Dr. Runion began his foreign missions work while pastoring the same church for 21 years. His burden grew from one country to several countries after seeing the great need and the people's response to the gospel.
His burden is to start as many churches as possible in his lifetime. His philosophy is that if one goes and preaches one time and many get saved, that's wonderful, but if one plants a church which can preach to them again and again; that's even more wonderful.
Dr. Smith traveled to the Middle East the first time as a tourist and to preach in a Bible conference. After the next trip he became burdened for the Arabic speaking people. He saw a hunger for the things of God among a neglected people.
After 17 years as a pastor and Bible College teacher he resigned those duties and entered full time mission work with IBOM. His field of service is white unto harvest and the desire to go and help start churches is his burden.
Spencer Smith was burdened for missions during his time at Crown College in Powell, Tennessee. It was soon after his gradutation from bible college that he joined the efforts of IBOM as a Field Missionary to Kenya. The Smith family reside in Kentucky and are sent out of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Shepherdsville, KY.
Chris Murray and his family have served the Lord in the Philippines for 20 years. During that time the Lord enabled them to start 8 churches within their ministry and helped hundreds of other Filipinos start churches as well. They have also helped send and support several Filipino missionaries start their churches as well as Bible schools with financial support, Bibles, Sunday School, music and Bible College materials. These mission churches and schools are now producing young church planters who want to start churches among their own people. The Murray Family has launched the ministry of IBOM ASIA.