I got baptized. Although it was
my second baptism, it was really my first because
I had no idea what it meant the first time. I didnt
know what I was saying or doing. Cut to this past
August, and not only did I understand what I was
Lu Johnson was eager to under-

saying and the decision I was making, but I had,

stand what a relationship with God

and still have, a burning desirealmost desperate

meant. Bridge Church became

desireto commit my life to Christ and let Him take

Johnsons home as she unpacked

control, because His way is the best.

what a life committed to Christ

We all come from different walks of life, ethnicities,

cultures and outlooks but what binds us together is
Christ! Whether you have been a believer for five
days or 15 years, we believe that we are called to
disciple others, and that may look different every
day.

looks like.

38

elses systems in order to tell me how to live in an

as a Christian, because I was still operating under

upright manner and be kind. Religion is man-made

the assumption that it was just one of many paths

and therefore incorrect. Im goodthanks, but no

to spirituality and a greater sense of purpose and

thanks!

being.

In the early 2000s, I started dabbling in Christianity

In 2014, I started to realize that Christianity is about

again. I still did not fully understand that it is about

a relationship with God, and although churches

an intimate relationship with God, and God alone,

and religion are organized by people, I needed to

but I understood that this was good for me. It gave

find a healthy church home to guide me as I sought

me a guiding sense of principles and focus. But I

to know God more, learn about Him and who He

was unable to be consistent or truly commit to life

is, what He wants and how to have a relationship

Grow with family

One thing I can truly say Ive learned here is that

Brandon Baah leads a growth group and the

meetings and what we traditionally think ministry is.

Authentic Manhood ministry at Bridge Church.

Being a growth group leader has grown me in ways

I didnt know I could grow. Constantly thinking and

ministry is most effective outside the context of

ince Ive known James, hes always been big

praying for guys in my group has really humbled me

on getting others involved in the team effort

in big ways. Ive been moved to believe that min-

of the mission of the gospel. I think of that clich

istry is a totality of ones life instead of something

motto, It takes a village to raise a child when I think

structured in time.

about the Bridge, but its just going a step further in

saying it takes a family to raise a healthy Christian.
Everyone has been influential in my growth in our
church, and it is something I am both grateful for
and wish happened in more churches.

39

Brandon Baah has a heart to lead

and serve in the community of faith
at Bridge Churcha community
that defies stereotype and embraces diversity. And while they may
come from different backgrounds,
the best way to describe it is family.

40

41

As we were growing this past summer, we started realizing that there

was a lot of confusion and ambiguity as to who we really are. So we
simplified our language to three principles: connect to God, grow with
family and serve our city.

Serve our city

child care. She now attends every week, listens to

the sermon and worships like its no ones business.

Doraly Pantaleon serves in leadership on the con-

She is now a believer, and Im praying for her bap-

nect and justice teams at Bridge Church.

tism. There is another woman from the shelter who

was baptized and is now a member, too.

hen I started attending Bridge Church, I
would only visit on Sundays and volun-

teer when I could. I spent this past summer serving

as a North American Mission Board intern for the
church doing all sorts of things. This is where I really
connected with the church and got involved. Dur-

There are people who have joined the church

because we waved to them from across the street or
gave them a free water bottle in the summer. From
the most unexpected gestures, God has brought
people to the church, and we are just His tools.

ing my internship, I volunteered at the CHiPS homeless shelter and soup kitchen, worked on the church
website, coordinated our justice initiatives, started
a babysitting ministry and became a leader on the
connect team.

I am surprised at how much I enjoy serving on the

connect team because, naturally, I am a very shy and
quiet person. The same goes for a lot of other members on the team. But God gives us the opportunity
to find joy in serving from our weakness.

There is a woman from CHiPS who came to church

after we shared during our time volunteering there
that we offer free child care at our Sunday gatherings. Since she is alone in New York City and always

K. Faith Morgan serves as managing editor for On

Mission.

has to be with her baby, she was excited to hear that

she would have rest even just for two hours a week.
She kept insisting that she wasnt interested in reli-

42

gion, was not a believer and was only going for the

Through an internship with the

North American Mission Board,
Doraly Pantaleon connected with

Learn more about becoming a member of a church planting team at namb.net/SendMe.

Bridge Church on a whole new lev-

Map the need in New York City at namb.net/NewYorkCity.

el. Pantaleon is now a leader on the

connect team.

43

FromVirginia
toVietnam
44

s the hot July sun set in Fredericksburg, Va., it rose in

Vietnam. The effects of jet lag faded as Jerry and Mary
Logan prepared to explore Ho Chi Minh City with their friends,
Chum and Coi Truong.

45

I want you to know that I have read the Bible, and I believe it is true,
Chum told the family gathered to hear him. I know that there is only one
way to heaven, and thats through Jesus.

age, and they were able to play together. Coi would

So she started praying, asking God to do something

come to my house and make egg rollswhich we

great for His kingdom and let her be a part of it.

loved. We developed a great relationship.

A new outreach
When Coi opened a beauty salon, Mary started

Members of Spotswood Baptist

PHOTOS BY MEG RUSHING

Church encourage Chum and Coi

Truong as they prepare for their trip
to Vietnam to share the gospel with
their family.

By Marie Curtis

going regularly. To Mary, this was one more way

When Mary read the book Radical by International

to stay involved in Cois life, and their friendship

Mission Board (IMB) President David Platt, she

grew. Today, they enjoy the easy kind of relationship

was encouraged in her mission. Wanting to better

where Coi can pick the onions off Marys salad or

understand how to witness in the Vietnamese com-

tease her because she doesnt like hairspray. When

munity of Fredericksburg, she called IMB.

someone describes the duo as good friends, Coi

is quick to correct, We are best friends.

Minh Ha Nguyen, a manager in IMBs research

department, suggested Mary start a home Bible

For many years, Mary assumed that Coi and Chum

study group among Vietnamese. It was a method

were believers because they often came to church.

that was proving to be an effective way to multiply

to hear him. I know that there is only one way to

But when Coi confided that they werent Christians,

the gospel among unreached people in the U.S.

heaven, and thats through Jesus.

Mary became burdened for her friends.

When Mary asked Coi if she would be interested

Since fleeing Vietnam as refugees in 1979, the

Truongs have made numerous trips back to their

For the Logans, listening to Chum and Coi share

From then on, my goal was to reach out to my

in studying the Bible, she immediately agreed, and

homeland, but this one was different. Not only were

their newfound faith with their family in Vietnam was

friend and her husband with the saving knowledge

they made plans to meet weekly in Cois home. The

their American friends joining them, but this was

an answer to many prayers.

of Jesus Christ, Mary says.

group began with the Logans, the Truongs and

The beginning of
a friendship

National Statistics

their first time to return as believers in Jesus Christ.

46

In preparing for the trip, Chum said he didnt know

47

how his family would react to the news that he and

Coi had become Christians. It might take some time

Though they only recently traveled to Vietnam,

for them to consider the gospel, but that uncer-

Mary points out that this journey really began 35

tainty didnt deter him from speaking boldly to fam-

years ago when her church helped the Truongs,

ily members and neighbors in two villages.

who were refugees, relocate to the U.S.

I want you to know that I have read the Bible, and

Thats when Coi, Chum and I became friends,

I believe it is true, Chum told the family gathered

Mary says. Our children were close to the same

50 percent of the Vietnamese people

identify as Buddhist, but only about
8 percent actually practice Buddhism.

Vietnamese is the official language of

Vietnam and uses six tones. English is
the second preferred language.

Vietnam is one of the few remaining

communist nations in the 21st century.

From back-row Baptist

to a life on mission
By Caroline Anderson

It was during this time that

Moved to take action, Milam

Jeremiah and Joy Farmer,* IMB

joined the churchs mission trip to

awyer Milam* had never

missionaries serving in East Asia,

Russia. He also shared the gospel

ventured more than 500 miles

spoke at the North Augusta

with his neighbors and lead a Bible

from his South Carolina home, but

church. That visit fundamentally

study and taught Sunday School.

in 2015, he found himself standing

changed how Milam thought

in front of a seminary class of 300

about missions. As he spoke to the

The story came full circle a few

believers in East Asia.

congregation, Jeremiah coun-

months ago when Milam joined

tered many of the misconceptions

another team from South Carolina

For years, he thought of himself as

Milam heldthat missions was

in teaching theology, hermeneu-

a pew warmer. While Milam grew

for missionaries and not for all

tics and soteriology to believers

Coi Truong styles Mary Logans hair

up going to Big Stevens Creek Bap-

Christians; that Americans needed

as part of a partnership with the

in her salon in Fredericksburg, Va.

tist Church in North Augusta, S.C.,

to take care of people in their own

Farmers in East Asiathe same

Mary started going to Cois beauty

he admits he didnt attend church

back yards before going overseas.

missionary couple who God had

salon many years ago to build a

often for much of his adult life.

friendship with Coi and share the

used to stir him to action.

gospel with her.

Jeremiah used Scripture passages

To Milam, ministry and missions

such as Acts 1:8 and Matthew

In front of that class of 300 East-

was for preachers and super Chris-

28:19-20 to illustrate that the role

Asian believers, Milam shared

tians. He gave to the Lottie Moon

of all believers is to make disciples,

what he describes as the greatest

Christmas Offering , but the work

both in the U.S. and abroad.

letter he ever receiveda note

another Christian Vietnamese couple. In time, the

She was just a brand new creature in Christ. She

his 7-year-old daughter stuck in

study grew as Coi and Chum invited their friends.

wanted to share her faith. She was so bold, and she

He asked us, When is the last

his Bible before he left for his first

Vietnamese teenagers interpreted the Bible stories

would just tell people, recalls Mary.

But a few years ago, Milam and

time you told your neighbor about

international trip to Russia.

told by Jerry and Mary.

his wife became active in his child-

Jesus? When is the last time you

hood church.

went to a bad part of your town

Dear Daddy, I love you very

Our hearts knew this was Gods will, and He would

and told somebody about Jesus?

much, please tell everyone about

accomplish His purposes through our obedience.

I was growing, and, finally, I

remembers Milam. It dawned on

Jesus.

We had no idea what to do or how to do it, but we

made a decision, Milam recalls. I

me right then. I never had, and

said, God, whatever you want me

I was ashamed. For the next few

to do, Ill do it; wherever you want

weeks, it weighed on me.

was for othersnot him.

48

me to go, Ill go.

trusted God to do through us what we could not do

Caroline Anderson writes for IMB.

on our own, Mary says.

(*Names changed)

Both Truongs were interested in reading the Bible

but were hesitant to make a decision to surrender

You can make disciples in your back yard and overseas. To learn about partnership opportunities, go to
imb.org/Send or namb.net/SendMe. For East Asia-specific needs, see EastAsianPeoples.imb.org/Connect.

to Christ. The consistent, faithful witness of friends

led Coi to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior in March
2014.

If we pray fervently and

consistently for God to give us
direction that many might
come to know Him through us,
He will make our path clear.

49

Jerry Logan and Chum Truong

spend many days fishing together
on Jerrys boat.

God used every encounter to reveal Himself to Chum. He is now changed

and knows that Jesus is the only way to heaven.

Chum took longer to consider the gospel, though

Jerry and Mary encouraged the couple to use the

he would stay up at night reading long passages of

trip as an opportunity to share their faith with family,

Scripture. He said that he wanted to know for sure

and they agreed to help.

that it was trutha fact he could no longer deny by

February 2015. He had read the Bible for himself,

Mary found clips from the JESUS film in Vietnam-

studied it in a group where he could discuss it in

ese to take with them. They practiced sharing the

Vietnamese and spent time with Christian friends.

gospel and coached Chum and Coi in how to share

God used every encounter to reveal Himself to

their testimonies. For the Logans, this trip was about

Chum. He is now changed and knows that Jesus is

watching God move in the lives of their friends and

the only way to heaven.

spread His Word to unreached peoples of Southeast Asia. It was another answer to Marys prayers

Taking the gospel back

to Vietnam

for God to do something great in His kingdom.

If we pray fervently and consistently for God to give

Engage unreached people groups in your city

Pray Without prayer, we know that we can do nothing of eternal value, says Mary Logan, who has

Soon after making their decisions to follow Christ,

us direction that many might come to know Him

Coi and Chum began to share with family and

through us, He will make our path clear, says Mary.

friends in Vietnam. Over a video call after Bible

He shows His power as we step into the unknown

study one night, Coi led her brother to the Lord.

with only faith to uphold us. We then experience

Already, the gospel was reaching their home

the working of the Holy Spirit in us. To God be the

country.

glory!

As the summer of 2015 approached, Chum and Coi

Marie Curtis is a writer and editor for IMB who trav-

invited the Logans to travel with them to Vietnam.

eled with the Logans to Vietnam.

more than 50 prayer partners for the ministry among Vietnamese in Fredericksburg, Va.

Practice Mary reached out to Chum and Coi Truong with true friendship and welcomed them into her
home and life. From that relationship, Mary was able to share the gospel and exemplify a

50

51

Christian life.

Proclaim Jerry and Mary Logan intentionally spoke truth from Scripture to the Truongs, gave them Bibles
in Vietnamese and provided opportunities for them to discuss their faith.

Partner Before starting a house group that met regularly, Mary shared her vision with her church and

View more of the Truongs and Logans story and how their friendship took them around the globe on Virginia
to Vietnam at stories.imb.org/Asia/Videos.

asked for their prayers and support. She also included a Vietnamese Christian family during the
groups formation.

For more information about how to reach internationals in your area, visit imb.org or PeopleGroups.info.

r ec ommended

Gospel Mission
Restless

Pioneering Movements

Christians often struggle to understand the purpose God has for them. They

With an estimated 267 million people in North America without a personal relation-

know God wants to use them, but they have a hard time seeing the significance

ship with Christ, its clear that business as usual in our churches wont make a dent in

of their everyday lives. Allen describes this feeling as restlessness.

the continents lostness. While theres no greater evangelistic strategy on the planet

Jennie Allen
(W Publishing Group, 2013)

Steve Addison
(IVP Books, 2015)

than church planting, starting new churches without a strategy to multiply them
Using the story of Joseph, she shows how God orchestrated the highs and lows of

wont complete the Great Commission anytime soon.

an ordinary persons life to be an extraordinary example of the greater plan God

has. Through focusing on the different threads of life, Allen helps you recognize

Its with that understanding that you must read Steve Addisons new book, Pioneer-

how God has woven your personal giftedness, past sufferings, current location,

ing Movements. The book focuses on the anatomy of church planting movements

circle of friends and individual passions, as He did in Josephs life, to strategically

that have multiplication at their core. Addison lays out a five-role plan for multiplica-

use you in His mission. By untangling these threads, and taking time to reflect on

tion that includes a seed sower, a church planter, a church multiplier, a multiplication

how God has made you and how He has previously worked in your life, you can

trainer and a movement catalyst. He particularly focuses on the latter three roles,

start to see them come together and form a clearer picture of how God is already

which spur on multiplication.

using you or could use you. Although Allen admits this is not a magic formula to
discover Gods specific purpose for your life, it is a great exercise for anyone who

The book does not specialize in giving readers a step-by-step approach to

is struggling with restlessness.

multiplication but instead tells the stories of real-life movements taking place
throughout the worldfrom China to Houston to suburban Indianapolis to

Through this multimedia Bible study, Allen uses video components to accompany

Muslim communities.

her book, along with guided journaling opportunities. Whether a stay-at-home

52

mom, a recent college grad, empty nester or a retiree, this study directs and chal-

Pioneering Movements will be particularly helpful for church leaders who long to

lenges any woman looking to discover how God can use their current circum-

claim a city or region for Christ. Through the powerful stories of God multiplying

stances for His glory.

churches throughout the world, the book will give you a fresh vision for what the
Lord may choose to do in your backyard for the glory of God.

Meredith Yackel is associate editor for On Mission and is a strategy team leader
at Redemption City Church, a church plant in Cumming, Ga.

Tobin Perry is a contributing editor for On Mission.

53

Mission Ministry
Apostolic Church Planting

Life in Community

J.D. Payne begins his book, Apostolic Church Planting, with a premise thats

Community is often misinterpreted and lacking in the lives of 21st-century Chris-

rarely debated within the evangelical worldyet rarely followed. Biblical church

tians. We think community is either simply accomplished in an hour on Sunday

planting is evangelism that results in new churches. Using Pauls church planting

morning or by surface-level Bible studies complete with elaborate food and clean

pattern seen in the New Testament as a guide, he describes what it looks like

houses. Life in Community, written by Dustin Willis, unpacks what true gospel

for churches to truly follow in the footsteps of the Churchs most famous church

community looks like for believers. Willis explains our God-given need for com-

planter.

munity, how to establish it and explores biblical community values.

Though a rather short book, Payne covers nearly everything you could want to

From Willis experience in college, marriage and his own ministry, he shares per-

know about evangelism that leads to new churches, from a definition of church

sonal accounts that encourage readers to strive for authenticity in relationships

planting to ecclesiology to training team members to a description of the stages of

and to be present even during the messiness of community. He reminds us that

church planting and beyond. Its both thorough in scope and thoroughly biblical.

it is not meant to be perfect, complete with superficial smiles and easy conversa-

J.D. Payne
(IVP Books, 2015)

Dustin Willis
(Moody Publishers, 2015)

tions; community is walking side by side through the joys, trials and difficult parts
Paynes preference is for church planting to be among unreached people groups,

of life. It is taking on each others burdens and holding each other up. Its asking

which he makes a case should be the priority for prospective missionary teams.

the hard questions and being present with people.

You wont find planters transitioning to long-term pastorates at the churches

they plant. You wont find an emphasis on top-notch childrens ministries. You

Designed for group or individual study, this book is a straightforward, yet thought-

wont find a large, already-discipled launch team that becomes the core for a new

provoking, read. Life in Community presents a challenge: do something. Every-

church start.

one has a gift that they can bring to the community table. People of all types,
including introverted or extroverted, single or married, and rich or poor, all have

54

Instead, Payne gives you a simple, highly reproducible and extensively biblical

a place around the table of biblical community.

approach for planting new churches among the planets most unreached people
groups.
Tobin Perry is a contributing editor for On Mission.

Makayala Sykes is a contributing editor for On Mission.

55

imb presidents l e t t e r

my turn

Globalization in Moscow
By Andy Leininger

In 2014, some laws were passed to limit the number

of foreigners in Russia, and they have been successfter 10 years in Siberia, my wife, Elizabeth,

ful. Applicants for residency have dropped by 70

and I moved to Moscow in December 2014.

percent since January 2015.

We are constantly impressed with the size, hustle

Russia and Moscow are in the process of understanding globalization. Russian culture is three

Every church an Antioch

times older than our U.S. culture and has been isolated for much of her history. Globalization can be
as frightening as it is exciting to as many people.
Current events have isolated Russia even more.
Russians are trying to sort out what the rest of the

By David Platt, IMB president (@plattdavid)

herds missionaries to start churches in varied places,

those churches then begin working together in the

was talking with a pastor recently who has

mission, constantly pressing forward to peoples and

30 members in his church. They dont have

places where Christ has not yet been named.

a building, yet they already have adopted an

world thinks of them, what they think of the rest of

unreached people group, and the Lord has set

Each and every local church, by Gods design,

the world and what they want the world to think.

apart a family from their fellowship to take the

exists for the spread of Gods global glory. We

gospel to that group!

are all a part of Antiochslocal bodies of believ-

In many ways, the average Russian is willing to

and bustle of Moscow. Wherever we go, we see

ers who worship, fast and pray together. As we

accept economic and financial globalization, but

I praise God for pastors who believe global mis-

do these things, God sets apart people from our

ethnic globalization is viewed with suspicion. They

sion is more important even than having a building.

churches to proclaim His glory where there is

know it is coming and have seen the economic

Nearly 3 billion people worldwide still have little to

no church. But no one church can reach all the

growth Russia has experienced in the past 10 years,

no access to the gospel. That must be intolerable to

nations alone. This is why IMB exists: to partner

but they dont know what will happen next.

us as followers of Jesus Christ.

with churches to empower limitless missionary

many Central Asians, Europeans and East Asians.

Moscow is the largest city in Europe with more than
56

teams who are making disciples and multiplying

Pray that Russians can see the opportunities global-

When you look at the pages of the New Testament,

churches among unreached peoples and places

ization and the world offers and not just the threats.

you dont see global mission boards like the IMB,

for the glory of God.

15 million people. At least 11 million are Russians

but you do see local churches active in global mis-

and Ukrainians. Tatars, Belarusians, Jews, Arme-

sion. You see the church at Antioch worshiping, fast-

I pray that God will raise up more than 40,000

57
57

nians, Kazakhs, Uzbeksand many moremake up

Andy Leininger is an IMB missionary serving in

ing and praying, and the Lord setting apart mission-

Antiochs across the Southern Baptist Convention.

the remaining 4 million people. It is a very interest-

Moscow.

aries from that local church to take the gospel to the

No church is too bigor too smallto be a part

ends of the earth. As the church sends and shep-

of Gods global mission.

ing mix that didnt exist 20 years ago.

The Leiningers are committed to exalting Christ in Moscow. Is God calling you to join His mission to share
the gospel among the many peoples who call Moscow home? Learn more at EuropeanPeoples.imb.org and

Help your church take its next missional step by exploring mobilization opportunities at imb.org and

CentralAsianPeoples.imb.org.

namb.net.

EVERY
CHURCH
ON MISSION

volume 19 | number 1