Over 26 years ago, a group of visionaries had the foresight to establish a faith-based organization dedicated to supporting Baptist churches in Europe and spreading the Gospel worldwide. As we stand on the threshold of 2025, we are not just looking back at our Founders’ vision but also stepping into a new era for the International Baptist Church Ministries (IBCM). We are evolving into a forward-looking organization where our members will serve as cross-cultural missionaries, attuned to God’s work in the International Baptist Convention (IBC) and International English-language churches. The ‘Founders to the Future: Road to 2040’ is our guide, with four significant elements lighting our path.
- Refocus: Cast a new Vision and Mission with internal and external alignment.
- Reframe: Update the Board and add new Committees for the expanded role
- Refresh: Expand social media presence, enhance the current website, and create visual brand assets to add connective tissue between the IBCM, IBC, and the International English-speaking.
- Rejuvenate: Grow the IBCM Endowment Fund to become self-sustaining. These significant elements and our core foundations define and guide our decisions and actions as a board to serve together and honor God.
CORE PURPOSE
We exist to be on mission with God and globally advance the Gospel to bring all people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).
CORE MISSION
We partner with the IBC and International English-language churches and ministries to reach the ends of the world.
CORE VISION
By 2040, we envision the permanency of the IBCM and sustainability for the IBC to reach, equip, and send workers into the harvest field.
CORE BELIEFS & GUIDING PRINCIPLES
- We believe in one God – God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one triune God infinitely existing in three persons.
- We believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior and the Living Word, and without Christ’s gift of salvation, man will die without hope (John 14:6)
- We believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and is essential to life and God’s purposes, and He demonstrates Himself through His Word (Genesis 1:3).
- We believe that the church is the body of Christ made of many parts but one living body on a mission for God (Romans 12:4).
- We believe we are called to be on a mission with God and to reach, equip, and send workers into the harvest field and build the Kingdom of God (Matthew 28:16-20; Romans 10:14-15)
- We will use our God-given gifts and talents to serve effectively as board members and, through that service, glorify God and fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 20:25-28; Ephesians 4:4-6, 11-13)
CORE VALUES
We Value Christian Leadership. We emphasize Christian Leadership and our firm belief in Christian board leadership is centered around Christ and empowered by the Spirit. We are devoted followers of Christ and wholeheartedly dedicated to His mission. The ultimate goal of a Christian leader is to honor and praise God with their whole being. A Christian leader serves as a representative of Christ and His Gospel, professing to follow Christ (Philippians 3:10-11).
We value the Power of Prayer. Prayer is a potent spiritual tool that has the potential to bring about transformative change in nations, churches, and individuals. At the core of our ministry, we prioritize prayer as we lean on the guidance and strategy provided by Jesus Christ. By prioritizing seeking God first in prayer, trusting in His direction, and standing firm on His Word, we lead with unwavering confidence, knowing that God is ever-present and serves as our anchor (Isaiah 41:10, Acts 2:42; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
We value Great Commission Partnerships. Our unwavering mission is to partner with the International Baptist Convention and English-speaking Baptist churches worldwide to wholeheartedly spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 20:25-28).
We value Faithful and Generous Stewardship. Embracing generous and faithful stewardship is our guiding principle in cultivating and fortifying the churches and ministries under our care. We are committed to upholding transparent and accountable stewardship to ensure unwavering dedication in all endeavors (Acts 4:32-34).
We value Gospel Outreach Sustainability. At our core, we are dedicated to ensuring the longevity and prosperity of our organization as we work strategically to advance the Kingdom of God. We focus on nurturing future generations and cultivating the expansion of the churches and ministries we support. Our unwavering commitment is to extend the reach of the Gospel and leave a lasting impact on a global scale.
JOIN US ON THIS ROAD TO 2040
The ‘Founders to the Future: Road to 2040’ is a journey of growth and development aimed at reshaping the IBCM for the future. Our goal is to establish a lasting IBCM ministry focused on spreading the message of Christ to every corner of the Earth. As Christ said in Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.” We are thrilled about the new direction and emphasis of the IBCM and eagerly anticipate working alongside you as laborers for the harvest.
Dr. Jim Erwin, Executive Secretary
Dr. Thomas S. Narofsky, IBCM President