Book Review: 'Foundations' by the International Mission Board

The International Mission Board (IMB) was founded in 1845 as the Foreign Mission Board (FMB) at the first Southern Baptist Convention. Since then, the IMB has reached numerous people groups and places across the globe. In 2022, the IMB published its fourth version of Foundations to clarify the foundations from God’s Word that inform the work they do (p. 5). The aim is to establish an understanding of who the organization is and what it does with implications for how its actors live and work around the world (p. 6).

Summary

First, to answer the question of who the IMB is, Foundations answers the question of who they are by stating that they are disciples of Jesus Christ (p. 17). It’s explained that if they want to be effective at their task they must grow in their faithfulness to Christ and His church. Then, the organization says it exists to serve the SBC in fulfilling the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:16–20 in correlation with its convictions in values (p. 25). They’re convicted to glorify God through Biblical faithfulness, fervent prayer, walking in the Spirit, proclaiming the gospel and making disciples, and advancing the church (p. 35). Next, they define key terms to ensure the audience has a common understanding and vocabulary. Next to last, Foundations explains six components of the core missionary task: entry, evangelism, discipleship, healthy church formation, leadership development, and exit to partnership. Finally, following the conclusion, two addenda are presented concerning partnerships with other churches and ministries and a section on how the Bible ought to be interpreted. 

Strengths and Weaknesses

The authors of Foundations accomplished their purpose to define who they are and what they do very efficiently and thoroughly. The two biggest strengths of the book are its use of graphics and lists to communicate its message, and the authors’ commitment to further clarify the missionary task as additional issues arise. One weakness is that the application and elaboration of the definition of a local church from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 was lacking.

The first strength is that Foundations presents a few graphics and lists to help communicate its purpose. The book states that the IMB is an organization of disciples. That’s who they are. To support this statement, six marks of a disciple are presented (p. 73). This list helps to systematically present a clear definition of what they mean when they use the word disciple. The six marks are a transformed heart, transformed mind, transformed affections, transformed will, transformed relationships, and transformed purpose. I think it’s helpful to clearly define the word disciple because disciples are what the IMB is trying to make. The most helpful graphic in the book is the graphic displaying the “Missionary Task” (p. 95). It’s a circular shape that shows the process previously mentioned in the summary. At the center of the circle are the words “Abide in Christ.” This demonstrates the task of every missionary that the IMB sends. It’s helpful for prospective missionaries and supporting churches to have a clear task laid out for them. To further clarify what “healthy church formation” means in the Missionary Task, a list of twelve characteristics of a healthy church is given. Churches supporting the IMB need to know what kind of churches are going to be planted and supported across the earth. In these characteristics, the point that churches are responsible for the missionary task is presented. There are cross-overs between the Missionary Task diagram and this list: Biblical Evangelism, Biblical Discipleship, and Biblical Mission. 

Another strength is the author’s thoroughness in including the Addenda. The missionary task presented by the IMB is not the only missionary task being carried out on the mission field. Some other organizations and ministries have different objectives and methods, and it’s helpful to have a guideline on how to discern which ministries and churches are acceptable to cooperate with. This is covered in the first addendum. The second addendum is lengthy and covers biblical interpretation. Being a book concerning the biblical foundations of the IMB's identity and task, it’s important to note how the Bible ought to be interpreted. Furthermore, the Bible is God’s Word. A disciple’s life revolves around the Word of God and in making disciples, missionaries must be able to communicate how to read and interpret His Word.

One weakness of Foundations is its application of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000’s definition of a local church. Everything mentioned in the definition of a local church is applied in the twelve characteristics of a healthy church except for what the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 means by, “Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes” (p. 78). This line is speaking of congregationalism, which is a Baptist distinctive. Curiously, the IMB does not elaborate on this or mark this as one of the twelve characteristics of a healthy church. I do not want to assume too much as to why this exclusion was made, but I imagine it is because of the difficulty of implementing such a structure in foreign cultures. Even if this is the case, it would be helpful to have this addressed in the text.

Personal Reflection

As a young man aspiring to vocational ministry, I benefited tremendously from reading Foundations. I am very passionate about seeing the Great Commission carried out through local churches, and Foundations does an excellent job at prioritizing the local church in the United States and abroad. I did not grow up Baptist, but two years ago I became a member of a Southern Baptist church. After reading Foundations I am more confident than ever in my church contributing to the SBC’s Cooperative Program. 

Whether I become a pastor here in the United States or a missionary overseas, I am better equipped with an understanding of the missionary task. If I’m a pastor, I will be able to equip and mobilize members of my congregation to take the gospel to unreached peoples and places. If I am a missionary, I will be equipped for that very task. Even if the Lord brings me to remain an obedient church member and nothing more, I am better equipped to pray for missionaries and my church as we endeavor to fulfill the Great Commission.