Letter: Remote Outposts Need Funding, Too

Yet again during this season for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, I find myself disappointed with the North American Mission Board due to their continued policy of defunding Southern Baptist missionaries who live and work in rural or remote areas. Such is the case with South Carolina native David George, who is the director of missions for the Chugach Baptist Association of 54 churches, missions and church plants in the area around Anchorage, Alaska.

He will be defunded by NAMB and will no longer have a job or health insurance as of July 1, 2015. This is despite the fact that he planted five churches in 2013 and another four churches in 2014, meeting NAMB’s requirements as a church planter catalyst. Changing the rules in midstream, NAMB offered him a full-time CPC salary that is $17,000 less than he had been receiving, but with the condition that he no longer conduct any work as director of missions to make up the difference. He declined their offer and plans to continue serving his churches as a bivocational DOM.

The ministry of directors of missions to Baptist pastors and churches in states like Alaska is vital because churches tend to be smaller and located in extreme rural or isolated wilderness areas only accessible by airplane. The only person they can turn to for help, training or counsel is their associational missionary.

Dr. George will be 60 years old this year and has been serving in Baptist ministry over 30 years. He and his wife, Carole. have been in Alaska since 1999, when they moved their family there to serve Eagle River Baptist Church. He has been the DOM for Chugach Baptist Association since 2007. At home, they care for a totally disabled son, and Carole has multiple sclerosis.

NAMB needs to understand they are jeopardizing the livelihoods and careers of good men and women on the mission field under their current policies. The story Jesus told about the shepherd who left 99 sheep because he valued the one who got lost resonates with Southern Baptists. We care for unreached people in densely populated urban areas, but we also remain concerned about subsistence river fishermen, isolated villagers on remote islands, and Native American indigenous peoples.

Clay Shook
St. George

Editor’s update (May 5, 2015): David George submitted his letter of resignation as a church planter catalyst for the North American Mission Board effective July 1, 2015. He will continue to serve as director of missions for Chugach Baptist Association and is looking for a part-time ministry opportunity in order to supplement his income. “My heart is with local churches and pastors, and I cannot leave them,” George stated in his resignation letter.