Southern Baptist International Mission Board releases 2023 statistical report
The Southern Baptist International Mission Board (IMB) has released its Annual Statistical Report (ASR) representing work done by personnel and their missions partners in 2023.
In the report, IMB President Paul Chitwood emphasizes the importance of the Great Commission and the commitment to make disciples in every nation, people, and language, to spread the gospel to those who have never heard it.
Chitwood wrote in a preface that IMB reports from the mission field reveal how God is a powerful force behind the missionaries and their close partners and changed lives. He said the IMB is concerned about the growing number of people who will die and enter eternity without Christ and highlights the need to continue pursuing those who have never heard the gospel.
“Praise the Lord for these changed lives! While we celebrate these wins for His kingdom, the most sobering and heartbreaking statistic each year continues to grow. Tragically, today, 174,202 people will die and enter an eternity without God,” wrote Chitwood.
Six Components of the Missionary Task
The report outlines the six components of IMB’s core missionary task: entry, evangelism, discipleship, healthy church formation, leadership development, and exit to partnership.
The report outlines a new metric software tracking system the IMB introduced in early 2023 designed to improve collaboration and track progress in the six components.
“This year’s Annual Statistical Report reflects a change in reporting, grouped by the six components, emphasizing the importance of the missionary task in making disciples, catalyzing the development of healthy, autonomous, baptistic churches, and entrusting Great Commission responsibility to local partners. Comparisons to previous years’ reports should be avoided as teams and local partners learn the new tracking system. The Holy Spirit may use this report to encourage reflection, celebration, and greater faithfulness for God's glory and His kingdom purposes.”