Rankin notes missions progress, but ‘not there yet’

ORLANDO, Fla.—When it comes to reaching the world for Christ, Southern Baptists “are not there yet,” said Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board.

In his final report to the Southern Baptist Convention on June 15, Rankin observed he has had the honor of seeing more than 10,000 missionaries being sent to minister during a time “God has chosen to work in unprecedented ways.”

Out-going International Mission Board (IMB) president Jerry Rankin challenges Southern Baptist Convention messengers to personally engage unreached people groups with the Gospel during IMB’s presentation June 15 at the annual meeting of the SBC in Orlando, Fla. (Photo by Baptist Press)

Rankin, who retires in August after 17 years at the helm of the IMB, cited statistics that indicate progress. But, he asked, “Are we there yet?”

Success on the mission field cannot be measured by the record number of missionaries sent, church growth statistics overseas or the number of new believers baptized, Rankin said.

The only way to determine success is to determine the job that is still to be done, he continued.

“How many people have yet to be touched by the gospel?”

Rankin informed Southern Baptist messengers there are 11,000-plus distinct, ethnic people groups in the world, and more than 6,400 of those are still unreached with less than 2 percent of them who have heard the gospel.

Rankin stressed the only way these people can hear the gospel is to send missionaries who are willing to answer God’s call.

The IMB leader related that after sending out more than 900 new missionaries in 2008 and reaching a record level of 5,624 missionary personnel overseas, the IMB is having to cut back to no more than 5,000 missionaries by the end of 2010 due to budget restrictions.

And this is happening despite Southern Baptists having given almost $149 million to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in 2009, an increase of more than 5 percent over the previous year’s offering. “We will still have to restrict appointments and restrict our missionary force,” he said.

After showing a video presentation describing the work being done, Rankin challenged Southern Baptists to do more than ever before to reach the world for Christ.

“Have we walked every road, climbed every hill, told every soul?” Rankin asked.

God has blessed Southern Baptists in numbers and in resources, but we are not there yet, he said.

Rankin challenged Southern Baptists to resolve that “reaching his people with the gospel of Christ” is the calling that “God has placed on each of us.”