Missions
Crossing barriers in order to deliver the Gospel. This is the definition of missions. The barrier could be an ocean, a language difference or a lack of resources. At Immanuel, we are determined to cross whatever barriers necessary to see the Gospel offered to every unreached people group on the planet. Here are some of our works-in-progress.
Our Adopted People Group
Over six years ago Immanuel chose an Unreached People Group (UPG) for adoption. They are the Awadhi people of North-central India. They are composed of almost 50 million people, most of whom are Hindu. These dear friends are primarily agrarian and live in thousands of villages that stretch all across the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. In recent years Immanuel has prayed for, encouraged, and visited the few believers who are trying to reach this vast field. In many ways this is one of the largest unreached areas of the world. In the years of Immanuel’s adoption of the region and of this people group there have been many successes in reaching these dear people.
Our School in Haiti
For 25 years Immanuel has been the sole sponsor of a strategic training program in Mole St. Nicholas, Haiti. Under the guidance of native pastor Kenan Molme, and the church he pastors, this work has been successful in training thousands of young people. The school trains children from grade school through college. Because an education is a rare privilege in Haiti our graduates are being used throughout the nation in positions where they can have great influence on the future of this nation. Over the years Immanuel has invested well over $1,000,000 in this ministry and visits the work annually.
IBC Mission Adventures
Members of Immanuel are often on mission adventures to almost every region of the globe. Such trips are encouraged and often facilitated by special efforts and sponsorships from within the church. Our youth take a mission trip each year, usually to a needy area within the United States. We encourages our older youth to take at least one international mission trip at least once before going to college, thus giving them a greater heart for the world.
Virtual Mission Trips
Immanuel is using video conferencing technology to encourage and train people around the world. Classes meet at the church and are connected live to other study groups in other countries. With both sides being able to participate and share this experience helps to train new believers around the world and offers Immanuel members the opportunity to build international relationships that could last a lifetime.
Comprehensive International Missions
We are faithful givers and participants in the work of the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention. As such we help to sponsor over 5300 missionaries who are strategically placed in almost every nation. Our pastor served for eight years on this board, two years as its chairman. The budget of this board is $300,000,000 annually. This effort which we share with thousands of Baptist churches has created the largest mission sending, church planting task force in the world today. The connections we have with the IMB affords Immanuel great connectivity and facilitation of our own growing missions platform as it grows through both traditional and advanced technological means.
Comprehensive National Missions
Immanuel is also affiliated with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). This is the arm of Baptists to reach the unreached areas of the United States and Canada. Like the IMB in structure, this agency has thousands of church-planting missionaries who are reaching the towns and cities of North America which have little or no gospel witness.
Comprehensive Local Missions
By linking with other Southern Baptist churches in NW Arkansas Immanuel is helping to reach the pockets of unreached people in our region. This affiliation is called The NW Baptist Association. Our Affiliation with Tom Cox World Ministries Members of our church, Tom and Kay Cox, have a great ministry that facilitates multiple mission trips each year. They lead hundreds of people on very effective mission adventures each year to places such as India, Europe, and nations in South America. Their website is http://www.tcwm.org.