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The Mission Strategy Division is directed by David Michel, who serves administratively with Dr. Jim Futral, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board Executive Director-Treasurer, to design a comprehensive mission strategy for churches, associations, and state convention leadership. He coordinates the efforts of six departments within the state convention structure, serves as the Acts 1:8 Challenge director, works in collaboration with associational missions directors, and maintains relationships with mission leaders in key agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Strategic planning for the Acts 1:8 Challenge shifted in 2009 to a focus on “the ends of the earth.” Ken Rhodes coordinates missionary mobilization for Mississippi Baptists. His department assisted over 3,300 short-term volunteers to serve in more than 65 nations last year. Funding for mobilization exceeds one million dollars and is derived from the Cooperative Program, the Margaret Lackey State Mission Offering, and volunteer missions. The growth in this arena reflects a deeper desire among believers to become full participants in the Great Commission, not just passive supporters. Mississippi Baptists are innovative leaders and cooperative partners with Southern Baptist mission strategists to reach “the ends of the earth.”
Enrichment programs among Associational Missions Directors and key church leaders focused on the “missional church.” Ed Stetzer, a well known Southern Baptist researcher and missiologist, led a seminar in September for AMD’s designed to help churches find ways of becoming more missional. The Mission Strategy Division and south Mississippi AMD’s hosted a one-day conference at Temple BC in Hattiesburg entitled, ReFresh. The primary focus was on worship, prayer, and spiritual nurture in the missional church. Don Wilton, Lavon Gray, and T.W. Hunt were keynote speakers. Robin Keels facilitated a mission’s day camp for children concurrent with the conference. In February, AMD’s joined state convention staff in a planning process to launch the 2011 emphasis: “Covering Mississippi in Prayer.” Solemn Assemblies, Courthouse Prayer Rallies, and Wednesday Night emphases will be featured as the plans are implemented. Several new Associational Missions Directors joined our ranks during the year: Robert Gilliland in Humphreys Association, Bill Riley in Jasper Association, Philip Price in Jackson Association, Greg Massey in Lauderdale Association, and Charles Rodgers moved from Jackson Association to Union County Association. We mourn the loss of Arthur Ben, longtime AMD of New Choctaw Association.
New ethnic task forces were formed in 2009 for Hispanics and African-Americans. Key leaders, chosen from among these people groups, agreed to serve with the state mission director to plan indigenous strategies to reach out more effectively through evangelism and church development. Both groups show promise for expanding the scope of Mississippi Baptist influence.
Kathy Burns announced her retirement as Associate Director of Woman’s Missionary Union in 2009. She also served as state women’s ministry and evangelism coordinator and her energy and creativity will be sorely missed among our churches and in WMU circles. Beverly Parrish was elected Associate BSU Director in December and began her work with students in missionary mobilization at the first of 2009. We welcome her to our staff and among our campus directors.
For the second year in a row, the Margaret Lackey State Mission Offering exceeded a total of $2,000,000. In the face of the national economic contraction, state mission giving speaks well of our people’s generosity. The 2009 theme, Wherever He Leads, reminds us that we must always stay fresh in interpreting God’s call on our lives and in our obedient response. Cooperative Program giving has been hurt by the slowdown in the economy and by unemployment in our state. Nonetheless, it is still the mainstay for missions funding across the nation and around the world. Let us pray that God uses the economic slow down to capture our attention and lead us toward faithfulness and creative effectiveness.
Mail to:
David A. Michel, Associate Executive Director
Mississippi Baptist Convention Board
Mission Strategy Division
P. O. Box 530
Jackson, MS 39205
