by Randy Harp
While planning this Tribune I realized I have been in some sort of formal education for 26 years of my life. Not including the years before kindergarten, only 12 of my years have not been in an academic setting, and I still have two more years before I am finished (my wife doesn’t think it will ever end). In ten of those 12 years, I attended at least one ministry training conference or was involved in a coaching network. So, I will admit my bias for education and training. I hold to a firm conviction that if a pastor/leader is not growing he will gradually lose his influence. Ken Blanchard writes in Great Leaders Grow, “The path to increase influence, impact, and leadership effectiveness is paved with personal growth. Our capacity to grow determines our capacity to lead. It’s really that simple.” I couldn’t agree more.
This issue is part two of our three-part series on “What is the BBFI?” As a reminder, we are looking at the three primary areas where we partner together: missions, education, and church planting. We also include short articles about the BBFI. This issue focuses on the importance of education and training and the BBFI’s structure and common areas of unity.
I have been encouraged by the kind letters and comments we received about the May Tribune. My prayer for this series is three-fold. First, it would help our pastors, missionaries, church staff, etc. to understand the BBFI a little better. Second, it would be a recruiting tool to encourage other pastors to partner with the BBFI. Third, it would be a resource pastors can use to promote the BBFI within their local churches.
Our Fellowship was started because of discord between World Fundamental Baptist Missionary Fellowship leader
J. Frank Norris and G. B. Vick, president of Bible Baptist Seminary of Fort Worth. When Norris had Vick ousted as president, 120 men decided to start a new Fellowship that included a training institution for pastors and missionaries. Thus, Baptist Bible College was born. So one could say education and training has been a part of the BBFI from the very beginning and is a part of our DNA. This is evidenced by how many countries around the world have Bible colleges and ministry training institutions started by our BBFI missionaries.
We also take space in this issue to highlight the Graduation Fellowship Week. This meeting was different for me personally experiencing it as an editor rather than a pastor, but I think all who attended would agree it was a great week. One exciting thing we announced was the new BBFI mobile app and the BBFI Missions mobile app. I encourage you to look at and use them. It truly is amazing to have the entire BBFI in the palm of your hand.
As always, thank you for allowing me to serve Christ as I serve you. If I can ever be of help to you, please let me know.