Great Commission Resurgence & NWBC

by Bill Crews
NWBC Executive Director

More than 11,000 messengers gathered in Orlando in mid-June to conduct business of the Southern Baptist Convention. The business receiving most attention was the report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, a group authorized last year to make recommendations “concerning how Southern Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.”


After more than two hours of debate, a large majority of messengers adopted the group’s report and recommendations. Many people are now asking, “What happens now?”

The report and seven recommendations were referred to the SBC entities for their consideration and action. In all likelihood, these agencies will report their response to the report and recommendations in Phoenix next June when the convention meets again.

What would it mean for the Northwest Baptist Convention if the recommendations were implemented as presented in the GCRTF report? Perhaps some informed predictions could help, though are not guaranteed.

At the heart of our interest is the report and recommendations concerning the North American Mission Board. Our relationship with NAMB and its predecessor has been a partnership enabling and empowering the NWBC to plant hundreds of churches and assist even more churches in evangelism development.

A major portion of the NWBC budget is affirmed and enlarged by the partnership with NAMB through “Cooperative Agreements” and “Cooperative Budgets.” The contribution made by NAMB to our mission effort is almost $2 million dollars each year. We would not be where we are today apart from this partnership.

But, what about the future?

The GCRTF report calls for the phasing out of “cooperative agreements and cooperative budgets.” However, the task force’s report clearly suggests to NAMB that there be a focused, continuing partnership with state conventions.

On page 11 of their report, in large, bold letters, this statement is highlighted: “We call upon NAMB to penetrate lostness in partnership with state conventions located in the most unreached and underserved populations of North America.”

With Oregon, Washington and Idaho among the most unchurched populations of the United States, we believe some type of partnership will replace the cooperative agreements of the past and will further strengthen our efforts to reach the Northwest with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When will this happen? No one knows for sure, but we do know NAMB needs to elect a new president and allow sufficient time for the new leader to develop the plan to establish this partnership in cooperation with state conventions like the NWBC.

All Northwest Baptists should join in praying that the NAMB Presidential Search Committee find their new leader, elect that leader and move with him and God’s plan for penetrating the lostness of our nation and world.

What effect will the Great Commission Resurgence have on God’s work in the Northwest? We took a step in a new direction when the NWBC affirmed the “Strategy for the Renewal of the NWBC” in 2008.

We re-positioned the resources God had placed in our hands to do two things: help our churches attain a spiritual vitality that resulted in an enlarged evangelism and in the planting of many new, healthy, reproducing new churches. These themes are identical to the direction the GCR Task Force report and recommendations.

God has led us in the right direction and I look forward to being encouraged in our journey by future actions of our partners at NAMB.

Church Planting Project in Portland

Learn more about the Portland Parachute Project for Church Planting.



Portland Parachute Project - Ep. 1 - "The Beginning" from Wade Patterson on Vimeo.

Portland Parachute Project

Welcome interns from across the U.S. to our Portland Parachute Team: Wade, Matthew, Callie, Austin, Ashley and Robyn. They will be immersing themselves in the urban center of Portland. Pray for them as they try to learn the rhythm of the community and discover persons of peace. They will gather critical information for a potential church plant. On site from June 1 - July 31.
- Wes Hughes, NWBC Church Planting Strategist