The Missionary Perspective

Visionary Church Planting

Erik and Josh discuss principles for developing a biblical vision for church planting.

Catching Up

Erik and Josh catch up on life, ministry, and family

J.B. Godfrey Part 3

This episode is taken from a session J.B. Godfrey taught at a recent BIMI field conference. We know it will bless you. 

J.B. Godfrey Part Two

J. B. Godfrey

Vice President and Executive Director

When I was two years old, my parents were divorced and I was reared by my grandparents who faithfully sent me to church. At twelve years of age, I accepted Christ as my Savior; however, it was not until I was sixteen that I became serious about serving the Lord. While I was attending a funeral, God called me to preach—a decision I made public in the next church service. I began to study my Bible and to listen to Oliver B. Green, Harold Sightler, Dr. M. R. DeHaan and other great preachers on the radio. I also began to read books by Dr. John R. Rice, R. A. Torrey and other great preachers. The Lord revolutionized my life!

At age seventeen I joined the United States Marine Corps as an opportunity to serve my country and be a witness to my fellow Marines.

I married Linda Burrell in 1969 and we set out to serve the Lord together. In 1970 we moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to attend Tennessee Temple University. Before I took my first class, God used a small article in the Baptist Bible Trumpet, published by Dr. John Waters, to burden my heart about reaching Muslims in the Sahara. The article was written by Dr. Dan Truax, who became my Director for many years. I graduated from Tennessee Temple with a Bachelor's degree in Missions. In December 1973 we joined Baptist International Missions, Inc. (BIMI).

After a year of deputation, we arrived in Albertville, France, to study the French language. We spent a year and a half in France and then took a ship down to the country of Senegal, where we worked until 1990. God blessed our years there. Two of our five children were born in Senegal. While there we learned the Wolof language and had the privilege of seeing Muslims come to know Christ.

At the request of BIMI, we moved to the country of Zaire in 1991 to reopen the work of missionary Anton Andersen. Just two weeks after our arrival in the village of Tshene, serious fighting broke out in the country. The next eighteen months were filled with many dangers, culminating in our family being airlifted from the country in 1993. During the time we spent in Zaire, we learned another language (Kikongo), saw many people saved, and worked with the many believers who were there.

When we arrived back in America, we were going to take a year's medical leave; however, God had other plans for us. Our home church, Grace Baptist Church of Landrum, South Carolina, called me to be their pastor. At the same time, Ambassador Baptist College was in need of an experienced missionary to add to their teaching faculty. For the next nine years I pastored a growing church, taught at Ambassador two days a week, and served on the Executive Board or as an officer of the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools.

In August 2001 Dr. Les Frazier asked if I would pray about becoming Far East Director with BIMI. After seven months of prayer and much heart searching, I accepted this position. I resigned as pastor of my church and as instructor at Ambassador in May 2002.

For ten years I served as Far East Director.

In the summer of 2011, I was asked to serve as Vice President and Executive Director at BIMI. I took that position in January 2012. My tasks are many. We spend time out on the mission fields assisting our missionaries. I do the “Moments for Missions” radio broadcasts. Most weeks I preach in a missions conference or on a college campus. There are also many projects on which I work for Dr. David Snyder at the World Missions Center. We count it a blessing and a privilege to serve a wonderful group of missionaries and the churches which send them out.

Guest Missionary J.B. Godfrey

J. B. Godfrey is a veteran missionary, pastor, and missions leader with decades of service around the globe. He and his wife Linda served for many years in North Africa and later helped mobilize missionaries across Asia and the Muslim world. Currently, he serves as the Vice President of BIMI’s Far East and Southeast Asia Fields, encouraging and equipping the next generation of missionaries. A passionate speaker and storyteller, J. B. brings deep insight into cross-cultural missions, spiritual warfare, and the joys and costs of gospel work.

Interview with Alex Kocman

Alex Kocman is a Christian, husband, father of four, student, writer, podcaster, church leader, missions advocate, and voice on the biblical and cultural issues affecting us today. He received his M.A. in Media and Communication Studies and B.S. in Biblical Studies through Liberty University, where he also served as an online evangelism and apologetics instructor with Liberty University Online from 2012-2014.

From there, he spent two years as a Student Ministry Coordinator at a large, multisite church. He now serves as Director of Communications and Engagement for ABWE, a theologically conservative church-planting missions agency with about 1,000 missionaries reaching nearly 90 countries. Since 2017, he has cohosted The Missions Podcast with Scott Dunford, interviewing notable guests across the evangelical and missiological worlds. In 2023, he also began hosting Cloud of Witnesses, ABWE’s show highlighting stories of veteran missionary faithfulness, and in 2024, he launched The World View on YouTube.

He is the co-author with Chad Vegas of Missions by the Book: How Theology and Practice Walk Together (Founders Press, 2021), which argues for a biblical vision of the missionary task driven by historic Protestant orthodoxy bounded by the regulative principle. He is also the author of Striving for the Faith: A Journey Through Philippians for Life on Mission (Founders Press), which is now available for preorder and slated for release in February 2025.

His other miscellaneous writings have been featured in various outlets, including The Gospel Coalition, For the Church, 9Marks, Biblical Missiology, Founders Ministries, Doctrine and Devotion, Message Magazine and ABWE’s blog, Liberty University News, American Bible Society’s Record Magazine, and Christian Life News.

He resides with his wife and four children in York, Pennsylvania, where he spends his free time studying theology, weightlifting, and nursing a heavy coffee addiction. He adheres to the 1689 London Baptist Confession and serves as an elder at Faith Bible Fellowship Church, where he leads the missions team and serves as director of communications and worship.

Funerals on the Mission Field

Josh and Erik share a topic not often discussed by missionaries: how to conduct funerals on the mission field. 

Pastor Keith Mead

Keith Mead has served as a pastor for over 40 years. He is now retired. His wife and two of his four children are with the Lord. Pastor Mead was not only Josh's pastor when he was a child but is Josh's grandfather. 

Interview with DJ and Lorrie Harry

D.J. Harry is the pastor of Needhams Grove Baptist Church in Seagrove, North Carolina. His undergraduate training was in science education which led him to teach high school chemistry, biology, and physics for eight years.

However, in 2005, God directed his steps into pastoral ministry. He received his M.Div. from Piedmont International University and will complete his D.Min. in 2025. A featured speaker at marriage conferences, parenting conferences, and camps, DJ is known for his Bible-centered preaching and for his passion for the Lord. DJ and his wife, Lorrie, were married in 1997. They have four adult children that are all serving the Lord!

Missionary Q and A | Part Two

Erik and Josh answer questions sent in by a college student