By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
CHESTER, Va. (LBM) – Former Louisiana Baptist Sunday School and Discipleship Strategist Sean Keith and his wife, Pam, former director of preschool ministries with Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, were among 54 individuals commissioned as missionaries by the International Mission Board, Sept. 24.
Hosted by Ironbridge Baptist Church, Chester, Virginia, the Sending Celebration highlighted a commitment to missions by the newly commissioned missionaries from 13 states and a charge to share the Gospel by IMB President Paul Chitwood.
“Perhaps God is calling you to a deeper commitment to His work around the world through praying, giving, going or sending,” Chitwood said before introducing the new missionaries giving their testimonies.
Chitwood read aloud some of the testimonies from missionaries whose faces could not be shown or their voices heard.
“These brothers and sisters are going to some difficult and hard-to-reach places,” he said. “We don’t want the broadcast of this service to compromise their ability to work among the least reached people on earth.”
CALLED TO SERVE
The Keiths and two other couples from Louisiana were commissioned. Due to security concerns the other couples’ names cannot be disclosed.
Even though they were nearing retirement, the Keiths embraced the call to carry the Great Commission across the world.
In addition to assuming his role as Sunday School and discipleship strategist from March 2007-September 2025, Sean Keith also served for more than 40 years in youth and education ministry at various churches. Additionally, he been a youth consultant with the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board and a student ministry specialist with Lifeway Church Resources.
Pam served as director of preschool ministries from September 2010 to May 2021 with their sending church, Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville.
During the Sending Celebration, the Keiths expressed excitement about leading teams who will join them as they evangelize and disciple college students. “Our full-time service in local churches, state conventions and Lifeway has prepared us for the opportunity to go and make disciples into the uttermost parts of the earth,” he said during his remarks on stage.
In an interview with the IMB before the Sending Celebration, Sean noted that “if we support and work together, encourage one another, love one another, equip one another, we can really accomplish something that none of us could even think or imagine.”
WORDS OF APPRECIATION
Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn said a celebration is needed anytime someone from Louisiana is called to serve as a missionary with the IMB.
“When someone is called from Louisiana, that means they were likely saved, discipled and called in one our churches,” he said. “In addition, having people called and sent to the nations from our churches connects all of us to the Acts 1:8 mandate. Seeing people called from Louisiana connects us to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in a personal way. All of those being sent in this group have unique stories, but all have a common story of being prepared, at least in part, in Louisiana.”
Philip Robertson, senior pastor with Philadelphia Baptist in Deville, said the Keiths represent the church’s commitment to support missionaries around the world through their participation in the Cooperative Program and Global Missions giving, but that “nothing compares to the blessing of being a sending church when God calls our very own members to the field.
“We are looking forward to holding the rope here at home for Sean and Pam as they heed God’s missionary call on their lives,” he said. “We are already making plans to add sub–Saharan Africa to our itinerary of future mission trips. We will miss having the Keiths in our weekly fellowship but could not be more grateful for their obedience. Sub-Saharan Africa now has a special piece of our hearts, and we can’t wait to see all that God is going to do.”
Philadelphia Baptist in Deville will honor the Keiths, Sept. 28, during their 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services.
