Many of the blogs I write for KYandBeyond each month are about Kentucky Mission Service Corps Missionaries and their ministries. You may have heard the term, read their stories, and even volunteered in their ministries, but also may be asking, “What is a Kentucky Missions Service Corps missionary.”
The definition of a Kentucky Mission Service Corps missionary (KY-MSC), is an adult (18 years of age or older), called by God and connected to a Kentucky Baptist Convention church, who commits to serve from 9 months to 2 years (renewable). The positions engage in or directly support missions, church planting, collegiate ministry, or evangelism, in cooperative partnership with a Kentucky Baptist Convention church, association, or organization. Kentucky Mission Service Corps missionaries are self-funded. (Go to www.kybaptist.org/msc for information.)
Currently one hundred twenty-two (122) Kentucky Mission Service Corps missionaries serve in various ministries across the state. They serve in roles from association outreach positions to equestrian ministries, ministry centers, pregnancy care centers, homeless shelters, and prison ministries, just to name a few. Some of these missionaries came to Kentucky from other states, while most are serving in their home state, very possibly their hometown or community.
We are always looking for persons to join our KY-MSC Family. Recently, while speaking at the Liberty Baptist Association Executive Board Meeting, I met Becky Baise. Becky, a member of Coral Hill Baptist Church in Glasgow, shared that she served at Next Step, a Christ-centered ministry designed to help equip individuals to become personally, financially, and spiritually responsible to God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They address the physical and spiritual needs of each individual through assistance with basic human necessities, the development of life skills, and through sharing the truth of the Gospel. The following week I connected with Becky, and Next Step Director John Harbert, about becoming KY-MSC missionaries. They were not familiar with KY-MSC, although they fit the criteria perfectly. Both Becky and John have been approved, and are now serving as Kentucky Mission Service Corps missionaries through Next Step Ministries.
Why become a KY-MSC Missionary? Individuals can serve without being KY-MSC, but networking with the other missionaries is such a support. Sharing ideas, resources, encouraging one another, is such a blessing. We like to say we are a KY-MSC Family.
Do you perhaps serve in a ministry that would qualify you to become a KY-MSC Missionary? Or, do you know of someone who is a candidate to serve as a KY-MSC Missionary? If so, please email [email protected]. We would love to talk with you about joining our KY-MSC Family.
And, thank you for supporting KY-MSC. As you give through the Cooperative Program (CP) and the Eliza Broadus State Mission Offering (EBO) you are a part of the work of these missionaries and ministries. Although self-funded, a KY-MSC Missionary does benefit from CP and EBO funding through orientations, trainings. annual retreats, and opportunities to apply for grants to assist in ministry. As Kentucky Baptists. we all are FAMILY!!
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