Dr. Tim Lubinus, Executive Director/Treasurer
As I am meeting with pastors and other members of BCI churches I sometimes have an opportunity to either verify or invalidate a rumor. If I hear the same rumor more than once, I realize that some kind of miscommunication has happened.
I have heard a few rumors about the North American Mission Board more than once so I though it would be helpful to readers on this site to correct these myths:
NAMB Myth #1: The North American Mission Board cut off their partnership and funding to the Baptist Convention of Iowa a couple of years ago.
Reality: Funding from NAMB has remained high and unchanging for many years. They are by far our largest funding source.
NAMB Myth #2: The North American Mission Board’s partnership has soured with the Baptist Convention of Iowa recently and we are working to become independent of NAMB.
Reality: Our partnership is as strong as ever and getting stronger. I’ve found that NAMB has been working hard to do everything possible to assist the BCI in its task of reaching Iowans for Christ and starting churches. NAMB is an essential and helpful partner for us.
NAMB Myth #3: The North American Mission Board forced us to dissolve our associations a few years ago.
Reality: NAMB shifted some of their funding from the traditional Director of Missions positions toward staff positions that focus on catalyzing churches and also toward funding additional church starts. BCI was free to continue the associations without change, but BCI leadership chose (and I think they were right) to shift the job assignment of some of our associational director of mission positions to that of church planting catalyst.
If I hear of other rumors that are repeated more than once, I’ll try to use this forum to make the correction. If you have any questions on what I’ve written, feel free to write me at TLubinus@BCIowa.org.
Tim Lubinus, DMin.
Executive Director
