We inteviewed Judy Davis- Missions Director at Gateway Baptist Church, to learn more about how her church lives missionally. Read her full interview below.

How long have you served in this position?

I have felt God’s call to missions since I was a teenager, and I had the opportunity to serve as a missionary in Japan for a couple of years. After joining Gateway Baptist Church in 1994, I began volunteering on the Mission Team in 1997 and joined staff in 2004 as the Missions Director. Since that time, Gateway has grown, changed locations, and my role has grown as the church has grown. 

What unique things does your church do missionally?

• We offer various on-ramps to get involved in missions. Just as you can enter the interstate at different locations, we try to provide different on-ramps to get involved in missions. These opportunities vary in the amount of time, skill, and resources that are needed. For example, if a person wants to explore mission involvement, they may not be ready to go overseas to a difficult place, but they may be ready to participate in a mission trip that is closer to home. Our on-ramps start with local opportunities that may take a few hours and increase in difficulty to a mission trip overseas. I have enjoyed seeing several people getting their feet wet by going on a missions trip in South Carolina, and then later challenging themselves to go on a trip outside the U.S. I love the opportunities for discipleship that each of these on-ramps offer.

• We offer family missions trips ranging from one day to four days. For example, we have taken groups of 30 to 40 on one-day trips to serve at places like Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries. Most recently we have been partnering with a ministry in our state in a small town in South Carolina that is divided racially and economically by the railroad tracks that run through the town. We bring a missions team for four days and come alongside by serving at their VBS-style summer camp in the morning and doing service projects in the local community in the afternoon. 

• We are placing more emphasis on reaching the third of the world’s population that has never heard the name of Jesus. Worldwide, only 3% of missionaries and 1% of funding goes to reach these groups of people. We are excited to be partnering with missionaries and missions organizations that are planting churches in these areas. 

What kind of language does your church use to motivate people to missions?

We have an Acts 1:8 strategy, and we are involved locally, nationally, and internationally and work in these areas simultaneously. Or as our missions webpage says, “whether it be in our own backyard or in the most remote place on earth.” We find there is synergy in doing this. For example, we have been able to make strategic connections for and between our Missions Partners. We are always learning from our Missions Partners and have sometimes seen and experienced ministry opportunities that we have brought back and tried in our local context.

How are you supporting Sent Ones?

When we develop a partnership, first and foremost, we want it to be very relational. Certainly, there are elements that are contractual, but a relationship of trust is our starting point. We want to benefit our Missions Partners by praying for them, encouraging them, providing assistance, touching base with them, and financially supporting them. We also see partnerships as a two-way street. We recognize that there is a lot we can gain from our partners. They pour into our members by providing volunteer and mission trip opportunities. They join us for our Missions Conference and encourage our members to join God in His missional activity. Through our involvement with our partners we have learned new ways of doing ministry and learned lessons from the challenges they have faced. 

What else would you say to other missions leaders?

Your church can only do so many things well, so don’t be afraid to say no to opportunities that are not aligned with God’s calling on your church even if it is a great opportunity. Just like individuals have unique gifts and talents, churches do too, so find out what your church does well and pursue those things.