We live in an interesting and ever-changing world. Some things are good, and some things are not so good. It is important that we realize these changes and adjust where we can and yet keep the main things the main things. The BBFI has always had as its philosophy – evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. We want see people come to salvation through Jesus Christ, be discipled and trained for the ministry, and then start churches in their own context multiplying our efforts in the Great Commission worldwide. I would like to share 10 of many trends we are seeing today when it comes to missions and the needs around the world.

1. Declining number of missionaries | This is true of the BBFI and most groups. It is reported that over 40,000 missionaries have left the field since 2000 with no one to replace them. This is why I came up with Project 938.

2. Shift from long-term missions to short-term missions | To reach the most unreached people with the gospel requires a long-term process – understanding the culture, learning the language, and building relationships. Someone living the example of Jesus daily builds lasting ministries.

For all the good that short-term missions can bring, their work alone seldom builds long lasting ministries. Therefore, we must keep our focus with career missionaries – living an example of Christ before the people. Short-term missions and trips can assist the career missionaries and their ministries – but not replace them.

A growing trend is that even “career” missionaries today rarely stay more than 5 to10 years. This is hardly long enough to effectively establish a strong, lasting work.

3. Accessibility | Roughly 60% of the world’s population live in places inaccessible by means of our traditional missions approach. Yet doors are wide open by means of teaching English and doing business. Apartment buildings don’t allow people in. How do you reach them? Countries that are restricted in allowing missionaries no doubt have contributed to why many are still not reached. In some of these places there are avenues or platforms that make it possible to be a witness, make disciples and start churches – although mostly in secret. Our brothers and sisters from other countries can and go to these places where it is hard for Americans.

It takes creative strategies and partnerships.

4. Technology explosion | Technology has transformed travel, communication, training options and more. Travel is so much easier and quicker. Communications is so much more simple.

Training options are more flexible, giving more options. Even our mindset and approach for Advanced Mission Training for our new missionaries is being adjusted to adapt to these trends and opportunities.

5. Urbanization | Cities have become the hub of society as the world population has moved from 3% urban in 1900 to a projected 80% by 2050. Cities are a strategic place for spiritual engagement which will influence families and communities. Africa is bigger than China, India, the continental U.S., and most of Europe combined. It’s expected to be the fastest urbanizing region from 2020 to 2050.

6. Immigration and migration | Millions of people are on the move, particularly migrating from the under-developed and politically unstable places. While in transition, their great need provides great ministry opportunities. Also, the world is coming to North America, many from places inaccessible to traditional missionary work. Here they are far more open to considering the gospel and befriending Christ-followers.

7. Reaching the unengaged | One out of every 1,800 Christians is a missionary. Only one out of every 1,000 missionaries sent goes to the most unevangelized peoples of our world. Of the estimated 400,000 worldwide missionaries:

        – 77% go to people who have the opportunity to hear.

        – 19% go to the unreached peoples – 2% are saved.

        – 3% go to the unengaged – no witness among them.

In a world with hundreds of unengaged people groups who have no church or witness among them, it is imperative that local churches take responsibility for establishing churches where churches do not yet exist. The implications for this strategy in the world today are overwhelming. Any strategy that includes establishing the church among unreached peoples is risky and comes at a great cost.

Yet, any mission strategy that does not include pioneer church planting among unreached peoples fails to adequately respond to the command of Christ to make disciples of all nations. There are unique hardships and sacrifices for those who go in and witness, laying down their lives in order that Christ might be proclaimed, and new churches formed. It is the love of Christ that compels us to go.

8. International Partners | Churches in other countries are sending missionaries worldwide. Our missionaries have trained those they took the gospel to and now those churches have matured and are assuming their responsibility for the Great Commission. We need to look at ways to partner with them. Together we can do so much more and multiply our efforts.

9. The global marketplace | An estimated 7 million Westerners already live and work internationally. Many of them are Christ-followers, but they lack a vision for the gospel impact they could make through their jobs. We see this as an opportunity to equip and mobilize thousands of disciple-makers into the harvest field where they already are respected and welcomed professionals. They could be connected with our missionaries. With 60% of the world closed to entry as religious workers, a weakening global vision in North American churches, we must seek new ways that complement our historic, traditional missions approach.

10. Social missions | Today it seems as though making disciples and church planting have been replaced with efforts to eradicate the world’s evil systems, diseases, oppressions and even poverty.

When this happens, the efforts of evangelism, discipleship and church planting are diminished and weakened. People now give more time and money to relief and development and other humanitarian causes than to church planting – it is called mission drift. I am not against doing things in the community to show the love of God. Many of our missionaries do this. But if people die without knowing Jesus, none of those things will matter to them.

What is at stake is the eternal destiny of the unevangelized. They need to be discipled and be part of a church ministry. They in turn go out and start new churches and send new missionaries.

BBFI philosophy: Evangelism, Discipleship/Leadership training, and Church Planting – churches start churches.

This is God’s plan, and it is called the Great Commission.

This is what the BBFI has always been about and will continue to be about. Is our world changing? YES! Do we need to make adjustments? YES! However, we keep the main things the main things.