In the 1950s, a group of churches banded together to form the Southern Idaho Regular Baptist Fellowship. Since that time, they’ve learned that the motto, “We can do more together than apart,” is absolutely true. Nothing has shown this more than the fellowship’s annual missions conference.

Each fall, the fellowship’s 12 churches host a unique round-robin conference that offers deep-level missions exposure to their people. Pooling their resources, the churches cover travel, housing, and food for their missionary guests, plus give generous love offerings. Throughout the two-week conference, attendees visit numerous host churches to hear missionary presentations. Church members pitch in to put on special events, including a youth event, men’s breakfast, women’s luncheon, and a pie social for seniors.

More than just opportunities to get together, these events deepen the love of church members for missions. Missionaries build meaningful connections with them through abundant one-on-one conversations. The adults are challenged to greater missions focus as they discover new ways they can support missions. Teens ask many questions during the youth event. These interactions make it easier for them to see themselves one day serving in this way.

Dr. Patrick Odle was one of the speakers at the 2024 event held last November. It was the first time he had experienced a mission conference quite like it: “The New Testament model of churches partnering with one another really came to life.” Andy and Christy Streit (BMM Peru appointees) were also invited. As a former pastor, Andy valued the churches’ approach: “It was really nice as a missionary to schedule a two-week block of time, knowing we’d be able to interact with as many as 10-13 churches. That is a good stewardly use of time.” By traveling to one location, the Streits and other missionaries had access to a cluster of churches all very interested in what they were doing. 

Pastor Sparky Clancy of Notus Baptist Church co-hosted the conference with Pastor Ben Jacobs of Columbia Heights Baptist Church in Boise. Pastor Clancy recognizes that what the fellowship has is pretty special, especially considering the conferences’ longevity. No one remembers exactly when it started, but two of his church members had their first date at a conference banquet 47 years ago. The fellowship has become a picture of what generational missions interest looks like, and the enthusiasm has been contagious. Earlier conference attendees passed it to their children and onward to the next generations. 

Although the fellowships’ churches are not large (membership ranges from 50 to 300), it’s not surprising that they have sent out many missionaries. Prior to their pastorate, Pastor Clancy and his wife, Myndii, followed God’s leading to the Democratic Republic of Congo after hearing conference speakers. About 15 years ago, the conference highlighted the African nation of Togo. From that one event, fellowship churches made 16-17 short-term missions trips, and today seven or eight full-time missionaries have been sent to Togo. 

A long-running conference like this never would have continued without the pastors prioritizing it and fighting for it. Pastor Clancy described 2020 as a tough year. The fellowship had to put the conference on the back burner. Some considered discontinuing the event because of how much work it is. As the pastors debated this, they thought, “If we lose this, we’re not going to get it back. So let’s dig in and get the job done.” 

And so they have, with great benefit. The conference has been a very unifying force within the fellowship, which is more like a family. The pastors talk regularly with one another, and church members pray for and help each other. Fellowship churches are united by core doctrines but vary in styles and philosophies. In cooperating wisely and respectfully of each other’s autonomy, they are accomplishing far more for the sake of Christ. Dr. Odle observed, “To see the Body of Christ fleshing out body life principles with multiple independent congregations was extra special.” And Andy Streit also lauded their mindset of, “We can work together and come together for the broader goal of seeing the gospel taken to every nation in the world.”