Report of the Board of Missions
WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! ?
This past year we celebrated one of the greatest military and technological victories in the Gulf War. A coalition was formed. Coalition leaders demonstrated their resolve by putting together the best trained, most confident army ever sent into battle. They spared no cost to provide the troops with the latest high tech weapons and superb backup support. Supplies were there when needed. Coalition leaders had One Objective–To Win The War! There were many questions about the public support for that cause. Many critics were verbally outspoken against a war. No one wanted another Vietnam defeat which was the result of little grass-roots support.
The resolve of our military leadership became contagious. Almost immediately, individuals, schools, even special neighborhood groups, launched special efforts to send cards, letters, books, even care packages, to the troops in the desert. Overwhelming public support came in to silence the criticism of the public servants. Whole communities rallied behind their sons and daughters at war. Support groups sprang up to help families and friends cope with the absence of their loved ones. Many wrapped their trees with big yellow ribbons. Many flew the American flag or the “WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS” flag. The Kansas City Star supplied subscribers with big yellow, WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS posters. Public support was awesome and eventually resulted in a very decisive victory.
Joseph M. Stowell in the April edition of Moody Monthly had these comments:
“As God’s people, we are engaged in a war of far greater proportions. It is a warfare against the hierarchies and unseen powers of the satanic hosts. This battle concerns the liberation of the eternally lost, the advancement of Christ’s kingdom, and the glory of His Name. What strikes me is the surprising lack of support for the front-line men and women who are in the trenches waging this war against the gates of hell… These soldiers of the faith desperately need us. An unbridled, enthusiastic show of support would be a great source of encouragement and would also help silence the forces that oppose the cause of Christ.”
As I think of the support given to the men and women in the Persian Gulf War, I develop within a “sanctified envy” for the same type of support for our missionary troops in the “trenches” of world missions. I think of our 89 active missionaries and 14 appointees and the need that they have for an awesome demonstration of moral and financial support. Fifteen cents per day per member of the Bible Fellowship Church coalition to completely supply all of the support needs for missionaries and appointees pales to insignificance in comparison with the financial investment of the less consequential Gulf War. What an encouragement it would be to our missionaries and appointees if they could be assured that their coalition of churches and individual supporters were ready and eager to partner with them as they go to their “field of battle.” After all, we are sending them out as our emissaries, aren’t we? I wonder, would the Gulf War have had the same outcome if the U.S. Government would have sent out their troops and support personnel to raise their own support, and the support of the cost of the war, before the U.S. Government would have sent them abroad??? Perhaps we should re-think our method of supporting our troops too! Maybe it’s time for us as churches and individuals to demonstrate our commitment to world missions by symbolically displaying WE SUPPORT OUR MISSIONARIES posters. We have available some of the best trained, most competent army of missionaries to send into the world for spiritual battle. Let’s provide them with the support and equipment needed for effective ministry. Let’s make certain the supply line is open and that there is no lack of moral or material support for our troops. Let’s demonstrate our commitment to win the spiritual war! Our “soldiers of Jesus Christ” desperately need our faithful prayer, and our moral and financial support. All-encompassing support is the major element that differentiates between a decisive victory or a debilitating defeat. Let’s hold our posters high that say,
WE SUPPORT OUR MISSIONARIES!
We want to thank the many Pastors, Missions Committees, Women’s Missionary Societies, and others who have demonstrated their commitment to God’s priority of world evangelization and their active involvement. We want to thank you for the privilege of working with you in this noble endeavor and your cooperation with the Board of Missions in so many ways. We also want to thank each one who has given so generously to the missionary outreach of your church through the Board of Missions during this economic recession. Many have done so sacrificially. We continue to make ourselves available to each church to assist them in any way that we can that together we may excel in the work of the Lord.
The Board of Missions met seven times this year and the following information indicates some of the highlights of the year between September 1, 1990 and August 31, 1991.
Missionary Candidates
This past year we have been involved with many individuals in various stages of preparation for the field. At this point we have about 28 active applicants. To some degree we worked with 51 different applicants this year of which 9 became appointees. We also worked with 20 in the appointee category, 6 of whom left for their field of ministry this year. They progressed through the process as follows (number of adults):
Applicants at September 1, 1990 (23 family units) 41
Applicants Added (6 family units) 10
Applicants Transferred to Inactive (6 family units) 10
Applicants withdrew (1 family unit) 2
Additional Applicants accepted by this Board
(5 family units)10
(Barnshaws, Bertolets, Meitzlers, Reyes, Wimbles)
Applicants at August 31, 1991 (16 family units) 28
Appointees at September 1, 1990 (6 family units) 9
Appointees who became missionaries on their field of ministry 6
(4 family units – Boones, Frankas, Pattison, Robbins)
General Statistical Report on August 31, 1991
1. Number of Sending Boards under which our missionaries are
working34
2. Number of countries in which our missionaries are working 24
3. Number of Missionaries: Family Total
Units Couples Singles Adults
Active Missionaries 50 39 11 89
Leave of Absence 1 1 0 2
Appointees 7 7 0 14
Active Applicants 16 12 4 28
TOTALS 74 59 15 133
4. Geographical Areas where our missionaries are assigned and their number
Area Families Adults Countries
U.S. 17 30 U.S.
North America 3 6 Canada, Mexico
(excluding the U.S.)
Central America 5 9 Bonaire, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, St.Vincent
South America 7 12 Bolivia, Ecuador, Suriname, Venezuela
Europe 7 13 U.K., France, Austria, Spain, Yugoslavia
Africa 7 13 Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania, Zaire
Asia 1 1 Mongolia
Southeast Asia 3 5 Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong
TOTALS 50 89 24 COUNTRIES
SUMMER MISSIONARY FINANCIAL AID
Financial assistance totalling $4,100 was given to twenty eight applicants from seven Bible Fellowship Churches to serve with recognized organizations in eight different areas of the world.
MISSIONS EMPHASIS EVENTS OF THE BOARD OF MISSIONS
The Board of Missions conducted its Fifteenth Missions Seminar for Pastors, Missionaries, and Key Lay Missions Leaders on April 16, 1991 at our Oley Bible Fellowship Church. The general theme was: “Building Local Churches That Care About The World.” Dr. Dwight P. Smith from United World Mission was the speaker. About 170 people attended this seminar.
World Missions Week at Pinebrook Bible Conference was held from August 3 – 9, 1991. Rev. Eric Crichton was the evening speaker and his general theme was: “The New Testament Church and World Evangelization.”
Conference-wide Missionary Rallies were conducted on May 9, 1991 at our Wallingford Church, September 17, 1990 at Lancaster, September 18th at Hatfield, and September 26th at Holmes, New York.
Dates To Mark On Your Calendar Of Events:
Tuesday, March 31, 1992 Pastors & Leaders Missions Seminar from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in our Sinking Spring Church. Rev. George Murray from the Bible Christian Union will be the speaker.
Thursday, May 14, 1992 Conference-Wide Missionary Rally from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at our Reading BF Church.
FISCAL YEAR OF THE BOARD OF MISSIONS
The fiscal year of this Board has been from September 1 to August 31 and it has been determined that we will retain this fiscal year. We would like to point out that because of the fact that we have only 20 days from the close of our fiscal year to the date it is to be submitted for circulation to Annual Conference, it is impossible to keep our accounts open beyond August 31. Financial statements must be completed and reviewed by our CPA during these 20 days. This year receipts from seven churches were received, totalling $38,200, which was for the period prior to Sept. 1. It will not be possible to report this income to this Annual Conference but will be reported in 1992.
ANNUAL REPORTS FROM MISSIONARIES
The annual reports from missionaries will be published in a book entitled Missionary Directory and Annual Ministry Reports of the Bible Fellowship Church Missionary Family 1991. This will be a pictorial directory. We anticipate that this book will be ready for distribution at this Annual Conference. We have printed a limited quantity which will be distributed to each of the churches in proportion to church membership. This year these books are being made available to you free of charge for distribution to your members as you so see fit. We are enclosing an envelope in each book encouraging recipients to make a contribution to enable the Board of Missions to continue this ministry of providing these books free of charge.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE 108TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
1. WHEREAS, the three year term of Roy A. Hertzog as Executive Secretary of the Board of Missions has been completed; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Missions has re-elected him to his third term at the March 19, 1991 Board meeting; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that we ratify the election of Roy A. Hertzog as Executive Secretary of the Board of Missions.
Board of Missions: R. C. Reichenbach, Chairman; Roy A. Hertzog, Executive Secretary; Charles J. Albert, Jr., Financial Secretary; Kenneth F. Barber; Robert Breitegam; Leroy O. Herb; Gerald Schlonecker; Thomas P. Shorb; Ralph M. Soper; and James Sunday.