By Larry Barker, VP Church Strategy and Training

Our designated World Missions Day in 2026 has come and gone. The impact is still to be determined in the months and years to come, but first and foremost, thank you for your investment in advancing God’s Kingdom. You are a part of God’s plan to multiply disciples, leaders, and churches. Partnership among like-minded churches is biblical. It is clearly seen and articulated in the New Testament, and the gospel continues to be advanced through these partnerships. The old acronym, T.E.A.M., still speaks the truth loudly: Together. Everyone. Accomplishes. More.  

Why should churches partner together? It has been said many ways, but let’s restate it again: We are better and stronger together. In Stronger Together, Dave Harvey states, “My experience of network — with all of its virtues and vices — has confirmed this biblical principle: churches can achieve together what no one could accomplish alone.” You could argue both sides of that statement, but the scriptures do point to a lot of cooperation and collaboration. In Philippians 1:4-5, Paul says he was always praying for them with joy because of their partnership in the gospel from the first day.

         Phil A. Newton points this out: “Paul names upward of forty persons involved in sponsoring his missionary activities…His practice of involving local church representatives implies an important ecclesiological note: mission work is teamwork…Although often unnamed, the congregations of the first century sent their finest members to do kingdom work beyond their own communities, with many of the churches having done initial preparation for those they sent out to minister…Their churches laid the groundwork for their mission work.”

         The World Missions Day offering is helping to support missions efforts in 76 countries through the work of 49 missionaries and church planters. This partnership is coming alongside over 400 ChangeMakers and assisting in planting over 550 new churches. Because of your faithfulness in giving to the advancement of the gospel around the world, there are now 1,952 BMA Global churches that saw 1,500 baptisms and trained 800 leaders in 2025. God is on the move, and we need to stop and celebrate all that He is doing. He is allowing us to partner with Him in being a part of His Great Commission. 

If you have not invested yet, there is still time to participate.  This partnership is seen in action through sending, starting, and supporting BMA Global ministries that are focused on raising up and training indigenous leaders. Because of missionary efforts over the last 75 years as an association, there are now countries like the Philippines, Mexico, and Nicaragua that are multiplying and even sending out missionaries to other countries. Our core belief is that the greatest impact comes from local disciple-makers planting churches in their own culture.

Your partnership enables us to continue to work with local churches, assisting them in identifying and sending out individuals called to missions. They mobilize believers through college ministries, local churches, and individuals via cultivating, connecting, and coaching to increase Great Commission participation. This ministry involves going, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching, which leads to multiplication and long-term sustainability. There is also an emphasis on leader health and church health. Your faithfulness in partnering is providing us the ability to not only start new churches but to simultaneously strengthen existing churches. Thank you for your partnership and faithfulness!