The national strategy implemented through a regional approach will help to identify the unique needs for evangelistic church planting within each region, taking into account such factors as demographics, geographical challenges and spiritual realities (see regional profiles pages 14-42).
In addition to the regional approach, NAMB will focus on those regions’ largest population centers. With 83 percent of the population now living in metropolitan areas, the major population centers in the United States and Canada are vital mission fields for Kingdom growth and influence.
While the work isn’t limited to these cities, NAMB acknowledges that by reaching metropolitan areas, Southern Baptists can have a greater impact on lostness in North America.
“The great cities are the mouthpiece of any nation and the place where culture is created,” says Aaron Coe, NAMB’s vice president for Mobilization and a former church planter in New York City.
“If the gospel of Jesus is going to spread around the world in the 21st century, the great cities will be its launching pad,” Coe says. “We, the church, must move back and live out the gospel. As we see people come to Christ and plant churches, then we’re going to see massive transformation happen.
“And not just in the cities. What happens there will impact the rest of the nation as that gospel influence radiates out from the cities.”
SENDING HOPE
To reach North America, the church must be multiplied into every community whether it be urban, rural, ethnic, collegiate, bohemian or homeless. Every community has someone who needs to hear the life-changing message of the gospel.
Gabriel Frigon was one of those in the 99.5 percent of Quebec’s population who wasn’t connected to Christ. But Gabriel isn’t just another statistic. He is a young man who needed new life found only in Jesus Christ. By God’s divine appointment, Gabriel met church planter Jacques Avakian. Jacques led Gabriel to Christ and now is discipling him and helping him lead a Bible study in his apartment.
Jacques is praying for a church planting movement in Quebec so that more men and women like Gabriel can step out of the darkness and into the light.
In order to multiply the church, Southern Baptists need to create, foster and grow a church planting movement within the denomination. If we begin by building a culture of reproduction into our churches, multiplication will occur in every facet of church life, whether it’s discipleship, ministry or church planting.
“Our task is to mobilize churches to plant churches,” says Ezell. “Every Southern Baptist church can be a part of planting churches and spreading the gospel throughout North America.”
As you read the following regional profiles, consider how and where God may be calling you to serve through Send North America. There’s another Gabriel out there who needs to hear the gospel. Are you ready to be sent? OM
Carol Pipes is editor of On Mission.
Watch a video about Send North America at
onmission.com. And visit
namb.net/send to get started.
ON MISSION • Summer 2011 13
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