This is the online mission dialogue and resource hub  for NSW Baptists.

The Baptist movement is a mission movement. The term, mission, comes from the Latin missio, meaning sent. From that term we get our English words, emit, emission, emanate, all of which suggest outward propulsion. So when we say Baptists are a missional people we are saying our movement is energised by an outward orientation. We are a sent people, focused on announcing the Lordship of Jesus to those around us.

Dr Brian Winslade, the national ministries director for the Baptist Union of Australia, says, "The Baptist movement in Australia needs to think intentionally in missional terms. We must. We have little other reason to exist."

Our commitment to mission is central because we believe mission is found at the very heart of the nature of God. Mission isn't simply an activity of God. It describes his character. He is a sent and sending God. He sent out his Word in the act of Creation. He breathed out his Spirit into humanity. He has sent his prophets forth throughout the Old Testament narrative. And as Trinitarian people we believe he has revealed his character most clearly in the New Testament where we find the Father sending his Son and the Father and Son sending the Spirit.

That process is never complete, however, until we recognise that the Father, Son and Spirit then send us, the church, to continue their work of announcing and demonstrating the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As Rob Ellis, NSW director of Global Interaction says, "The local church is the launching pad for mission, both down our street and across the world."

DIRECTIONS 2012 MISSION COVENANT

This website has been launched by the Mission Taskforce of Directions 2012 as part of its desire to empower congregations for effective mission. It is hoped that over time this site will become a primary mission resource for pastors and leaders throughout our churches. The centrepiece of the site is the MISSION COVENANT, a measurable declaration of commitment to local and global mission. Click on this to find out more. We urge you to read the covenant and prayerfully consider whether you and your church can commit to this marvellous expression of Baptist mission.

RESOURCES

Go to our resources page and have a browse around - there's some great content here already. We are encouraging churches to contribute further material. What stories of effective mission could you encourage others with? Send your resources or ideas through to our site manager, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

To find out more about the Directions 2012 Mission TaskForce you can read the latest update or contact the taskforce.