Our Vision:
Grounded by the Past, Looking to the Future

The vision of Continental Baptist Missions is "to provide support services for planting and developing biblically sound and spiritually healthy Baptist churches in North America." Missionaries and staff number approximately 200 today, including church planters and associates, church builders, special support personnel (evangelism, youth ministries, ethnic outreach, etc.) and home office staff. In a complicated and technologically advanced society, the ministry is multifaceted. It was not always so.

Rehearsing Our Story
The story of Continental Baptist Missions began with a small group of hardy pioneers in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Convinced of the need, and burdened to take the Gospel to the people of the North, several couples had begun church planting without financial backing and with no organizational network. Some had previously served under the Northern Baptist Convention. Because of the growing liberalism of the Convention, they had "come out from among them" in a sacrificial act of obedience to God's Word.

Rev. and Mrs. Arthur Glen were among this group. They were especially sensitive to the practical needs of their co-workers, many of whom worked under the most adverse circumstances. God led Arthur Glen to push for the founding of a service agency to meet those needs.

On a Monday evening, May 25, 1942, a group of godly men met at the First Baptist Church of Pontiac, MI, to give birth to the Hiawatha Land Independent Baptist Missions. On May 28th the State of Michigan granted the incorporation. Dr. H. H. Savage served as first President of the Board. Arthur Glen was appointed Executive Director, and an office was established in Escanaba, MI.

A New Name
It was fitting that the new Mission's name should be linked to Longfellow's Hiawatha. All the land bordering on Lake Superior was known as "Hiawatha Land." For these folks, this was the "mission field." The name has gone through two revisions as the work extended far beyond the original area, and in 1982 it took its current form, Continental Baptist Missions, to more accurately reflect the scope of ministry.

The emphasis in the early days was upon doing the hard thing in the hard place. Missionaries worked sacrificially, making sure-but-slow progress. The churches begun in the 1940's took an average of 23 years each to reach graduation. These workers suffered a certain amount of skepticism, and sometimes scorn, but they persevered, and continued on in the place where "they said it couldn't be done." As a result, the landscape of Northern Michigan and Wisconsin is literally dotted with healthy, vibrant independent Baptist churches, a tribute to these tenacious pioneers.

Passing the Torch
The Mission has known six leaders in its history. Rev. Arthur Glen served until 1952, when his life was claimed in an automobile accident. Rev. Guy King then led ably for the next 21 years, overseeing a period of considerable growth and expansion. Under Rev. Art Cunningham, the Mission office moved to Grand Rapids and the name was changed to its present form. His ministry was cut short by a massive stroke in 1983, and he was succeeded by Rev. Charles Vermilyea. On Brother Vermilyea's watch, an average of five couples per year were appointed and the Mission family grew to over 170. From 1991-2006 the Mission emerged as a "Partner in Church Planting" under the visionary leadership of Dr. Gerald K. Webber. A new Mission headquarters in Rockford and the Homer Baker Building Ministries Service Center were part of the legacy "Doc" Webber left with CBM. In May of 2006, the Mission Board extended the call to Rev. Bill Jenkin III to serve as CBM's sixth president. A spiritual product himself of CBM missionary endeavors in the West, Brother Bill brings with him a desire to minister to the needs of the Mission family and local church alike.

Staying the Course
A great many things have changed over six and a half decades. The really crucial things have not. Among those is CBM's desire to assist churches and their missionaries in re-churching North America. The Mission's Board, staff, and missionaries are united in their desire to make a difference in the spiritual landscape of this continent. They invite your prayers, your support, and your encouragement.