CHURCHES FROM all over South Carolina gathered recently in Columbia to network with mission agencies from across the state, nation and world.
The Synergy Conference, sponsored by the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s missions mobilization group, brought together churches seeking to develop strategic partnerships with missions organizations looking for long-term partners in ministry.
Several churches attending have signed the Acts 1:8 Challenge, the Southern Baptist Convention’s catalyst plan for missions growth. Part of the challenge calls for the development of strategic partnerships among churches and full-time missionary personnel or missions organizations.
Mike Hamlet, pastor of North Spartanburg First Baptist Church, an Acts 1:8 church, urged those attending to get serious about sharing the gospel, no matter what the size or age of the congregation. Hamlet said one of the biggest myths is that the world is not interested in the gospel.
“The fact is, the world is interested,” he said.
Hamlet has seen a seed for sharing the gospel around the world grow in the hearts of his congregation, but he says often it starts with a small group of people.
“A missions partnership will help every part of your church,” he said, recalling how a mission team that cared for children in East Asia has helped grow the church’s preschool department. “They figured that if they could watch children in Asia, they could certainly volunteer to teach a preschool class back home.”
The conference offered breakout sessions such as “Developing an Acts 1:8 Strategy,” “Doing Missions Without Leaving Home,” “Working with Government Agencies,” and “Members to Missionaries,” among others. A Mission Marketplace also allowed participants to interact with representatives from the International and North American mission boards, as well as state and local missions representatives.
As Hamlet reminded the group, the first step to any missions ministry growth is, simply, “Begin to see the world as a mission field.”
For more information on Acts 1:8 missions partnerships, contact the missions mobilization group at 1-800-723-7242.