Brawner excited about Fusion
By Allen Palmeri
Staff Writer
November 9, 2004
JEFFERSON CITY – Scott Brawner, student evangelism specialist for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), is leaving to head up Fusion, a new strategic initiative designed to train and equip students for ministry.
Brawner’s last day with the MBC will be Dec. 13. He will be moving to Kansas City where he will become dean of students at Midwestern Bible College. FaithWorks!, the ministry Brawner founded in 1999, will play a key role in the initiative as Brawner develops a partnership with the seminary, the International Mission Board and other mission agencies.
“FaithWorks! is the catalyst in this,” Brawner said. “FaithWorks! is going to administrate Fusion.”
Brawner chose the term “fusion” because he wants to fuse together the very best qualities found in ministry and leadership development. The definition of the word is “a successful combination of ingredients achieved by heating and mixing together,” or “a blend of sensations, perceptions, ideas or attitudes such that the component elements can seldom be identified by introspective analysis.” Essentially, Fusion will function as a school.
“Fusion is designed to be a ministry immersion experience,” Brawner said. “It’s not a program to replace Bible school or seminary or Bible college or anything like that. It is a year-long program opportunity for intensive discipleship for an opportunity to serve within the context of the local church under the authority of bright, growing pastors, youth pastors and church planters.”
Roy Spannagel, MBC associate executive director, is excited about the opportunity that Fusion represents.
“Fusion brings together the resources of several national and international mission organizations and educational institutions and sets before Southern Baptists a new paradigm in mission and ministry training and mobilization,” Spannagel said.
The year-long program is designed for young adults ages 18-24. The first phase, from August through December, involves intense discipleship and mentoring as well as classroom work. The second phase, from January through June, involves mission trips overseas and work with evangelism and church planting ministries in either America or abroad.
“We want them to get the practical experience of being in ministry,” Brawner said. “We want these students to develop a mindset and lifestyle of evangelism and missions no matter where they work or live.”
Accreditation for Fusion will come through Midwestern Bible College, the four-year undergraduate school aligned with Midwestern Theological Bible Seminary.