Report of the
Board of Missions
Our President just signed into law the largest economic stimulus bill in the history of the United States. The Stock Market was not impressed and fell another 300 points.
It may seem odd to begin a missions report with the above sentences! However as we all face the uncertainties of the financial future of the USA, we are forced to remember that we are dependent upon God. We could rightly say that just like our salvation, our ministry outreach is not of ourselves, but is a gift of God!
Already, nearly a half-dozen churches have been forced to cut or delete their financial commitment to the Board of Missions. Many churches are struggling to honor their financial partnerships with the missionaries they support. Most investments designed for future use, like missionary supplemental aid and emergency grants, have hit an all-time low. While the world cries “financial crisis,” it is imperative for us to proclaim “spiritual opportunity”.
In our arrogance, we may have lost sight of the fact that every good and perfect gift is from above, and not the result of economic good fortune. We have been living on an illusive bubble of strong investments and the generosity of the churches and donors because they too were experiencing financial good times. Now these times are gone! We are forced to humbly admit that nothing is lasting except grace – God’s rich grace! Now we have an opportunity as a board and a fellowship of churches to watch God provide.
It is not a time of fear, but a time to do what we should have been doing all along – looking to God for His gracious outpouring. “Let go and let God” is no longer a cliché; it must become a lifestyle for us in the BFC!
In this very week as I watched the markets tumble, I also watched God at work. A young couple and a young man were accepted into the BOM missionary family. Another couple was commissioned and arrived on their field of service. A couple sought advice on how to use their skills for mission outreach as they are newly retired. A long-time career missionary took over the directorship of a missionary agency. And as I am writing this paragraph, an appointee called to say that he is at 70% support after just 12 weeks of deputation. All of this within a week! All to point out anew that God is at work and we must keep His great commission focus.
Short term ministry continues to be a priority for many of our BFC churches. God continues to call those from the host of people who spend part of their summer or vacation serving our missionary family to full time career missions. Nearly every BFC applicant for career missions states that it was short term missionary service that sensitized their hearts to God’s calling in their lives. The BOM continues to provide resources for short term ministry through the services of Nelson Randolph and Chris Merrick. The weekly e-publication, “Let’s Fish,” promotes prayer and resources for short term ministry.
Our missionary families that face unexpected, urgent financial needs may find assistance with the BOM Buttress Fund. This Fund has grown because of the generous gifts of concerned BOM friends and dear saints that recognized the need to include the BOM in their estate planning. The BOM financial statement demonstrates the fund’s resources and the substantial grants that were awarded to our missionary families this year. Missionaries may apply for grants in January and June; emergency applications are also accepted for immediate distribution.
The Tanzania Project is now a reality! We are now on site with our organizing team and the first missions team is expected to arrive in the village of Ruaruke, Tanzania, this summer. We already have applicants for teams being assembled in the following two years for additional villages!
Of course, I cannot talk about what God is doing through our missionary family without mentioning the sacrificial giving of the BFC churches and individual BFC members. Our financial report bears witness to this commitment. The finances needed to follow our Lord’s command to go into His entire world are astronomical, yet feasible, when God’s people follow His prompting to give. We praise God for all of our BFC churches that have sacrificially taken on this challenge. One hundred percent of every dollar given to the BOM designated for a BOM missionary is passed on to the missionary; no fees are assessed. In light of this, we praise God for those churches and individual BFC members (we call them Collegium) who continue to support the BOM. Without that faithful support, we could not serve our missionary family and the churches.
I encourage you to read over the roster of BFC missionaries included in this report. Notice the variety of ministries to which God has called them. Review the financial statements and see how we attempt to give accounting of every cent of the sacrificial gifts from our churches and members. Then, please realize that prayer remains the most important activity of the BFC church. I encourage each church to become proactive in promoting the Missionary Prayer Calendar. We desperately need the continued corporate prayer of the BFC.
Below is a summary of the BOM services:
1. Missionary care, including field visits
We are available and willing to meet with those considering missionary service and with our missionaries who need advice or counsel regarding their ministry. Visits to fields of ministry are undertaken to assist and encourage our missionaries as needs and opportunities arise.
2. Seminars
The BOM offers a host of informational resources to BFC churches.
Design Your Impact Workshop This five-hour seminar enables church leaders to discover their congregation’s key characteristics and resources (their DNA) and moves toward identifying a strategic missions focus that can unleash powerful, new, global dynamic from their church.
Knowing God’s Will Seminars are conducted each year on a denominational level at a Fall Retreat Within a Retreat (RWR) held at Pinebrook. This information is also useful as a weekend course for a youth group in a local church setting.
P.O.M. (Parents of Missionary) Retreats This weekend retreat seminar is designed to keep the parents of our missionaries on track with the ministry of their sons and daughters (and grandchildren) overseas.
Culture Link Seminars is a program that prepares your short-term missionary teams to be fully prepared for ministry. This is a necessary seminar for any church serious about getting the most from a cross-cultural experience.
Speaker Resource The office personnel remain available for mission emphasis in local congregations. This includes all stated public worship services, Sunday School, mission conferences, and special events. The office also provides a complete listing on our website (see #3) of our missionaries that are currently available for your missionary event needs.
Mentoring Services are available to assist a church’s Board of Elders and Missions Committee in developing a comprehensive, long range, and a balanced outreach plan that uses every member in God’s global cause.
Short-term Planning Advice and Assistance is designed to help you and your church partner with your missionaries. Chris Merrick (Short-Term Projects Coordinator) and Nelson Randolph (Short-Term Partnership Coordinator) will assist with short term missions trip plans.
3. Prayer Calendar
This publication provides current prayer information for your congregation. The new format is an attractive, readable prayer aid and is offered to churches at a reduced rate. Nearly 1900 are sent out each month.
4. Board of Missions Website
The BOM website is quickly becoming a focal point of information for everyone interested in missions in the BFC. This site continues to grow with useful information for the church leadership and anyone seeking God’s direction for possible service through the Board of Missions. Personal support needs and biographical information are continually updated and available 24 hours a day. There are also helpful links for planning short-term or career- missions involvement. You may log onto the site at www.bfcbom.org.
5. Email Subscriber Lists
Daily Prayer is a daily e-mail that allows subscribers to view the Prayer Calendar request for the day, in addition to receiving up-to-the-minute news and prayer requests from the field.
Friday Prayer is an in-depth prayer document produced each Friday and sent by e-mail. This communication, designed for missionary-to-missionary contact, is also available to a select group of other prayer partners.
Tanzania Project Prayer Guide is a monthly guide to promote the Tanzania Project
“Let’s Fish” is a newsletter, produced each Wednesday, and is designed to keep those interested in short-term missionary trips and possible career missionary involvement on the cutting edge. It is an outlet for the exchange of ideas, as well as prayer and ministry opportunities. This document enjoys a readership from ages fourteen years through adult, and includes pastors, missionaries, youth leaders, mission chair persons, laymen, and students. There is a readership of nearly 250 each week. A full archive is available on the BOM website.
6. May Missionary Rally
This annual gathering of missionaries and Bible Fellowship churches provides a world-wide panorama of missions, both local and overseas. It is an opportunity for networking and interaction among individuals as they endeavor to draw attention to God’s heart for the World in their churches. A children’s program for Kindergarten through 8th grade has become a successful part of this day. This year’s rally will be held May 14th, 2009 at Bethel BFC in Emmaus.
7. Missionary In-Residence at Pinebrook Bible Conference Summer Family Camp
The BOM provides a missionary family for each of the seven weeks of family camp to promote missions in the Bible Fellowship Denomination. Each week the campers have opportunity to interact with a missionary from the BFC at a very personal level. Additionally, the missionaries have opportunity to present their ministries during public meetings.
8. Office Activities
The office remains the hub for donor and church information and financial processing. We compile and maintain all the necessary information to keep individuals and churches abreast of the financial needs of the entire missionary family. Receipting of financial donations is meticulously recorded for both the donor’s and the missionary’s records. Addresses and birthdays are kept up to date.
Thank you for your partnership in ministry!
Dana E. Weller
Director
Candidates and Commissionings
The local church continues to produce world-bound missionaries. This year the Board of Missions processed a number of new applications and approved candidates: Scott Evans, John & Kathy Hoover, Matt & Sukey Lynsky, Rebecca Masessa, Rob & Lauren Munden, John & Faith Solt, Rebecca Zurbrick, commissioned missionaries: David & Kristy Kelly, John & Nancy LoRusso, Sandy Mitchell, Jason Raines, Nelson & Robyn Randolph
Individuals Ending Their Active Missionary Service
Gena Bulgrien
Aaron & Marlene Hoffman
David & Rosemarie Manney
Kim Stengele
Craig & Mary Tress
Annual Reports From Missionaries
Annual activity reports from missionaries will be sent out by the missionaries themselves. These reports for 2008 will be sent out in early 2009.
Date To Mark On Your Calendar Of Events:
Thursday, May 14th 2009 Conference-Wide Missionary Rally 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Bethel BFC, Emmaus, PA
Board of Missions: Ralph M. Soper, Chairman; Dana E. Weller, Director; Daniel G. Oswald, Financial Secretary; Robert W. Davies, Secretary; Donald S. Faust, Sue Figard, Kevin W. Kirkpatrick, Donald Kuntzman, Thomas P. Shorb, Craig Tress, Philip E. Yerrington
Missionary Units as of December 31, 2008
General Statistical Report on December 31, 2008
1. Number of Sending Boards under which our
missionaries are working. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
2. Number of countries in which our missionaries
are working. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
3. Number of Missionaries:
Family Couples Singles Total
Units Adults
Active Missionaries 77 62 14 138
Leave of Absence 0 0 0 0
Appointees 13 9 4 22
Active Applicants 3 2 1 5
TOTALS 93 73 19 165
4. Geographical Areas where our missionaries are assigned and their number
Area Families Adults Countries
| USA | 35 | 65 | United States of America |
| North America | 4 | 8 | Canada, Mexico (excluding U.S.) |
| Central America | 3 | 5 | Costa Rica, Guadeloupe |
| Caribbean | 1 | 2 | Bonaire |
| South America | 3 | 5 | Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay |
| Europe | 17 | 32 | Austria, France, UK, Greece, Hungary, Spain, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Czech Republic, Spanish Canary Islands |
| Africa | 12 | 20 | Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Cameroon, Togo, Zambia |
| Asia | 10 | 18 | Mongolia, Kazakhstan, India, Thailand, Ukraine, Japan |
| Southeast Asia& Pacific | 4 | 5 | Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia |