Back Brentwood Baptist hosts IMB service to send out 101 missionaries

May 25th, 2012

Brentwood Baptist hosts IMB service to send out 101 missionaries

Beginning last Sunday, May 20, we welcomed 101 missionaries and their families onto our campus.

Throughout the morning, they joined our worship services and shared their stories with nearly 50 children, student, and adult LIFE Groups—including those at The Church At Station Hill. The feedback and impact they made was overwhelming.

This was leading up to the International Mission Board's Missionary Appointment Service that took place on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Worship Center, which turned out to be the fourth largest group to be commissioned in IMB's 167-year history.

Before the service, Brentwood Baptist hosted a dinner for IMB employees and the missionary appointees. At that time, the Brentwood Baptist Missions Seekers, a group of 20-30 families in our church that are exploring full-time missions, got to sit down and pick the brains of those who've gone before them.

Scott Harris, Brentwood Baptist Missions Minister, said, "I'll be following up with several of our church members who approached me about full-time missions after the service. I believe that some from our church might be called out as a result of this catalytic event."

Nearly 1,500 people came to witness the service as the Brentwood Baptist Worship Choir & Orchestra led the congregation in worship, IMB President Tom Elliff shared a message, and the missionary appointees shared their testimonies, including where they've been and where they're going.

Being sent out all over the world—from Asia to South America and from Europe to Africa—the missionaries were left with this question from Elliff: "What does the cross mean to you?" He challenged them, and those attending, to be obedient then and there to God's call in doing the next thing in their lives.

Scott Harris, Missions Minister at Brentwood Baptist, said, "The choir and orchestra were especially anointed. Several IMB staffers shared with me that it was, by far, the most powerful worship experience they've ever experienced at one of these services. I believe them!"