I’m so thankful for the opportunity to attend the BMM Annual Conference. As I said in my last post, I was greatly blessed by the fellowship with other missionaries. Until this week, I’ve felt like an outsider to BMM, even though I have been accepted as an appointee. I felt that I still didn’t know what BMM was all about. I did spend over a week at the BMM office for Candidate Seminar in 2007 and I have been working with BMM missionaries for the past two years at BI, but I guess it took this week to really pull me in.
Since BMM is such a long and established board, it enjoys some blessings that go along with that. On Monday night, we honored those who have gone on to be with the Lord. There were around 20 missionaries, most having passed away because of old age. On Tuesday night, we recognized those who had served with BMM for 20 years or more. There were around 70 missionaries honored, with the total number of years of service being almost 1,900!
On Wednesday night, BMM gave the William Haas (founder of BMM) lifetime service award to two people, one of whom is the first to occupy the position that I am now in–Henry Osborne. He faithfully served the Lord in Venezuela, helping the Warao Indians to get the NT in their language. Eventually (after engaging in other ministry) he became the first head consultant at BI, where he had the privilege of working with some 50 different languages around the world. It was a blessing to learn more about my predecessor. I trust the Lord will grant me as many years of faithful service and as wide a ministry!
I also enjoyed the various informal conversations with missionaries. I talked to one older couple who has been working with the Native Americans in Canada for around 40 years. They are thrilled to have 14 national pastors leading the local churches. I also had a good time talking to my golfing partner, who with his wife sold his farm which he had managed for probably 40-50 years, so that he could become a missionary to Zambia. They currently have no place in America that they own, but they evidence the joy of the Lord as they have given up all for Him.
It was also a joy to hear about the works of BMM on various fields. It was neat to hear that on some of the fields the nationals have actually formed up their own mission agencies and are sending their own people to other countries. As our director said, that’s when missions has come full circle. And lastly, it was very moving to see that 32 candidates are now preparing for future missionary service. Some will be staying in the US to plant churches, while others will be going to various countries. I’m very thankful that one candidate will be joining BI–Alex Wheeler.
I’m still in Ohio because I’ve been asked to fill in for Pastor Todd Nye, who has been suffering from some sort of facial palsy recently. A man from his church asked if I can stay in town so that I can teach SS and preach in the AM service on Sunday. I’m thankful for the opportunity!
But that also means that I have only 1 night and 1 day to do all that needs to be done in Grand Rapids–unpacking after being away for 3 months and repacking for Africa. I think it can be done, but it will be fairly rushed!
