November 9, 2025
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” — Matthew 28:19
When Jesus gave the Great Commission, the plural form of the verbs He used indicates that He called His Church to go together. Across Georgia, pastors and congregations are rediscovering that missions thrive when churches partner shoulder to shoulder, crossing cultural and linguistic barriers to make disciples among the nations.
One shining example comes from Coweta County, Georgia, where local churches have joined hands with International Mission Board missionaries Johnny and Donna Maust in Cabuyal, Ecuador. Guided by Mark Runyans, a missions strategist trained through the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, these churches have engaged in every stage of the missionary task as described by the IMB: entry, evangelism, discipleship, church formation, leadership development, and, ultimately, local ownership and exit.
Entry: Obedience Opens Doors
Every mission begins with a simple “yes.” In 2020, several churches committed to a new partnership with Ecuador. Runyans recalls, “At first, I wasn’t sure how a church so far away could help with all phases of the missionary task, but God proved Himself faithful.” Through prayer and training received by the GBMB missions team, churches prepared virtually before sending teams in person. That step of obedience opened the door to what has become a long-term, life-changing relationship for all churches involved.
“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” — John 20:21
Evangelism: Crossing Barriers Together
In missions, obedience leads to action through open doors. Runyans writes, “In missions, we cross barriers to share the gospel and make disciples.” In order to gain access to an unevangelized community, a missions partner may need to offer some benevolent work to build relationships and gain trust. In Cabuyal, Georgia Baptists worked alongside Ecuadorians to clean and paint a community building. Through this simple endeavor, the gospel is now preached, and believers from this new church plant have a place to worship together. In Peñas Blancas, Pastor Keith Stell of New Georgia Baptist Church and other churches from the West Metro Baptist Association are partnering with the Mausts to see lives changed through Christ.
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” — Romans 10:15
Evangelism was more than an event; it was a lifestyle of witness through service, compassion, and gospel proclamation.
Discipleship: Growing in Christ Together
Evangelism may begin the partnership journey, but discipleship sustains it. Some Georgia Baptist churches in Coweta County have returned again and again to strengthen new believers through Bible study and mentoring.
“Teach them to observe everything I have commanded you.” — Matthew 28:20
Just as Paul revisited the early believers to “strengthen the souls of the disciples” (Acts 14:22), these Georgia teams modeled long-term faithfulness. Discipleship became a living relationship, not just a written program of study.
Church Formation: Building the Body
The fruit of evangelism and discipleship is a local church. In 2023, Georgia teams helped restore a building that soon became home to the Cabuyal Church Plant. Today, believers meet weekly for worship, and several have been saved and baptized.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” — Acts 2:42
This new church represents what can happen when God’s people partner in humility and hope, proving that the Church is built not by structures but by hearts united in Christ.
Leadership Development: Equipping the Next Generation
Of course, sustainable missions require trained leaders. In January 2025, Runyans’ teams hosted a leadership training retreat for potential pastors and ministry workers from all of the Ecuadorian church plants that the Mausts are currently engaging, returning again just this past August to continue mentoring those leaders. They did this while also completing other ministry tasks in Cabuyal.
“Entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” — 2 Timothy 2:2
Leadership development ensures that gospel work continues long after visiting teams return home. Through partnership with IMB Missionaries Johnny and Donna Maust, Georgia churches are helping raise indigenous leaders who will one day lead their own congregations.
Exit to Partnership: The Power of Working Together
Runyans describes his missions ministry as one of facilitating partnerships between Georgia Baptist churches and evangelical believers in Ecuador. “By building bridges and breaking down walls, partnerships help us cross barriers together,” Runyans says. Partnership multiplies gospel impact. The Apostle Paul celebrated the Philippians for their “partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5). Georgia Baptists are rediscovering that same joy as churches collaborate both locally and globally.
Partnership isn’t about projects, it’s about relationships that glorify Christ. Runyans reminds us that “mission trips should be strategic.” Strategic sending means every trip aligns with long-term goals of evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development.
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” — Acts 13:2
Through careful planning and partnership with GBMB and IMB missionaries, every trip becomes part of a continuing story of transformation. Reflecting on four years of partnership, Runyans says, “We have been involved in all phases of the missionary task… God has been faithful.” Indeed, God’s faithfulness is the common thread. From initial training to leadership development, Georgia Baptists have seen the gospel multiply through obedience and collaboration.
“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:24
A Call to Action for Georgia Baptist Churches
Missions is not a single activity or department within an institution; it’s the DNA of the church. Every congregation, large or small, can join this story of faithfulness.
Five Practical Steps:
“Missions is not what we do apart from the church—it’s what the church was made for.”
The story of Coweta County’s churches and their partnership in Ecuador is more than a mission trip; it’s a model for every Georgia Baptist congregation. When local churches take ownership of the missionary task together, they reflect the heart of Christ and multiply His mission.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine… to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.” — Ephesians 3:20–21
God’s faithfulness is still writing the story. The next chapter belongs to those churches willing to say, “Here we are, Lord—send us.”
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Samuel Ayala is the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's Church Strengthening Missions Consultant for the Southern & West Central Regions.
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