-by Steve Bender, Associate Mission Director

From the founding of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International in 1950, missionaries have followed the Biblical authority of being sent from one’s local church in fulfilling the call of God upon their lives.  However, the Great Commission given to Christians to go into all the world is too big for one local body of believers to accomplish alone. Today, the monthly financial contributions from over 3,000 local churches support 753 adult BBFI missionaries.

After meeting the standards of the BBFI and formal “Approval” by pastors, missionaries embark on the “deputation” process of raising both prayer and monthly financial support.  Simply stated, these men and women of God contact pastors asking for the privilege to visit their church to present themselves and their ministries to the congregation of believers.  Their prayer is that these churches, led by the Holy Spirit, would commit to help them take the gospel to the people to whom God has called them through prayer and financial support.

Following this process the past 66 years has worked well in protecting the Biblical authority and autonomy of the local church in sending missionaries of their choice. The results have been hundreds of missionaries sent, thousands of people led to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and over 18,000 churches outside of the United States established.

While the cost of one eternal soul can never be valued, there has been a significant increase of cost involved in the deputation process.  Based on deputation data collected over the past six years, it takes the average BBFI missionary family of four about 39 months to raise their financial support.  With the average financial cost of $188,000 incurred per family while on deputation coupled with the physical, emotional and spiritual stress involved, the task can be overwhelming.  Yet, these missionaries, called by God, continue with great resolve to complete the mission.

For years, the question has been raised – “What can we do to shorten deputation?”  While this topic has been frequently revisited and several solutions offered, the problem, however, remains – it takes too long for our missionaries to get on the field.  Various reasons have been given as to why, some of which include: the economy, fewer church services per week for missionaries to present their ministry, and a difference in missions giving philosophies — “project orientated” as opposed to monthly support.

In most instances, there is no substitute for a minister of the gospel living daily among and pouring themselves into the lives of the people to whom God has called them.  Perhaps if churches would be prepared to add two missionaries a year to their missionary family the month they are “Approved” without requiring them to come to their church, the deputation process could be drastically shortened and thousands of dollars saved, giving missionaries the opportunity to get to the field much sooner and share the gospel story with those who need to hear.  Maybe it’s time to stop talking and Just Do It!