An important part of the Baptist denomination is missions and ministry. The American Baptist Church takes great care to dedicate a portion of their time, money, and resources to the advancing of Christ’s kingdom on the local and global level.
Mission work can include a wide range of things from evangelism, social justice, leader development, stewardship and a variety of ministries. It’s not estimated how many Baptist missionaries there are, but it is estimated that there are Baptists in over 200 countries worldwide. Baptist missionaries can be seen in history books making a difference in the lives of people groups throughout the history books.
Probably the most publicly notable Baptist on a mission was Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent leader and icon of the African American civil rights movement, who received a Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He pursued non-violent methods to fight against the segregation and racism of the 1950’s and 60’s. King was Baptist Minister most known for leading the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and delivering his famous “I Have A Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington.
The Baptist modern mission movement took off in the 19th century. With it came a backlash that split many Baptists in America between missionary and anti-missionary. Multiple smaller Baptist denominations began to form, with separate entities such as Southern Baptists and Independent Baptists holding different views on missions methods.
Despite some of the public controversy surrounding Baptists on mission, these devoted church goers are responsible for founding 27 higher education schools for Freed People after the Civil War, and ministering to the Japanese-Americans in internment camps during WWII. They have been making a difference in the world for many years and don’t expect to see that stop anytime soon.
In fact, you can walk into any Baptist church in your home town and find a few common elements. Whether the services are contemporary or traditional, you will probably hear something about missions during the service. You might see it printed in a bulletin or mentioned in a prayer. There could be collection bins at the doors for a local food pantry. You might hear young people share about their experiences doing short term mission trips. No matter which Baptist church you visit, the one common thread will always be missions. It is truly the foundation of the Baptist faith and message!