SBC Outreach

The 158th Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting took place this week in Phoenix, AZ. The SBC is the nation's largest protestant denomination and often serves as an influence of Christian thought and behavior in the United States. The major news coming from the SBC's 2011 gathering was the pledge to plant churches within the world's unreached people groups. These people groups have no viable indigenous Christian representation within their social/physical borders. Northern Yemen serves as a prime example. Its population is approximately 8 million, but there are only an estimated 30 Christians within the given population. Read that sentence again. Only 30 believers serving a population of some 8 million! While there are some exceptions, missionary research indicates that 2% of a specific population need to be Christians in order for churches to be established, leaders developed, and the evangelistic outreach sustained. I applaud the SBC for making this global need a priority. I pray that other North American churches that are non-SBC, such as the one I presently serve, will understand that this is not a denominational issue, but rather a biblical command from the very mouth of Jesus: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Now may we boldly obey.