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Recent trends and Baptist missions: American Christians, including most Baptists, have typically been among the most productive, effective, and committed mission supporters and missionary senders, and they still are.


However, the missions landscape has begun to shift. In the March 2006 issue of Christianity Today Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 145,000 and readership of 304,500. , Rob Moll reported that South Korean churches now send one missionary for every 4.2 churches, and they are sending out 1,110 new missionaries annually, which means they are now sending out as many new missionaries each year as all the countries in the West combined. South Korea presently sends 34 percent of its missionaries to unreached people groups "Unreached people group" is a term used most frequently among Evangelical Christians to refer to any ethnic or linguistically distinct culture that does not have a history of Christianity. , and many of the missionaries go directly from churches and receive no support from denominational de·nom·i·na·tion  
n.
1. A large group of religious congregations united under a common faith and name and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy.

2.
 agencies. One pastor, Samuel Kang, is "leading an ambitious 25-year plan to help South Korea send out more missionaries than any other country." South Korean Christians are surely ambitious, and they are determined to share the gospel throughout the world.

Other non-Western countries are also stepping up their missions efforts. In 1973, just over 3,400 non-Western, cross-cultural missionaries served on mission fields. In 2006, that number has grown to 103,000. The day of western missionary dominance seems to be coming to an end.

While Baptists should celebrate the work of South Korean and other non-Western Christians, it does challenge Baptists in America to recommit re·com·mit  
tr.v. re·com·mit·ted, re·com·mit·ting, re·com·mits
1. To commit again.

2. To refer (proposed legislation, for example) to a committee again.
 themselves to the work of missions. Several articles in this issue of the journal examine recent trends in Baptist mission efforts. T Thomas, Bruce Gourley, and Mike Stroope analyze Baptist missions in recent decades and offer glimpses into the future of Baptist missions. In addition, Carla Romarate-Knipel introduces Baptist missions work in the Philippines; Delane Tew overviews Baptist missionary funding; and Mandy McMichael focuses on the work of the Ann Hasseltine Missionary Society. Also included is the missions sermon preached by Walter B. Shurden on April 22, 2005, following his acceptance of the Judson-Rice Award given to him by the board of Baptists Today. Two final articles by Blake Killingsworth and David Rowe David Rowe is the name of several people:
  • David E. Rowe, American science historian
  • David C. Rowe, American psychologist
  • David Rowe-Beddoe, Baron Rowe-Beddoe, British politician
Dave Rowe may refer to:
 explore the topics of Texas Baptists and school desegregation The attempt to end the practice of separating children of different races into distinct public schools.

Beginning with the landmark Supreme Court case of brown v. board of education, 347 U.S. 483, 74 S. Ct. 686, 98 L. Ed.
 and developments in Southern Baptist Noun 1. Southern Baptist - a member of the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention - an association of Southern Baptists

Baptist - follower of Baptistic doctrines
 stewardship.

(1.) Rob Moll, "Missions Incredible," Christianity Today (March 2006): 28

Pamela R. Durso

Editor
COPYRIGHT 2006 Baptist History and Heritage Society
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2006, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Article Details
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Author:Durso, Pamela R.
Publication:Baptist History and Heritage
Article Type:Editorial
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Mar 22, 2006
Words:339
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