SBC Sends Young Summer Missionaries to Project Fields

By Jennifer Riley, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, June 04, 2009

The North American Mission Board commissioned nearly a hundred student summer missionaries this week to serve in fields across the United States, Canada and in Puerto Rico.

These 91 young missionaries will lead teams of volunteers in construction, ministry and church planting projects in one of three NAMB ministries: World Changers, Families on Mission, and PowerPlant.

"Somewhere in your life Jesus said, 'Follow me,'" said NAMB President Geoff Hammond at the annual "Great Send Off" event at First Baptist Church in Cumming, Ga. on Monday, according to NAMB. "Part of that call was to be here today and give your summer to missions."

"The call to follow Christ is a call to fulfill the Great Commission," he said. "In the end, we do servant evangelism, construction projects and plant churches ultimately to bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ."

NAMB is the mission arm of the Southern Baptist Convention that is focused on the mission field in the United States and Canada and their territories.

This summer, World Changers, which organizes youth service projects, will lead some 23,000 students in 98 projects involving roof installation, drywall repair, painting, and ministry evangelism in 85 cities.

Students registered for PowerPlant projects will learn church planting principles and evangelism skills in the morning, and then personally engage in ministry activities in the afternoon. Some 2,000 students have signed up to serve in PowerPlant projects in 16 cities, according to NAMB.

Also, students along with their families will participate in mission projects organized by the ministry Families on Mission.

Hammond noted that while the mission group celebrates the 20,000th house World Changers has worked on this summer, student missionaries should also celebrate the lives that have been touched by the Gospel.