From the Northwest to the Nations

Oct 26

3 min read

Hey Pastors and Ministry Leaders,

Over the past several weeks, we’ve been looking at our Three Gears and how they help us fulfill the mission God has given us as a family of churches. We’ve talked about Flourishing Leaders, Thriving Churches, Church Planting, and Northwest Collegiate Ministries. This week I want to finish our look at the third Gear, Church Planting & Missions, by talking about Missions.

For nearly 14 years, our NWBC churches have participated in a missions partnership with East Asia. During that time, hundreds of Northwesterners have served missionaries at large gatherings, and individual churches have sent teams throughout Asia to support missionaries and their ministries. More recently, we’ve sent three teams to Indonesia to help train approximately 100 students and more than 200 pastors and ministry leaders. Another trip is already being planned for 2027.

I love hearing about these opportunities because they remind me what our churches can accomplish when we work together. And I’m excited about some new opportunities we’re exploring.

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of traveling to France with a group of pastors and leaders from the Northwest. We spent time with missionaries and visited churches in several communities, particularly rural areas where evangelical churches are few and far between.

One of the things that struck me was how much these churches have in common with many of our rural churches here in the Northwest. They’re faithfully serving their communities, sharing the Gospel, and trying to reach people with limited resources. One of our hopes coming out of this trip is to see rural churches in the Northwest develop partnerships with rural churches in France. We’re still exploring what these relationships might look like, but I’m excited about the possibilities.

But missions doesn’t always require a passport or a plane ticket. Sometimes the opportunity is much closer to home.

That’s one of the things I love about Mission 1 Day (M1). It gives churches an opportunity to participate in missions right here in the Northwest without the expense and travel of an international trip. We’ve had several churches participate that hadn’t been on a mission trip in decades! Sometimes all a church needs is an opportunity to take that first step.

This year’s Mission 1 Day took place in Leavenworth, and next year we’re heading to Spokane! If your church has never participated, I hope you’ll consider joining us.

Click here to learn more or express your interest in M1: Spokane (Aug 13-14, 2027).

Something David Gass shared with me recently has stayed on my mind. Participating in missions helps churches see the world differently. It opens our eyes to needs we might not otherwise recognize and helps us think and live more like missionaries. I believe that’s true, and it’s one of the reasons I want to encourage every NWBC church to consider taking a next step in missions.

Perhaps that step is participating in Mission 1 Day, developing a relationship with a missionary, or partnering with another church on a mission project. Whatever that step might be, your church doesn’t have to be large or have a lot of resources to become involved. If you’re interested in exploring opportunities locally or internationally, David and our Missions team would love to help. You can reach David at dgass@nwbaptist.org

Throughout this series, I’ve tried to communicate something that I hope has become clear. The NWBC isn’t an organization trying to accomplish a mission on behalf of our churches. We are the churches, choosing to work together to fulfill the mission Christ has given us.

Whether we’re encouraging a pastor, helping a church take its next step toward health, planting a new church, reaching college students, or serving alongside missionaries across the world, we’re participating in the same mission. And I believe God has much more in store for us as we continue learning to work together.

Many Churches. One Mission.

Lisa and I count it a privilege to serve alongside you as a family of churches on mission together.

by Faith,