By Bob Moore
Pastor
Bonsack Baptist Church, Roanoke
Bonsack is traditional Southern Baptist church with deep roots in Virginia Baptist life.
I appreciate the flexibility the Virginia Baptist Mission Board provides for churches to tailor their cooperative giving to each church's vision and values. On the one hand, the Cooperative Program has continued to provide a vehicle for our church to share the gospel worldwide through the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board. In addition, Kingdom Advance addresses the felt needs of Virginia Baptist churches for empowering churches, partnership missions and finding new leaders for our churches.
I don't like labels, which too often are an inadequate short-cut or substitute for taking the time to get to know who somebody really is. Rather than label ourselves as a “WM2” church, we would label ourselves as a church committed to missions and ready to partner nationally and through Virginia Baptists to fulfill the Great Commission.
Being a part of World Mission 2 does give Bonsack an opportunity to support such ministries as Associated Baptist Press, the Baptist Center for Ethics, theological education right here in Virginia and the Baptist World Alliance, as well as Kingdom Advance New Mission Initiatives, including partnerships with China and Europe as well as Arab and Hispanic ministries.
The bottom line issue for me is trust. Having served on our Mission Board for years, I have come to admire, respect and trust John Upton, Eddie Stratton and the various staff giving direction to Virginia Baptists. I have enjoyed working along side these Baptist leaders and have come to appreciate and admire their love for Christ and their genuine care for Virginia Baptist churches. It is that trust coupled with the added value Bonsack has received from our partnering with Virginia Baptists which are the key factors in our WM2 giving.