FBC Missions

Missions is a dynamic part of life at First Baptist Church. We take the words of the Great Commission seriously as Jesus commanded us, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

There are three main components to First Baptist Church’s Missions program: full-time missionaries, short-term missions opportunities, and missions-minded education. We support over fifty full-time missionaries serving in Oregon, the greater United States, and around the world. Please visit our World Impact Personnel page to learn more.

First Baptist Church is also very active in short-term missions. Each year, during Spring Break, the high school group sends approximately 100 high schoolers and 20 adults to minister in Mexico. Our college group has traveled to New Orleans to help with the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Additionally, we regularly send out teams throughout the world to countries like Italy, Albania, Mozambique, Russia, and Thailand.

Short-term missions allows us to develop a mutually-beneficial relationship between those of us here at home and our missionaries on the field, many of whom call our church home. It also provides a tangible representation of the international body of Christ to the national believers with whom our missionaries work. Furthermore, our own church body receives the blessing that comes from obeying the Lord’s commands and helping fulfill the Great Commission.

In order to have an effective missions program with a supportive, prayerful church behind it, we also provide missions education opportunities. For years, we have offered this through the Perspectives class, a 15-week course which teaches what God is doing around the world and how each and every one of us can get involved in his purpose. This past year, we have offered Perspectives in a shortened, introductory form called Operation Worldview. Both courses offer dynamic, helpful information, exploring the biblical, historical, strategic, and cultural components of missions. Additionally, we try to provide opportunities for the congregation to interact with missions, through commissioning short-term teams, holding short-term mission report sessions, and welcoming full-time missionaries when they visit us.

Occasionally, First Baptist Church adopts a special Missions focus, highlighting a particular area in which to get involved. In the mid-1990s, much of our efforts targeted the country of Albania, whose people were unreached at that time. Over the past ten years, we have borne witness to Albania transitioning from an unreached country to a sending one.

Our most recent special Missions focus has been on the persecuted church with an emphasis on the Karen people of Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand. The Karen are victims of ethnic cleansing, civil war, and religious persecution. We are looking to minister to them through partnerships with local NGOs and other churches.

Missions operations are directed by three Ministry Teams which are overseen by our Missions Pastory.  Come visit them at the Missions Corner in the Atrium most Sundays.

For questions about content or requests for further information, please contact us at the church office.

*This page is under construction and will be updated soon.