wfn.org | ABCUSA: BIM Affirms New Missionary Partnership Teams

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

by Eleanor Lundy, American Baptist International Ministries

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 11/16/03)--The Board of
International Ministries, at semiannual meetings here, has affirmed
Missionary Partnership Teams (MPTs), a new opportunity for all American
Baptists to become personally involved in the mission and ministry of
American Baptist missionaries. MPTs will encourage the building of closer
relationships between churches, missionaries and regions, and will have the
potential to significantly expand International Ministries' opportunities to
engage in global mission. 

In a nearly unanimous vote, the board agreed to "affirm an emerging model
for Missionary Partnership Teams and implement the model as staff and board
continue to develop it in consultation with the (American Baptist) churches,
regions, and our missionaries." 

MPTs will offer new, grassroots opportunities for American Baptists to
become involved in international mission and to build supportive
relationships with their missionaries. MPTs are small groups of people from
one or more churches, gathered by missionaries themselves, who will provide
reliable spiritual, emotional and financial support to one or more
missionaries. The MPT will seek to build a network of congregations and
individuals to come alongside the missionary to pray for, participate in,
and financially support the ministry. International Ministries staff will
play a key role in forming, coaching and supporting the teams. 

MPTs will be phased in over the next seven years. This new direction does
not require missionaries to single-handedly raise their own support. It does
require missionaries to form and work with their MPTs to build relationships
with congregations and individuals who desire to pray for, participate in,
and financially support their ministries. 

The Rev. Hictor M. Cortez, International Ministries' executive director,
noted that Missionary Partnerships Teams are both a dramatic paradigm shift
and a natural outgrowth of the work of International Ministries in living
out its Go Global vision. "We are committed 150 percent to the
implementation of Go Global-global mission is at the core of ABC life,"
Cortez said. He emphasized that MPTs will enhance, not replace, traditional
American Baptist offerings such as the World Mission Offering and annual and
regional offerings, and United Mission.

"God has said, 'This is the way; walk in it,'" Cortez said, citing Isaiah,
chapter 30. "We will answer those who cry out for help, as we walk from
Jerusalem to a place of great harvest in the name of Jesus Christ." 
 
The board devoted considerable time to discussion, dialog and small group
process around benefits of and concerns about the new approach. The Rev.
Stan Crews, recently named International Ministries' MPT coach, emphasized
that MPTs are a work in progress and that concerns would be fully addressed.

During the board meetings Cortez met with regional executive ministers to
seek their counsel on this new direction.  Cortez made a commitment to have
IM staff visit with regional leadership to discern ways that MPTs can best
be contextualized to each region's identity and culture in accordance with
the budget covenant.

The board approved a $14.1 million budget for 2004 that reflects $12.6
million in regular operating income and a $1.5 million special draw from its
Go Global endowment fund. The board was informed that 2004 will be the last
year that this special Go Global subsidy will be available. 

International Ministries earlier announced that it faces serious financial
challenges, with a projected deficit in 2004 of some $3 million. IM has
reduced staff by approximately 20 percent and made program cutbacks in order
to reduce the deficit budget to $1.5 million in 2004.	 

The board elected as president the Rev. Elizabeth A. Burger, pastor of
Freedom In Christ Baptist Church, Middlesex, N.J. Vice president is the Rev.
Dr. Victor R. Gordon, pastor of First Baptist Church Huntington
Beach/Fountain Valley, Calif. Concluding their terms as officers of the
board were the Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick G. Cohall of Lenox Road Baptist Church,
Brooklyn, N.Y., outgoing president, and Mrs. Martha M. Sorenson of First
Baptist Church, Lincoln, Neb., vice president. Twelve retiring board members
were recognized for their service. 

K/2003ABNS/03ABN146

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org