Jackson, Miss.—Doug and Joli Cullen are Mission Service Corps missionaries who partner with NAMB and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Although based in the commonwealth, they don’t really have a home. They travel the nation speaking in churches, schools, homeless shelters and to whoever else will listen about the sanctity of human life at all stages—pre-birth through death—and how Christians can be a voice for life even in a hostile culture. Along the way they stay in unused parsonages, missionary homes, in the homes of host church members and often in their tent.

“You would be surprised how many Southern Baptists say abortion should be left to individuals to decide,” Doug Cullen noted. Still, the couple said they have seen God work in the hearts of people as they hold up the gospel and share the message of life.

“A few months back,” Doug recalled, “we were scheduled to speak at a church and the pastor e-mailed and said, ‘I don’t know if you want to come or not. One of our members strongly believes abortion should be legal and I’m afraid she will make things very tough on you.’ But we came anyway and after the service, that 75-year-old woman came forward with tears in her eyes and said she had been wrong about the issue.”

The Cullens joined 87 other missionaries and chaplains appointed by the North American Mission Board during a May 18 service at Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton, Miss.

Among them was Sarah Ferguson who talked about her ministry to New Jersey commuters whose long hours en route to and from work in New York City take a toll on family life.

“I’m helping train parents to be the spiritual leaders of their children,” she explained. “I’m sharing the gospel and helping families find ways of focusing on Christ in their everyday lives.”

Ferguson said she is convinced that families are the most important link in passing a Christian legacy to the next generation. She serves as a US/C2 missionary through NAMB and the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania-South Jersey.

• "Trustees affirm NAMB's 'crucial' role"
  
  
• "Missionaries with Kentucky ties appointed by IMB"

She always has a story ready about the latest family in which she has seen God work. One father recently rededicated his life to Christ and started taking his family back to church.

“They were having a lot of problems with their oldest daughter. She and another sibling didn’t want to have anything to do with church. Through our ministry, the dad decided he was going to start leading his family and bring them back to church even if the children disagreed. Now the daughter is in our leadership program and is leading other kids.”

Ferguson’s story was one of dozens that the newly commissioned missionaries and chaplains shared. The group represented multiple ethnic backgrounds and will join more than 5,600 NAMB missionaries serving throughout the United States, Canada and their territories.

NAMB President Geoff Hammond cited the Apostle Paul’s visit to Thessalonica in Acts 17 in telling the group to be bold as they go into the mission field.

“There is a trend in ministry today that says you have to first go to a community and fit in and be a part of things,” Hammond said. “Too often we fit in so much nobody can tell the difference. You need to go be a part of the community, but let them know what you believe. Jesus said it well—don’t hide your light under a bushel.”

Woman’s Missionary Union Executive Director Wanda Lee addressed the missionaries and led a time of prayer.

“Our partnership with these missionaries does not end tonight,” Lee declared. “Out of a heart of love we are called to pray for these missionaries and to learn about their needs so you can pray more than just, ‘God bless our missionaries.’” (BP)