ISBN 978-1-934741-15-3 • Individuals and churches with an inward focus rather than a worldwide view can fail to carry out the Bible’s missionary imperative. • Conflicts within the denomination threaten to divert attention from missions and to undermine support for missions. • Resistance to innovative ways of doing missions impedes effective missionary activities. • Failure to provide adequate funds and personnel to meet the vast mission need in the world thwarts efforts to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). On the other hand, a bewildering complex of trends creates serious external challenges: • Rising nationalism often combined with a resurgence of world religions obstructs mission endeavors in many places. • Various worldviews that hinder evangelism, such as materialism, relativism, and universalism, also adversely affect missions. Conclusion Advancements in transportation and communication have opened up means of sharing the gospel that were not even dreamed of by early Baptists. The Internet and satellite telecommunication enable the gospel to be delivered to hitherto unreachable people groups in “all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Jet travel makes it possible for a multitude of persons to take evangelism and ministry to “the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8) on a scale never before achievable. Baptists have written and are writing a huge chapter in the story of missions. However, much yet needs to be done. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” That still is true. So let us pray, as Jesus instructed, that the Lord of the harvest “will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). As never before Baptists need to work in, give to, and pray for the mission fields of the world in order for God to use them to make a difference in the lives of millions. For further information, see cbhh.dbu.edu The basic material in this leaflet originally appeared in a series of articles in theBaptist Standard in 2005. Wanting to share information about Baptist distinctives, Noble Hurley, shortly before his death in 2004, established the Jane and Noble Hurley Baptist Identity Fund to provide for publishing the series. He asked William M. Pinson, Jr. and Doris A. Tinker to prepare the articles. The financial assistance of The Prichard Family Foundation and Vester T. Hughes, Jr. enabled this series of nineteen leaflets to be produced based on the articles. Skyler G. Tinker designed and formatted the leaflets for publication. Each leaflet is for both individual and group study. The topics in this series: (1) Baptists: Who? Where? What? Why? (2) What Makes a Baptist a Baptist? (3) The Lordship of Christ; (4) The Bible as Authority for Faith and Practice; (5) Soul Competency; (6) Salvation Only by Grace Through Faith; (7) The Priesthood of All Believers; (8) Believer’s Baptism; (9) A Regenerate Church Membership; (10) Congregational Church Governance; (11) Church Autonomy; (12) Baptist Church Life: Organization, Worship, Officers, Ordinances; (13) Voluntary Cooperation; (14) Evangelism; (15) Missions; (16) Ministry; (17) Christian Education; (18) The Application of the Gospel; (19) Religious Freedom. © Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
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