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“Go in the full knowledge of the radical love of Jesus. May that love drive you to radical dependence on Him. May that dependence lead you to your knees. And through God’s faithfulness, may your brokenness lead to fruitfulness,” pronounced John Winkle, director of Advancement Activities of The Mission Society on November 3, 2010. His benediction marked the conclusion of The Mission Society’s service of consecration of the eight newest of its 206 career missionaries. Held at a chapel at Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center and officiated by The Mission Society President Dick McClain, the consecration service punctuated two days of meetings for the members of The Mission Society board of directors, who gather twice a year in Atlanta.

Fifteen board members were present, including four of five outgoing board members, who were honored during a banquet Tuesday night. Outgoing board members include: Mr. Bill Goff, Jr., a former Mission Society chairperson and retired strategic consultant and executive coach from Ballground, GA; Dr. Bill O’Brien, author, educator, former missionary and past executive vice president of Southern Baptist International Mission Board from Frisco, Texas; Mrs. Janet Rockey, business owner from Georgetown, South Carolina; the Rev. Dr. Jerald Russell, former missionary, interim president of Hiawassee College, Hiawassee, Tennessee, and pastor of Fairview UMC, Maryville, Tennessee; and the Rev. Robert Sturdy, rector of a new Anglican congregation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Among the board’s activities, it re-elected board chairperson Mr. William Johnson, retired real estate developer in the Atlanta area, to serve an additional term. In addition, the board elected three new board members: Mr. Neal Reynolds, advertising executive and entrepreneur from Atlanta, GA; Mrs. Helen Rhea Stumbo, businesswoman and leader in the renewal movement of The United Methodist Church from Fort Valley, GA; and the Rev. Max Wilkins, senior pastor of The Family Church in Gainesville, FL. The board also celebrated new locations in which it now ministers as The Mission Society seeks, with increasing intentionality, to reach into least reached areas of the world. Presently 50% of existing Mission Society missionaries focus intentionally on engaging least reached peoples with the gospel.

Now 26 years old, The Mission Society adopted a new mission statement in May, 2010 which reads: The Mission Society exists to mobilize and deploy the body of Christ globally to join Jesus in His mission, especially among the least reached people.