If one sticks around long enough, someone will likely ask you to tell the story of a church or an organization. The Lord has enabled me to attend 45 consecutive annual synod meetings, but I am especially proud to have been part of the formation of the Presbyterian Missionary Union twenty-five years ago. In this issue of the Missions Banner we have a simple story to tell; God has been faithful over and over with the “exceeding greatness of His power,” Ephesians 1:19.

When some 22 Bible Presbyterian pastors, elders, and missionaries met on January 15-16, 1985, in Media, PA, to form a missionary and church planting agency, there were missionaries waiting to join. First were Irwin and Sarah Steele (Chile) and Ray and Ruth Carlson (Kenya).

From PMU’s beginning, a Missions Council of about 20 have served to guide this work. Dr. Tom Proctor served as the first president, and I became the Missions Coordinator. Until 2000, the headquarters was located in Nashville, TN, in office space provided by the Bible Presbyterian Church there.

At PMU’s startup, there were several who assisted with help that haven’t been adequately recognized. Glenn Rogers did much organizing work that January, 1985. Debbie Racz Zimmerman aided in procuring a design for PMU’s burning bush emblem. (Mr. Eric Pastorek recently updated the emblem.) Ralph Wilson did duty as the first treasurer.

In 1988, the first Team Timothy group went out, helping the Ray Carlsons in Kenya with a number of projects. Dr. and Mrs. Howard Carlson began a ministry for PMU in Kenya in 2000, and later transferred to another mission board, along with Dr. and Mrs. Raymond Carlson, long time missionaries in Kenya.

One of the ministry projects of PMU was that of Bible distribution. Thomas Nelson Bible publishers in Nashville made available hundreds of study Bibles which were shipped to pastors and students in 15 countries overseas. The Bibles were valued at more than $330,000.

At the beginning, we chose Psalm 96:3 as a verse to remind us of the goal in all gospel work, “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all people.” Charles Spurgeon called Psalm 96 “a grand missionary hymn.” The entire Psalm is a blessed reminder about the glory of God:

• Confessing the glory of God, verses 1-3
• Contemplating the glory of God, verses 4-6
• Captured by the glory of God, verses 7-10
• Celebrating the glory of God, verses 11-13

We value this promise from our Lord, “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure,” Philippians 2:13. If God isn’t glorified in a work, then of what value is it?

Dr. Len Pine became the Field Director in 2002, and, under the Lord’s direction, took this missionary work to far greater heights. Len has traveled extensively, not only leading the annual Team Timothy groups, but visiting each missionary on the field. He has also explored new fields, together with Dr. Kevin Backus, whose church in Grand Island, NY, provides office space for PMU.

Today, Miriam has been part of PMU for eleven years. Dr. and Mrs. Ed Paauwe (Australia), Rev. Mark Baldwin (Cambodia), Rev. David Quisbert (Bolivia) and Rev. Khawl Kim (Myanmar), have all joined the PMU ranks in the past five or six years. New applicants are presenting themselves to the Council, and new church planting opportunities are pressing themselves in upon us. God is truly good to us.

Let me conclude by reminding you that if there is anything that marks the Bible Presbyterian Church, it is its more than threescore and ten decades of putting a high priority upon missions. As previously noted, Presbyterian Missionary Union marks its twenty-fifth year of ministry this year. The church planting emphasis of PMU allows us to become directly involved in domestic church planting and shepherding in cooperation with our presbyteries. Our missionary church planters have allowed us to have a significant role in establishing faithful Presbyterian denominations in such lands as Kenya, Rwanda, and Myanmar. Australia has a new church that wasn’t there two years ago. Cambodia and Bolivia are in the fledgling stages of national church building, and are on a pace toward that goal.

In addition to our thanks to God for helping us, I want to say thank you to the many churches and individuals who have consistently supported this ministry. May God give us more “pray-ers” and givers in this outreach for Christ and His kingdom.

Would you consider giving a special gift for the work at this anniversary time? Send $2,500, $250 or even $25 as you become a partner with us in this effort toward fulfilling the Great Commission. Thank you.

“Facing a task unfinished,

That drives us to our knees,

A need that, undiminished,

Rebukes our slothful ease,

We, who rejoice to know thee,

Renew before Thy throne

The solemn pledge we owe Thee-

To go and make Thee known.”

(Song by Frank Houghton, d. 1972)

— Rev. Dr. Morris McDonald, PMU President