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Doug Hutcheson Joins 91 Other New IMB Appointees
Sunnyvale, Texas (BP) — 92 IMB appointees were commissioned at a service
at Sunnyvale First Baptist Church, Sunnyvale, Texas. Among those was
Doug Hutcheson, former Evangelism Team Leader for the Montana Southern
Baptist Convention.
"Why does
God want the nations to know Him?" asked IMB President Jerry Rankin of
more than 2,500 people gathered for the service at Sunnyvale First
Baptist Church.
"It's because of the tragedy of lostness. Here in America we just can't
imagine what it means to live in a place that's never heard the name of
Jesus. To live a lifetime in futile search for your eternal destiny,
never knowing that there's a Savior who died for you.
"We're so grateful ... that you 92 new missionaries are taking a stand.
Taking a stand in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ; taking a stand on
behalf of the power of the Gospel to penetrate a lost world."
The new missionaries represented a diverse cross-section of Southern
Baptist life, coming from churches across the country and many different
walks of life. But whether young or old, single or married, with a
seminary degree or only a GED, Rankin noted a common thread in many of
their testimonies – a sense of urgency.
"Once God impacts your life with the lostness of the world you just
can't turn away from it," Rankin said.
Many of
the new missionaries spoke about confronting darkness -– and hearing
God's call to missions for the first time –- on volunteer mission trips
with their church. Others shared their struggles to leave behind family,
friends and the comforts of home for the mission field.
Frank
Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of First
Baptist Church of Taylors, S.C., also spoke at the appointment service.
Quoting Hebrews 12, Page praised the new missionaries and challenged
churches to faithfully support them.
"We have a purpose and part of that purpose is to undergird the work of
these dear missionaries," Page said. "My challenge is to step up to the
plate more than ever before.
To pray, to give, to come alongside and go with these missionaries who
are being sent to the ends of the earth.
"Why? Because we're a 'Jesus' people. We're a 'Jesus' church. We're a
'Jesus' convention. And that means we want the name of Jesus to be taken
to every corner of every spot of this globe. We will not be satisfied,
we will not back away or back off until every man, woman, boy and girl
gets a chance to love the Lord Jesus." |
