A fifth-generation missionary stands with her husband, sharing the testimony of how they were called to South Asia as missionaries. These missionaries’ identities are obscured because some missionaries are called to people groups that may be hostile toward the Gospel. For their safety and those they serve among, they are not publicly connected with IMB. In their countries of service, they are generally known by their real names or sometimes by a nickname given to them by local friends. IMB Photo

 

ORLEANS (BP) — Rachel grew up with a deep understanding of what the missionary life looked like. She didn’t learn it at church though. She learned it as she played with her cousins and sat around a family holiday table and heard her aunts and uncles share their adventures of watching God work across the globe.

 

Her grandparents, though not missionaries themselves, had instilled in her parents, aunts and uncles a love for the nations. Of their four children, two became International Mission Board missionaries.In college, Rachel met Tyler English. He grew up on the mission field. While the IMB missionary kid life held many adventures and ways for him to plug into his parents’ ministry, he always loved seeing how his parents approached ministry as a team.

“For years, I was able to witness the Gospel being shared firsthand, all while playing a supportive role in my parents’ work,” he shared. “Through this experience, I became confident in my calling to serve Jesus on the mission field.”

Now, Tyler and Rachel are headed to Guatemala, using their experience as parents and passion for orphan care to serve in the Americas and “empower the local church to raise up the next generation for Christ.” They’re excited to raise their three daughters, Asher (5), Graycen (3), and Wrenley (1), on the mission field, continuing the tradition and instilling a love for the nations in their children.

Tyler and Rachel are two of the 79 missionaries recognized at the IMB’s Sending Celebration in conjunction with the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sending Celebration took place June 13 directly following the IMB report to the SBC.

D. Ray Davis, IMB’s church mobilization manager, former missionary and Rachel English’s uncle, knows the value of a missions legacy.

“We are part of a big Southern Baptist family, and we have a responsibility to live out the vision and mission of our bigger family,” Davis said. “By sharing my love for the nations with Rachel, I was just playing my part in my family for the Kingdom.”

Both he and Rachel agree that having a family connection personalized the call to missions. Her Uncle D. Ray and Aunt Kim, who served in Sub-Saharan Africa, and her Uncle Daren and Aunt Shawna who currently serve in Sub-Saharan Africa, were just normal people who followed the call of God on their lives. She could do that too.

The Englishes weren’t the only new missionaries with a legacy of reaching the nations through the IMB. Of the 79 newly appointed missionaries present for the Sending Celebration, seven have parents who have served with the IMB on the mission field and 42 have served in some capacity with the IMB. One of the new missionaries is a fifth-generation missionary, continuing her family’s long legacy of getting the Gospel to the nations through the IMB.

 

Southern Baptists continuing the legacy

As the Sending Celebration began, transitioning from the report portion of the morning, SBC President Bart Barber noted, “What we’re about to do is the business of the Convention.”

This was affirmed in applause and cheers from messengers. After the missionaries gave their short testimonies, the crowd stood to their feet, applauding those willing to take the Gospel to the nations.

The IMB celebrates a rich history of reaching the nations. Over its 178-year history, the IMB has sent more than 25,000 missionaries to the nations. Currently, more than 3,500 are on the field, taking the Gospel to the least reached.

IMB President Paul Chitwood celebrated the 44 churches in 19 different states that the new missionaries represent. The missionaries are a result of the long history of Southern Baptists to reach the nations. They will soon move to 33 countries, “taking the Good News with them, willing to leave behind comforts, friends and family, to answer God’s call upon their lives,” Chitwood said.

“Day in and day out, they’ll trust that God is good and will do good as they labor in the harvest fields where God has called them,” he continued. “They will also trust that you and me, Southern Baptists, will hold the ropes for them as we pray and as you give and send more reinforcements to walk alongside them. They’ll work in cities and deserts and mountains. They go to the hard-to-reach places to work among the displaced and dispersed, the forgotten and forsaken by the world, but not by their Creator.”

The legacy is great, but there’s work to be done

“The stark reality today is that lostness is growing. It’s increasing rapidly – here in our own country and especially in our cities, where we face division and hopelessness but also among the 8 billion people living on Earth today,” Chitwood reminded messengers and guests at the annual meeting, as he urged them to consider the work that has yet to be finished.

Chitwood added, “Together, we will reach every nation, no matter the cost.”

His wife, Michelle, along with IMB staff members praying in different languages, joined him on stage for prayer. He asked attendees online and in person to also be in prayer.

  • Pray for these missionaries as they answer God’s call on their lives and go to the nations.
  • Pray that we count those who are hurting and hopeless more significant than ourselves.
  • Pray for unity in the Great Pursuit where we count the lost as our highest priority.
  • Pray for God to do a mighty work among the nations.

A choir leading worship following the celebration was joined by a virtual choir of missionaries. The next Sending Celebration will be Sept. 27 in Richmond, Va.