Whether it's pounding shingles onto a roof at a World Changers mission project or contributing to historic agreements among Southern Baptist agencies, Bob Reccord invests himself in evangelistic partnerships. He knows that this same spirit of partnership is one of the key ingredients for winning North America, and the world, for Christ. Reccord is president of the North American Mission Board.
On Mission: Dr. Reccord, tell readers your view of partnering and why it's so important to Southern Baptists.
Dr. Reccord: The essence of successful partnership is synergy--the theory that the outcome of the whole is far greater than the sum of the parts. Two people working together can accomplish more than the total of what each does individually. So partnering is the effective leveraging of assets, abilities and strengths. Our missionaries exemplify this principle in action. If churches work together and each church does its part, they can support and field a mission force far greater than if every church simply supported its own.
Historically, Southern Baptists have understood this principle, which is why the Cooperative Program, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering were established. Today 46,101 churches are reaching people around the globe through more than 9,000 missionaries, including 4,815 in North America. Churches working independently could not accomplish such a massive task.
Also, we believe missionaries can be more effective when they aren't drained with the responsibility of raising funds. When they come home on furlough, they can rest and get the wind back in their sails. That way they're ready when they return to the mission field.
On Mission: Partnering starts with the individual. One person--or one team--partners with another. Can you share examples from your personal life?
Dr. Reccord: I'll give you two.
First, I think one of the greatest examples of partnership is marriage. I've seen innumerable accomplishments happen within our family of three children--and in my personal life--because of Cheryl, her input and our work together as a team. So I have a constant reminder of the effectiveness of partnering 365 days a year, because of my marriage.
Another example involves Randy Singer [executive vice president, North American Mission Board], his wife, Rhonda, plus Cheryl and me. We decided that one way we could be on mission was to start a Bible study in our neighborhood. We distributed some fliers, setting the date and the place as the Reccord house and inviting people to come.
Well, on the first night of the Bible study I heard a knock on the door about half an hour before anyone was supposed to arrive. Frankly, I was tempted not to answer it. I'd been traveling and was incredibly tired. Plus, I was trying to get a quick bite to eat before the Bible study started.
But Cheryl said: "We'd better get the door," and she headed in that direction. When she opened it, there stood a woman who lives in our neighborhood. She told us: "I've been sitting outside your door for almost an hour. I can't wait to come in. I've been on a search for truth. I've looked everywhere, and I can't find it. But something told me 'here's where I need to come and here's where I'll find the truth.'" That night Toni Ann accepted Christ. And, by pooling our efforts, we four--especially the two wives--have been able to follow up with her, and now her mother also has come to know the Lord.
This illustrates the synergy of partnering. Think about it. Had it just been me conducting the Bible study in my neighborhood, a lady probably wouldn't have come. But, because of the synergy of the two couples working together and the wives following up with her, a woman who was searching for the truth found it. And now she's sharing the truth with others. Out of that effort has sprung a brand new Bible study for women in our neighborhood.
On Mission: That experience came as a result of time and effort--commodities that are in short supply today. Can you say something to the reader who's discouraged when abundant time and effort have been spent, but there don't seem to be many results?
Dr. Reccord: The biggest challenge I see today is that we live in a microwave oven society, and we want instantaneous results with ease. I was amazed at myself recently when I put something into the microwave and got impatient because I had to wait three minutes. How ridiculous!
I think we've been fed a false philosophy that if God is blessing you, and if you're doing what you should be doing, then things will be easy and the results will be fast.
After Adoniram Judson had been in Burma for seven years, he hadn't seen one convert. He was interviewed by a young reporter who rather arrogantly asked: "Well, Mr. Judson, after seven years and no results, what do you think now about this Christian faith and your mission?" Without hesitation Judson smiled and said, "What do I think now? I think the future is as bright as the promises of God." And it was not long afterward that Burma experienced an amazing movement of God.
On Mission: Southern Baptists are known for working together.
Dr. Reccord: Exactly. One of the greatest assets we Southern Baptists have is our whole concept of partnership--agencies partnering with states and associations and local churches, all of them working autonomously yet interdependently. Partnering has been a key reason why the SBC has become the largest evangelical denomination in the world. That didn't happen by coincidence. That happened through partnering. And partnering is how we'll make a difference in the 21st century.