BBFI Missions 1950 – 1968

The Baptist Bible Fellowship began 70 years ago with 100 pastors and missionaries. In 1950, we had 19 missionaries in 4 foreign countries. In those days, they traveled by ship to the field and, even in some cases, had to live in tents. Things were very primitive in many countries of the world. Those early pioneer missionaries were real heroes and not afraid to sacrifice.

Dr. Fred Donnelson, our first Mission Director, wanted missions to be the heartbeat of our fellowship. He called missions the “Strong Right Arm of the Fellowship.” Fred and Effie Donnelson and their family went as missionaries to China in 1933, but World War II made things very difficult for them. The Donnelson family even spent time in prisoner-of-war camps. Later, when the communist forces took control, their safety was jeopardized and they, with heavy hearts, had to leave their beloved China. 

In January 1951, the Bill and Lois Logan family, who worked with the Donnelsons in China, relocated to Taiwan reaching many of the Chinese who escaped from the mainland. Soon the Logans were joined by Leland and Mary Homer and later other families to continue reaching the Chinese people with the Gospel.

When our movement began, missionaries already in other parts of Asia joined with the Baptist Bible Fellowship International. In Japan were Ike and Jane Foster, Lavern and Evelyn Rodgers, and the Alvin and Clara Marsden family. In the Philippines were Frank and Elsie Hooge and Elmer and Daisy Mae Gullion. So, our mission force began to grow in Asia. Many Americans who had fought as soldiers in the Far East saw the great need for Christ in these war-ravaged countries and went back as missionaries. Those early works are today strong, indigenous churches who are sending out their own missionaries. There are currently 139 approved BBFI missionaries in 12 countries of Asia. 

Even before the BBFI officially began, some of our missionaries were already serving in Latin America. James and Joey Smith were in Mexico beginning in 1944. The Harold and Connie DeVilbiss family went to Mexico in 1946. Miss Georgia Webb has served in Mexico since 1948. Soon after the Fellowship began, we started sending missionaries to other countries near our borders like Canada, the Islands of the Caribbean and on into Central and South America. We also sent missionaries to minister among the Native Americans on the reservations in our own country. 

In 1952 and 1953, Byron and Ruth McCartney and Dale and Wilma Barton were approved to go to Brazil. In 1954, Joe and Alta Mae Lingo were sent to Chile. In 1958, Rudy and Lorraine Johnson went to Peru. We have missionaries in most of the countries of the American continents.

Today, the Lord has blessed us with 42 missionaries on our Native American Reservations, in Canada and in the Caribbean. We have 157 missionaries ministering in Mexico and 14 countries of Central and South America. In addition, we have 17 chaplains that serve in our military branches.  During those early days, we could only dream of what God might do through the BBFI.

(to be continued)