Operation Inasmuch, the one-day missions blitz organization that started at a Baptist church in Fayetteville, N.C., became a national ministry Jan. 30.
David Crocker, who was pastor of Fayetteville's Snyder Memorial Baptist Church when Operation Inasmuch was born, is the executive director. He recently spoke at celebrations for the ministry's launch in Fayetteville and Knoxville, Tenn., where he now lives.
The gathering in Fayetteville also celebrated the beginning of a local Operation Inasmuch chapter in Fayetteville.
Operation Inasmuch is based on the 40th verse in Matthew 25, which says “… Truly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”
The operation helps large and small churches do local mission projects in one day. Roughly 500 churches have used the model, including churches in England and Canada.
Crocker and the national group's board of directors plan to add 10,000 new volunteers to the network and incorporate them through 100 new participating churches—a 25 percent increase from current numbers.
Directors said they will also double the number of states where Operation Inasmuch events have been held, increasing the numbers from eight to 16. And they'll hold 15 to 20 workshops and training events this year. About a third of them are already full, Crocker said.
Eventually, Operation Inasmuch directors also will establish mission partnerships with other organizations.