What is the IMB?

The Content

The International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention serves Southern Baptists in carrying out the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) to make disciples of all nations.

Formerly known as the Foreign Mission Board, the IMB was formed in 1845. Roughly 179 years later, the organization has maintained its goal to work together toward “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes, and peoples and languages,” knowing and worshiping Jesus (Rev. 7:9). The International Mission Board sends disciples of Jesus Christ to other parts of the world to be faithful to Christ and the Church—primarily sending people to unreached people groups and places with the Gospel.

The goal is to work alongside churches to send personnel and alongside others to participate in God’s work in the world. The organization sends personnel to a team on the field through their local church. The IMB sends in teams so that participants would not be alone and to encourage the flourishing of missionaries in the area of the world where they are living. Because of the generosity of many Southern Baptists, the IMB stewards time, resources, and talent with intentionality. Most of the personnel are fully funded through the IMB. The strategy that missionaries use in different parts of the world is known as the Missionary Task. This allows missionaries to know where to begin in their given context and when to exit.

The Context

Every believer is commanded by Jesus to share the Gospel through evangelism with the people in their circles of influence. However, the cross-cultural missionary is drawn to sharing the Gospel in a different context. To provide a strategy for this work, the IMB outlines six components of the missionary task through the Scriptures: entry, evangelism, discipleship, healthy church formation, leadership development, and exit to partnership.

1. Entry: This begins with personnel entering the area, establishing an identity, and learning the language.
2. Evangelism: Sharing Christ with all the people the missionaries can.

1. Discipleship: Those coming to faith in Christ are taught to obey Jesus and His teachings.
2. Formation of healthy churches: Believers begin gathering in local churches or gatherings.
3. Leadership Development: This encourages local leadership and trains healthy leaders.
4. Exit to partnership: The Missionary Task should be to give ownership to the local believers at the appropriate time. These places can be great partnerships with churches that send short-term trips.

The Commitment

Due to the sensitivity required to cross cultures to share the Gospel, the IMB is committed to biblical contextualization and indigenization. Missionaries work hard to become a part of the culture, adopt the posture of lifelong learners, and seek to communicate the Gospel in their language. In addition, missionaries seek to build up self-sustained local churches made of national believers. The IMB's priority is unreached areas of the world. Their personnel set goals knowing that God gives growth in any individual. Their role and responsibility is to walk in the Spirit and share the Gospel when and where possible.

The Conclusion

1. Pray  
   
   • for the organization as it grows to remain faithful and share the Gospel with all its resources.
   • for those on the field who are returning to America after serving overseas to be reminded they have a community of believers in their area to lean on
   • for those preparing to go on the field to be reminded, it is God’s work they are joining in
2. Participate in sending missionaries overseas by asking their stories and reading about what God is doing through various organizations overseas.

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