May 14, 1998 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - An article in the April 15, 1998, issue of the Baptist Bible Tribune entitled "Leading in Missions" notes that the number of Independent Baptist foreign missionaries exceeds the number of foreign missionaries of the Southern Baptist Convention. The report is based on research which appears in the 1998-2000 Mission Handbook (17th edition) combined with additional research done by the Baptist Bible Tribune.

The combined research tallied the foreign missionaries who work with 16 agencies identifying themselves as Independent Baptist. These are as follows: Baptist Bible Fellowship International (BBFI), Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE), Baptist Mid-Missions, Baptist International Missions Incorporated (BIMI), Central Missionary Clearinghouse, Baptist World Mission, World Baptist Fellowship, Evangelical Baptist Missions, Macedonia World Baptist Missions, Maranatha Baptist Missions, Independent Baptist Fellowship International, Baptist Faith Missions, International Baptist Missions, Baptist Missions to Forgotten Peoples, Baptist Evangelistic Missions Association (BEMA), and Fairfax Baptist Temple Missions.

The total number of foreign missionaries associated with these agencies is 3,640. The total number of foreign missionaries with the Southern Baptist Convention is 3,482.

The number of Independent Baptist foreign missionaries is actually much higher than the 3,640. There are other Independent Baptist missions agencies which are not counted in this tally, and there are a large number of strictly independent missionaries who work directly out of their home churches and who are not associated with any other agency. I personally know of dozens of such missionaries, and I would guess that there are at least 350 of them and probably many more than that (though it would be extremely difficult to obtain anything like an accurate total of the independents).

Assuming there are at least 350 independents, and I believe this is a safe assumption, the total number of independent Baptist foreign missionaries is at least 4,000.

There are roughly 40,000 Southern Baptist congregations, whereas the number of independent Baptist churches is roughly 10,000. In spite of this, research has shown that among independent Baptists there is one missionary for every 2.3 churches, whereas in the SBC, there is one missionary for every 11.5 churches. Independent Baptist churches average $13,500 per year for missions, whereas SBC churches average only $5,500 in missions giving.

The Baptist Bible Tribune article made an important observation as to why there are far more missionaries per church sent out by Independent Baptist churches and why there is far more missions giving by Independent Baptist churches compared with Southern Baptist churches.

"First, there is the fundamentalist factor. Independent Baptists are almost totally fundamentalists. They believe the Bible is the totally inspired Word of God. They also emphasize Baptist distinctives and focus on the responsibility of the local New Testament church to carry out the Great Commission. These views create a strong motivation for world missions. The SBC is an admitted mixture of fundamentalists, evangelicals and modernists. A lessened missionary involvement is the result.

"Second, there are the different approaches taken by the independents and the SBC. There is greater missionary involvement among the independent Baptists because they see missions as a local church matter. ... Independent Baptists believe the local church is the headquarters for world missions. To the independents, the missionary is called, supported and sent by the local church. That is why the missionaries are supported individually by the independents and why their organizations require missionaries to have a 'sending church.' This is another reason independent Baptists have so many missionary organizations. Local churches determine which missionary from which organization to support. The SBC approaches foreign missions as a program of the denomination. Local churches and members in the SBC are taught to support the 'missions program.' As a result, personal involvement and motivation for missions suffers. At least, that is what the facts concerning career missionaries and per-church missionary giving suggest."

None of this surprises me, but it also does not greatly encourage me. Why are independent Baptist churches only producing one missionary for every 2.3 churches? This means MANY independent Baptist churches are not producing ANY missionaries to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Why not? Don't tell me it is because the Lord isn't calling many to be missionaries. That is the only Commission we have from the Lord, and He certainly hasn't changed His mind about what is important in this present age. Why are so many North American churches not obeying His call? Surely there are many factors, but worldliness would have to be near the top of any list. A church which is not seeing its young people and others surrender to the call of Christ for world missions is a worldly church. It is love for the things of world which kills the zeal to reach the world for Christ. All too often our kids know more about Hollywood movies and sports heroes than they do about great missionaries and preachers of the past and present. I speak this to our shame.

See "When Was the Southern Baptist Convention Delivered from Liberalism?" in the Southern Baptist section of the End Times Apostasy Database at the Way of Life Web site -- http://www.wayoflife.org/