Converge global worker elected to International Baptist Convention’s presidential leadership team

Wonderful works of God are increasingly happening among least-reached people groups as Converge’s global workers serve with conviction and cooperation.

Such character and mindset motivated Tim Faulkner, the general secretary of the International Baptist Convention, to ask Converge global worker Nate Korpi to consider becoming one of three IBC presidents.

“We know what kind of a disciple-making leader he is,” Faulkner said of the pastor in Panama City, Panama. “When I think of people I want to lead the IBC, I’m looking for people who embody the mission.”

Korpi is the pastor of LifeBridge Church, where he and his wife, Jendi, have ministered since May 2017. The church started in 2012 through the leadership of Glenn Herschberger, now Converge Great Lakes’ executive director of Church Planting.

Related: ‘We’re pastoring a parade’ tells the story of the Korpis’ ministry.

When the IBC’s presidential leadership team needed a third member a year ago, Faulkner approached Nate Korpi. He asked the Korpis to pray and consider the team as an opportunity for mobilizing and multiplying disciple-making churches.

Several months later, at the IBC’s annual meeting in October, those present voted for Korpi to join the presidential leadership team. Erik Nielsen, pastor of First International Baptist Church in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Roland Eskinazi, pastor of the International Baptist Church in Brussels, Belgium, are also on the team.

Paul Dreessen, a former Converge global worker who pastors International Baptist Church in Costa Rica, nominated Korpi for the role. He noted that Korpi also has what pastors of English-speaking international churches need: a heart for the nations and a flexible, adaptable spirit to navigate ministry experiences and responsibilities.

“Nate’s a great guy doing a good job where he is,” Dreessen said. “His background [as a child of missionaries in Ecuador] definitely prepared him to work in Central America.”

Partnership empowers ministry to the least-reached in globalized cities

Korpi’s six years of ministry in Panama City inform his association with gospel servants sent by other agencies. He said the elevation of kingdom values and a commitment to gospel-centered humility at IBC and Converge make collaboration possible. To Korpi, this new role with the IBC is another opportunity to serve Christ and make disciples through the local church.

“There are a lot of good things that we learn from each other,” he said.

For his ministry, he’s part of God’s work to make disciples among the least-reached people. His church exists for English speakers who work for multinational corporations, deploy with foreign militaries or study at international schools and universities.

As a result, the Korpis and LifeBridge serve a highly transient population who often join and leave the church within a few years. A revolving door of discipleship exists in many international churches in the world’s capitals and large cities.

“They’re so transient; they’re moving all the time,” he said of the spiritual challenges for such people. “We’re reaching the least-reached people, which may not be the most impoverished people or the most-established people.”

Related: Converge seeks a gospel movement among the world’s least-reached.

Churches in flux can fill heaven

Korpi knows his ministry has a vital purpose for uprooted people.

“At LifeBridge, our mission is to make heaven more crowded,” he said. “We understand that we may not be the church that disciples someone, but we are a church somewhere on that person’s spiritual journey.”

Having that perspective backed up by ministry competency is what Faulkner was looking for in January 2022 when he asked Korpi to pray about the three-year role.

Like the IBC, Faulkner said Converge focuses on disciple-making among people far from Christ. In particular, he compared international ministry to student ministry, which Korpi did for nine years before going to Panama City.

Faulkner and Korpi said Converge staff like Bob Marsh and Darryl Evetts keep relationships between the organizations strong. Faulkner said the IBC’s connection with Converge began over a decade ago.

In recent years, Converge’s church planting team has helped start international churches through coaches who assisted during IBC assessments. This was an essential contribution from Converge because the movement has strong, culturally appropriate principles for church planting.

Related: Converge’s church planting assessment could guide you into faithful ministry.

Global workers are cared for and connected in missional community

Korpi said Converge’s culture, resources and support for global workers built his confidence about being an international pastor. He and Jendi particularly appreciate the support of Mike and Murf Gaston, who lead the member care team that regularly connects with the Korpis for support and prayer.

Related: The Gastons have a simple message: rest.

Like all of Converge’s global workers, the Korpis worship and serve in close community with Christ’s people, recognizing together how God is at work through his church.

“You can go somewhere by yourself, but you can go farther with other people,” he said. “You can go further faster when you’re doing it together.”

That is most true, he said, as Converge staff seek to see people transferred out of the domain of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved son. As a result, the movement that began as a Swedish Baptist denomination now aligns and advances gospel work with more passion for least-reached people than ever.

As an IBC president, Korpi has additional opportunities for closer relationships and increased influence in collaborative kingdom work — which means more people can meet, know and follow Jesus.

“We all want the same thing: to see a gospel movement amongst people,” Korpi said. “When we come together, great things will happen.”

Converge is asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group – in our generation. Learn how we are playing a role in accomplishing the Great Commission and how you can be involved.