On Mission Blog

Preschoolers making a difference in Indianapolis

Mike Montgomery — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:29:56 GMT

When the preschoolers of W.E.E. Care Preschool & Kindergarten at Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis arrived with their families on the unseasonably hot morning of May 19, 2012, they already knew in their hearts they were to be a part of something important. For months, they had worked to gain financial pledges from family and friends for their 2012 charitable walk-a-thon

The long-term impact of short-term missions

Mike Montgomery — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:29:14 GMT

Ed Handkins stands with his then girlfriend, Donna, as he prepares to leave for an unforgettable summer in Alaska in 1963.

Our International Mission Trip

Peter Ward — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:49:00 GMT

The Christian band I’m in (No Other Name) decided a few years ago we want to really mean the words we sing when we encourage people to be all things to all men ("Lead You to the Cross") or to let God use them to set captives free ("Let It Start with Me").

How to channel your leisure activities into a personal ministry to the needy

Peter Ward — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:27:58 GMT

How to channel your leisure activities into a personal ministry to the needy By Lorie Newman Serving others is a part of the Christian walk. But so many times we don’t feel like we have interests or gifts that will

My Crossover experience

Peter Ward — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 03:04:32 GMT

My Crossover experience More than 1,500 Southern Baptist volunteers participated in this year’s Crossover eventsprior to the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans. At least 870 people madecommitments to Christ during the events. Below is one volunteer’s story of coming

My journey from comfortable pastor to church planter

Peter Ward — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 19:35:49 GMT

My journey from comfortable pastor to church planter By Jim Wright For the past 15 years, I’ve had the joy of serving at First Baptist Church of Centre, Ala. For the last 13 years, I served as senior pastor of

A knock on the door

Peter Ward — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:05:48 GMT

A knock on the door One Atlanta couple finds a fun way to meet their neighbors By Sara Shelton “Who lives to the right of you? Who lives to the left of you? Look across the street—do you know your

How to lead an evangelistic Bible study

Peter Ward — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:12:12 GMT

How to lead an evangelistic Bible study So you want to be on mission in your neighborhood but you don't know where to start? Try starting an evangelistic Bible study with the prime purpose of introducing those around you to

Within the Sanctuary Walls: How to Identify & Meet Needs within Our Own Congregations

Peter Ward — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 23:17:00 GMT

By Lorie Newman

It was a clear, crisp, Christmas Eve night nearly seven years ago. As my husband and I tucked our six children into bed, our elderly friend from church, George, was at the forefront of our minds. We knew he would be all alone this Christmas.

The Mission of God Study Bible

Peter Ward — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:42:38 GMT

According to the preface of The Mission of God Study Bible, editors Ed Stetzer and Phillip Nation set out to create “a study edition of the Bible that traces how God reveals Himself through redemption and restoration.” It’s a worthy goal—and one masterfully completed by the project.

On Mission Photo of the week—June 6; Swing into Church Planting

Peter Ward — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:46:08 GMT

You might not believe that this little girl is swinging in the middle of a renovated house that's a church, a coffee shop, an arcade—and more. What's even better? The story behind the church is even more interesting than the building itself. For more about this Maryland Southern Baptist church plant, check out the summer issue of On Mission magazine.

Fresh ideas for on mission dads this Father’s Day

Peter Ward — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:21:25 GMT

A Christian dad impacts his family and the world. Dad, you are vitally important. Here are some fresh ideas for dads to help them stay connected to God’s mission for their families.

Having an everyday mission mindset

Tobin Perry — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:17:10 GMT

Having an everyday mission mindset By Lorie Newman Maybe it’s the single mom who lives across the street—the one who can’t leave work to take her daughter to an orthodontist appointment. Or maybe it’s the elderly man who lost his

Photo of the Week — May 31: Kingdom Influencer

Peter Ward — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:10:11 GMT

Uh … oh! One downright angry bird is on the loose! Yet NAMB Vice President Jeff Christopherson perseveres. A regular volunteer with a children's theater through his church—The Sanctuary Church in Oakville, Ontario, Jeff helps a young boy learn his lines for a production. The Sanctuary has adopted a socially disadvantaged neighborhood filled with single moms and new immigrants. Find out more about Jeff's vision for community transformation and the gospel in the summer issue of On Mission (in your mailbox in the next week or so). The article has been adapted from Jeff's new book, The Kingdom Matrix, due out this fall.

Photo of the Week – May 23: Come On In!

Peter Ward — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:51:57 GMT

The sign on this unique church plant meeting place beckons all who walk by on a Sunday morning. Inside visitors find a young church focused on the gospel in an urban neighborhood basically void of a gospel witness

Shine like stars in your neighborhood

Peter Ward — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:08:10 GMT

By Pam Enderby

Busyness coupled with fear and apathy had created a comfortable distance between me and unsaved neighbors. Then one morning, the Lord rattled my world.

While observing my elderly neighbor shuffle down his driveway, I received a startling impression, “If Brad died today, he would go to hell.” God’s Word then challenged me, “shine like stars in the world. Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boastin the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.” (Philippians 2:15-16).

Photo of the Week - May 16: Can you guess the city?

Peter Ward — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:16:15 GMT

Okay, this quiz is a piece of shrimp cake. Or, pardon the pun, a BIG EASY question. Which city is this picture from? Our summer 2012 cover features three Southern Baptists who are making a BIG difference in this city by loving it loudly. It's possible that no city in North America has been loved on by Southern Baptists more in the past decade than this Crescent City. If you still need some help, just remember this city …

Pray for the summer issue of On Mission!

Peter Ward — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:38:17 GMT

oday we took a look through the printer proofs of the summer issue of On Mission magazine. The upcoming issue focuses on LoveLoud and includes stories designed to introduce our readers to churches throughout North America that are loving neglected and hurting people as Jesus did—and pointing them to Him in the process. We’re excited to see how God will use this issue to equip churches to penetrate lostness in North America. The issue will hit mailboxes early next month. Will you pray for the issue as it goes to the printer? Please pray that God would use the issue to help churches and church planters across the continent love their communities loudly!

Ten ways to care for the needy right in your own community

Peter Ward — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:46:28 GMT

By Lorie Newman

We live in a world with overwhelming humanitarian needs.

With so many hurting people, even within our own communities, does helping just one person really matter?

The answer is found in Matthew 25:40, where Jesus says, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”

Inside On Mission: A next-generation photojournalist

Tobin Perry — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:00:43 GMT

As a missionary and photojournalist, I have the privilege of traveling the globe to tell stories through photos about the amazing things God is doing through the lives of believers. Last year I spent time with the McGibbon family at their home in Hamilton, Ontario, where they serve as North American Mission Board church planters. It’s a cool, artsy town outside of Toronto, Canada.

Jason, Kimberly and the kids made me feel right at home. This is a very creative family, full of musicians, artists, a dancer and even an actor! They live in a cool, old house that reminds me of the Harry Potter or Narnia books.

Inside On Mission: When I looked behind the Red Door

Peter Ward — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:44:54 GMT

Even though it was only mid-afternoon, I was flat-out exhausted when I came back to my room late one September Sunday afternoon and sunk into an already-made bed. I had spent all weekend with a courageous young church in Cincinnati, Ohio, that was influencing its community with what I thought was a fresh yet biblical approach.

If you read my article from the spring issue of On Mission, you know that Red Door Church was birthed out of NAMB missionary Josh Lenon’s reading of the Lord’s Prayer and his calling to “bring heaven to earth.” After asking a group of friends and spiritual seekers to consider committing to spend their lives bringing heaven to earth, a church was born in the fall of 2010.

Photo of the Week: Can you guess the city?

Tobin Perry — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:36:57 GMT

Photo of the Week Can you guess the city? One missionary featured in the upcoming summer issue of On Mission magazine uses the device pictured above quite frequently—but not as frequently as you might think. Despite the reputation of the

The Fragrance of Your Church

Tobin Perry — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:23:18 GMT

Every building, room, house, car and person has a unique smell. When you enter someone's home, you can pick up the scent immediately. You can tell if they have inside pets, what they cooked lately, if they smoke, and if they use air fresheners! You can go into a print shop and the smell of ink/developer is very strong. Even restaurants have distinctive odors that should be inviting. I have really never been in any Krispy Kreme store that smelled bad!

On Mission Photo of the Week – May 2

Peter Ward — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:24:33 GMT

On Mission Photo of the Week – May 2 NAMB president Kevin Ezell prays with missionary Shaun Pillay, Derrick Shelby, and Matthew Mowrey at the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix. Mowrey accepted Christ at a Bible study led by

Rising Up After Outreach Failure

Tobin Perry — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:55:45 GMT

For various reasons, we fail to speak, serve, or love when faced with outreach opportunities. Consequently, yesterday’s outreach failures morph into today’s discouragement, discouragement leads to apathy and eventually our sense of being on mission fades.

New life in Norwich

Peter Ward — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:38:09 GMT

By Shaun Pillay

Just a few short months ago, Dave Mowrey’s life looked completely different. His son Matt had recently accepted Christ while getting his haircut at a local barbershop where members of Cornerstone host a weekly Bible study. Soon after that, Matt introduced his dad, Dave, to our team at Cornerstone. Though he always believed that God was real, Dave had never truly experienced a life-changing relationship with Christ. However, three months ago, Dave Mowrey accepted Christ.

On Mission photo of the Week – April 25

Peter Ward — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:29:08 GMT

On Mission photo of the Week – April 25 North American Mission Board missionary Shaun Pillay doesn't sit in an office all day. Instead, he's out in the community meeting people and sharing Christ. In this photo Pillay sits on

On Mission Photo of the Week – April 18

Peter Ward — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:01:26 GMT

North American Mission Board missionary Josh Lenon digs in the dirt of the playground at Heritage Glen Apartments near Cincinnati, Ohio. Lenon and many others from the Red Door Church he started in 2010 are helping to renovate a playground for the low-income apartment complex

The Vine Community Church: Bringing the church to our community

Peter Ward — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:38:47 GMT

By Derek Osburn

At The Vine Community Church we’re focused on God’s mission. We continue to be involved in bringing the church to our community through community-wide events. It seems rallying around either local or international mission project brings us together as a church.

On Mission Photo of the Week – April 10

Peter Ward — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:29:51 GMT

Who says you can't have a blast while you're serving Jesus on the front lines of ministry? Danny Egipciaco lets out a from-the-gut laugh as he talks ministry with a fellow Miami-area church planter. As a North American Mission Board missionary Egipciaco helps equip Miami church planters to penetrate lostness in South Florida. Egipciaco estimates that 95 percent of Miamians are unchurched.

Arkansas students help Cleveland church planters over spring break

Tobin Perry — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:50:18 GMT

By Tobin Perry

Three weeks before Easter, yellow, green, blue, pink, and orange plastic Easter eggs covered a variety of tables set up at Abundant Life Community Church in Cleveland. Busy college students who had traded in their books for a week of free labor hurriedly stuffed the eggs with all sorts of sweet treats. They had 8,000 eggs to fill in four hours, a tall order they completed in only an hour and a half.

On Mission Photo of the Week - April 3

Tobin Perry — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:56:13 GMT

No, Kimberley and Trinity Joy McGibbon aren't leading a martial arts class. They're leading interactive worship—for kids—before a service at The Sanctuary Church Milton in Ontario, Canada. North American Mission Board missionaries Jason and Kimberley McGibbon recently started a new church in the arts community of Hamilton (outside of Toronto). The Sanctuary Church, where Jason served as the worship leader, is the congregation that sent the McGibbons out. For more about the McGibbons and their ministry, check out the story on them in the spring issue of On Mission magazine.

On Mission Photo of the Week - March 27

Tobin Perry — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:29:25 GMT

OnMission Photo of the Week North American Mission Board missionary Derek Osburn meets with Jeff Reed before a worship service at The Vine Community Church in Clovis, N.M. Osborn started the church in 2009 and has seen it grow to more than 210 in average attendance. To find out more about Osborn, check out the article on him in the spring issue of On Mission magazine at onmission.com/New_Horizons. (Photo by John Swain/NAMB)

Five covers, five terrific missionary families

Peter Ward — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:59:46 GMT

When you picked up your copy of On Mission magazine from the mailbox earlier this month, you may have noticed a striking image of missionary Shaun Pillay preparing for a baptism service for his Norwich, Conn., church. Others, on the other hasnd, saw portraits of missionaries Daniel and Karina Egipciaco, missionary Josh Lenon, missionaries Derek and Sharla Osburn or missionaries Jason and Kimberley McGibbon.

Crash Day

Peter Ward — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:39:07 GMT

Crash Day The people of Red Door Church greet attendees of their mother church, Lakota Hills Baptist Church, with hugs as they leave church on Crash Day. (Photo provided by Red Door Church) By Josh Lenon Have you ever crashed

Reaching Out to Tibetans

Peter Ward — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:35:30 GMT

Reaching Out to Tibetans By Shaun Pillay Last summer my wife, Deshni, and I had a chance encounter in our community in Norwich, Conn. We met a group of Tibetan families living in the city and in need of English

How God Worked on Me While I Worked on NYC

Tobin Perry — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:11:44 GMT

how god worked on me while i worked on nyc By Bryan WattsI recently had the pleasure of working with Pastor Won Kwak and his church, Maranatha Grace Fort Lee, this past July. My church, Victory Baptist Church in Lexington,

Treasures for the King

Tobin Perry — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:57:02 GMT

By Jim Burnett Have you ever imagined the excitement and joy the Magi must have felt as they presented their treasures to King Jesus? Tyler could tell you about it. A couple of weeks ago, this 10 year old brought

Send North America: Indianapolis, Hoosier Style

Tobin Perry — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:05:04 GMT

Send North America Indianapolis, Hoosier Style By Bob Burton What do you think of when you hear the word “Hoosier”? By simplest definition, it is a native or inhabitant of Indiana. Perhaps it brings to your mind a basketball

Why Mission Teams Matter in Cleveland

Tobin Perry — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:53:08 GMT

Why Mission Teams Matter in Cleveland By Alex Ennes As a church planter, it isn’t always easy to figure out which outreach will work best in your community. At best, when you’re learning your community, it’s a total guess as

Where Were You?

Tobin Perry — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:51:09 GMT

The morning hours of September 11, 2001 changed our nation forever. Few American adults can’t remember where they were when they learned about the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. The following five men were no exception. Over the next decade, they would all play a role in a great church-planting boom in New York City (40 percent of Manhattan churches were started after 2000). Taken from interviews with the men, here is what they remember about that day:

Filled stomachs, filled hearts

Peter Ward — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:41:25 GMT

By Nancy B. Gibbs

I learned a long time ago that as a Christian I sometimes need to care for a person’s physical needs before I can reach them spiritually. I will never forget the day my husband, Roy, called me at work.

Funding a Family Mission Trip

Peter Ward — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:58:59 GMT

By Eileen Rife

You’ve always wanted to take the entire family on a mission trip. You know where you want to go and when you want to go. You even know the people with whom you will be going. But one nagging question lies at the back of your mind: How will we fund this endeavor?

I thought you’d never ask. Here are some ways your family can bring in the needed funds.

Reaching Out to Students and Teachers This Fall

Peter Ward — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:54:47 GMT

By Diana Davis

A new school year has begun. What a great time for a church to encourage students and teachers. Need fresh ideas?

Bengali Muslims in Atlanta celebrate the Eid, conclude Ramadan

Peter Ward — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:11:11 GMT

By Tobin Perry

Two long card tables sit in the parking lot of Azalea Place apartments. Covered with a variety of Bengali dishes (Curry, biryani, sweets), tonight these tables represent the center of the apartment complex’s Bengali culture. Men—some dressed in their fanciest clothes, others more casual—stand around the table and talk. Women, dressed in beautiful red, blue and green saris, stand mostly at the top of the stairs delivering food to the men. Laughter is everywhere. Smiles seem to be on every face.

After a month of solemn fasting during their holy month of Ramadan, it’s time for a party. For the Bengali Muslims living in these Chamblee, Ga., apartments, Aug. 30 means the celebration of the Eid-al-Fitr —the happiest day of the year for many Muslims worldwide.

Young, Muslim and Lost in Dearborn

Peter Ward — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:25:05 GMT

By Tobin Perry

Two young, attractive Lebanese-American couples sit at a small table outside of a Dearborn, Mich., Middle Eastern café. Finishing up on an iftar meal that breaks their daily fast during Ramadan, the couples laugh and joke in a couple of hours of obvious frivolity after their day without food and water. Despite the storms threatening the area, all around them young Arab men and women do likewise. Other than the smattering of hijabs (Muslim hair covering for women) and hookah pipes, the scene wouldn’t look much different than a thousand other coffee shops around the country.