Let’s baptize 8,000 across Missouri!

At our annual meeting in Branson, I encouraged Missouri Baptists to baptize 8,000 in 2026. Each year, there are many worthy goals we can, and should, strive towards. We can set goals for new church plants, worship attendance, Sunday School, Cooperative Program giving, Missouri Missions Offering, Annie, and Lottie – these are all good, healthy, and impactful aspects of faithful ministry.

The most critical metric, though, is baptisms. How many people are making professions of faith in Jesus and following through with biblical baptism? How many lives are being transformed by the gospel? How many are repenting from sin and trusting Jesus as Savior? This is the metric that matters most – in fact, it matters for eternity!

Thankfully, Missouri Baptist churches are increasing in baptisms. In 2021, we baptized a historic low of 4,662. Covid-19 was a significant factor in 2021, but regardless, our baptisms hit an all-time low.

In 2022, we experienced a 30 percent increase in baptisms (6,097), followed by an 11 percent increase in 2023 (6,798). This positive trend continued in 2024 with a 10 percent increase (7,482), and in 2025 we’ll have yet another encouraging increase in baptisms (the data is not yet finalized), but we’ll likely fall short of 8,000.

The last time Missouri Baptist churches baptized more than 8,000 was 2015. So, it’s been more than a decade since we’ve been able to celebrate 8,000.

Currently, our average is approximately 4.5 baptisms per MBC church. For clarity, some churches baptize well over 100, while others labor faithfully for one baptism. We rejoice in every profession of faith, every transformed life, and every baptism. But, based on our average, if every church baptized just one more in 2026, we would significantly exceed our goal of 8,000!

How should we respond to what we know? First, we should pray. Matthew 9:37-38 reminds us that “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” We labor in vain if we labor without prayer. 

Second, we should plan. Matthew 9:38 certainly emphasizes prayer, but it also reminds us that laborers must be sent. In 2026, why not plan a special outreach event, schedule revival services, make an extra effort to reach the unreached for VBS, have a “block party” for an underserved area in your community, or – here’s an old-fashioned idea – go knock on doors and invite people to church! Regardless of what you do, it’s important to plan something!

Every time I read Matthew 9:37-38 and pray for the Lord to send out laborers, He reminds me that I’m a laborer. I’m not praying for the Lord to send someone else; I’m praying for the Lord to send me. 

In 2026, we’ll measure many aspects of ministry – all worthy of our attention – but I hope and pray we prioritize baptisms. Further, I pray you and your church will join the effort to reach 8,000 baptisms in 2026. May the Lord bless our efforts, may lives be forever transformed by the gospel, and may baptisms increase beyond our expectations!