Nearly 1,000 Southern Baptist overseas missionaries have left the organisation in the last six months, according to a news release from Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board. 

In addition to the 983 overseas missionaries, 149 US-based staff have left.

The president of the SBC Executive Committee, Frank Page, said his heart was "broken" at the losses.

Some have taken advantage of an early retirement offer and while others have departed under a voluntary resignation programme or 'Hand Raising Opportunity' (HRO).

The number is considerably greater than the IMB forecast or required, set at around 600-800 in total. However, as a result of the departures the IMB expects to operate a balanced budget for 2017. In recent years it had consistently spent more money than it received, a total deficit of $210 million since 2010. The drastic measures aimed at bringing the budget under control were announced in August 2015.

IMB President David Platt told trustees at their February 22-24 meeting that it was "now in a much healthier financial position". He also noted that giving trends were upward.

Most of those who have left have done so through the voluntary retirement route and Platt said the number who had taken the HRO might decrease, as missionaries could rescind their decisions through April.

He said: "Even though a more involuntary process would yield more precise and predictable results, IMB chose a voluntary process that would leave as much decision-making as possible in the hands of IMB personnel."

With the departure of so many staff, the number of missionaries in the field is now around 3,800. The last time the number of missionaries was below 4,000 was in 1993, at 3,954.

"While this news is disappointing to all of us, we know we have prayed for God's leadership; therefore, we will trust God in this season and with our future as Southern Baptists," said Ronnie Floyd, president of the SBC.

He added: "This reset is not regress or retreat. Southern Baptist churches must see this as a fresh calling to reaching the world for Christ. Now is the time to go forward with a clear vision and an aggressive strategy to make disciples of all the nations for Christ."

Frank Page said, "My heart is broken to hear of the large number of missionaries and staff who are leaving the IMB. My prayers are with them as they transition."

He added: "My prayers are focused on the fact of the massive lostness in our world. May God bless Dr Platt as he leads us in a new strategy to see a new day of intentional evangelism around our world. God help us all!"