To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. Acts 26:18

The Rainbow Forest Baptist Church Missions Ministry exists to educate and inform the local body of believers about missions work, to provide opportunities for participation in missions work, and to help train and send out from this body. According to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we are committed to obey Christ's mandate to go into all the world and make disciples of all the peoples, making it a priority to reach those who are un-reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to equip indigenous churches for their edification (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 4:11-12).

We believe that man was ultimately created to worship God (Psalm 67:1-2). As we worship Him, we come to know Him in a more intimate and personal way, and we see His heart for the nations. When we really begin to know and worship God, our desire is to tell others about Him so that they too can worship Him. Therefore after worship, missions is priority, making Him known among the nations (Psalm 96:3). God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Since this is God’s heart, our hearts should desire the same.

One day a great multitude, which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10).

Missions is not about what you do or where you go, but it is all about who you are. The work of missions is not as important as the one who is representing God to the nations. The heart of the missionary must be one of obedience to the Lord, desiring to know Him and His will for their life.

Acts 1:8 says, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem (Roanoke Valley), and in all Judea (Virginia) and Samaria (North America), and to the end of the earth." The Word shows us that we are to evangelize the whole world, both locally and internationally at the same time.

Our Purpose
The purpose behind all mission work at RFBC is that we would be a people with a world vision, through the power of God, to take the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. We do this in cooperation with other Southern Baptist churches as well as various independent agencies to carry out the Great Commission given by Jesus. At RFBC we are actively involved in proclaiming the gospel to those who are our neighbors and those in distant lands.

Our Mandate
From the time that God first sought out a disobedient Adam, He has been at work calling sinful man back to Himself. The Lord wants to restore with man the relationship and fellowship He intended when man was created. Even though the relationship with God was broken through man's willful disobedience, God in His grace proclaims throughout the Old Testament the good news of a coming redeemer for mankind.

When the promised redeemer came, Jesus Christ the Son of God, he clearly stated His purpose for coming. Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost." It is obvious that it is God who is seeking after men. His great work of creation was completed in six days. His gracious work of redemption that changes the lives of men continues to this day.