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Matthew 28:19-20 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Sending missionaries is really not optional. For those of us raised in Christian homes one of our first memory verses was what we call the “Great Commission.” These are some of Christ’s last words to His followers before entrusting the spread of the Gospel to His church. The imperative in these verses is to “make disciples.” To accomplish this imperative we are given three participles which indicate present action and give us the strategic steps in making disciples. The first is “going” (our method), second is “baptizing” (our mark) and the third is “teaching” (our mode). Yes, you’ll notice a sermon outline here. My point is that we are commanded to make disciples. And the first step in making disciples is going. We will not make disciples by sitting in spiritual contemplation inside our homes and church buildings.

We also notice that this order comes from the top. In the verse that precedes the Great Commission, the antecedent for the “therefore,” Christ states that all authority is given to Him not only on earth but in the entire cosmos. Therefore responding to a director order from our Cosmic Commander and Chief, we go. And the scope of the command is overwhelming. We are to make disciples of all nations or, more accurately, of all people groups. This can only be accomplished by churches working together, combining their efforts and resources. Southern Baptists probably do this better than any other organization. We do it through our Cooperative Program and our special offerings. Cooperating together we are able to send missionaries to our state, to North America and to unreached people groups throughout the world.

2009 is shaping up to be Colorado’s year of the missionary. We are to be blessed by hosting Colorado’s first ever IMB and NAMB appointment services. Both in the same year! These are very significant events and they serve to put bookends on our strategy of sending missionaries. Through these two services we can all be part of sending out over one hundred new, full-time missionaries to North America and to the ends of the earth. Please put these dates on your calendars now. The IMB appointment service will be held at Riverside Baptist Churchon Wednesday, May 20^th. The NAMB appointment service will be held at Applewood Baptist Church on Monday, October 5^th. You will find both of these services exciting and inspirational. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for those of us living in Colorado.

Colorado Baptists are all about sending missionaries. I’m proud to be part of a great missionary sending state!

[This is the first of six articles
highlighting the six “S’s” that provide structure to the ministry of
the Colorado Baptist General Convention. The six “S’s” are: Sending Missionaries, Seeking God, Sharing Christ, Strengthening Leaders, Starting Churchesand Supporting Churches. The result will be Saturating Colorado with the Gospel. The first “S” I want to address is Sending Missionaries.]