Sept/Oct 2007 fellowship!

fellowship!

CBF

Cooperative baptist fellowship | www.thefellowship.info

September/October 2007

Fighting poverty a priority for Fellowship network

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n a rural Arkansas community, an orphanage in the

Ukraine and a village in Thailand, Fellowship partner churches are joining with CBF field personnel

This summer hundreds of congregations traveled to these places and others around the world to engage in hands-on missions.

Their trips were short-term experiences, but for an increasing number of congregations, their mission engagement and commitment to fighting poverty is long term.

Together with the Fellowship, they are following Christ’s example of ministering to the poor.

According to the United Nations, a third of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty.

These 980 million people live on less than a $1 a day, but in each community the needs and the assets are different.

“Poverty has many faces, and [our church] addresses poverty

Patricia Heys photo

to help alleviate poverty.

North Stuart Baptist Church member Michael Seggebruch, right, reads with a child at Open House Ministries. Open House is a joint ministry of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and CBF of Florida to serve people living in poverty in Homestead, Fla.

as it comes, especially in our community,” said Jeanne Anderson, minister of missions at Fredericksburg Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, Va. “We are learning that it will take all of us in the world to ever end poverty. It is very much the idea that those of us who can share should and do share.”

This issue of fellowship! highlights the ways Fellowship Baptists are already engaged in fighting poverty and provides opportunities to become involved.

As CBF field personnel, partner churches and organizations work together, they form a network dedicated to addressing the systematic causes of poverty.

“We have the ability to eliminate poverty in this generation,” said Rob Nash, CBF Global Missions coordinator. “CBF field personnel and so many of our congregations are working as advocates for the poor and in partnership together to nurture fully sustainable ministries that provide water, food and jobs for the most neglected

people around the globe. Our approach is one that identifies assets within poverty-stricken communities and then seeks to utilize the assets already present in the community to help people move out of extreme poverty.”

By Patricia Heys, CBF Communications

Fellowship Baptists invited to celebrate New Baptist Covenant

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nviting all Fellowship Baptists to join believers from around the world at the New Baptist Covenant Celebration in Atlanta Jan. 30-Feb. 1, CBF executive coordinator Daniel Vestal said it promises to be an unparalleled event.

“This gathering represents the broadest coming together of Bap-

tist bodies that I’ve ever experienced in my lifetime,” Vestal said.

The New Baptist Covenant began last year when former President Jimmy Carter and Mercer University President Bill Underwood convened a group of 18 Baptist leaders representing more than 20 million people in North America. The leaders

For information on the New Baptist Covenant and to register for the 2008 Celebration, go to www.newbaptistcovenant.org.

inside

this issue...

• Page 3

— Church

spotlight: University Baptist

• Page 4

unanimously decided to transcend their differences — including race, culture, geography and convention affiliation — to seek a common purpose with the theme “Unity in Christ.”

“I think this can be a convergence of Baptists who want to have a voice in the public square that is for racial reconciliation, social justice, the environment, as well as evangelism, church planting and ministry,” Vestal said.

The Celebration will include five plenary and 16 interest

— U.N. goals

align with Fellowship’s vision

group sessions, inspired by the passage Luke 4:18-19. The interest group sessions will include topics such as prophetic preaching, faith and public policy, HIV/AIDS pandemic, poverty, evangelism and religious liberty.

Jimmy Allen, chair of the program committee, said the gathering has the potential to inspire a new level of cooperation.

“It seems to me that this is a watershed moment for the Baptist movement in North America,” Allen said. “It gives us

• Page 9

— Q&A with

moderator Harriett Harral

the occasion to accelerate a networking process by getting to know each other, find out where our ministries are being done, establish working relationships at a grass roots level that we have no been able to do because of the divisions that have haunted us from the past. We have an open door to discover common interests in the essence of service of Christ.”

By contributing writer Bob Perkins Jr., Atlanta, Ga.

• Page 11

— Newells

open hospitality house in Greece

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Inside CBF

september/october 2007

fellowship

Roundup

Graham, Parnell, Rowland join CBF staff

Steve Graham, who has served as pastor of Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo., for the past seven years, has been named the Fellowship’s director of ministerial excellence. In the newly created position of director of ministerial excellence, which is partially funded by the Lilly Endowment, Graham will be responsible for aspects of the Fellowship’s Initiative for Ministerial Excellence.

CBF has also hired Devita Parnell to serve as missions education specialist, replacing Tamara Tillman who is now serving at First Baptist Church of Rome, Ga. Parnell, who previously worked as CBF of Georgia’s associate coordinator for congregational life, will be responsible for the development, production and delivery of the Fellowship’s missions education resources, which include Form, Spark, Ignite and Affect.

Harry Rowland Jr., of Beaufort, S.C., has been selected for a newly-created position as director of the Fellowship’s missional church team. Rowland has served as senior pastor of the Baptist Church of Beaufort since 1996. As the director of the missional church team, which operates within CBF Global Missions, Rowland will facilitate the engagement of local congregations in global mission.

CBF-endorsed chaplains honored CBF-endorsed chaplain Patricia Coley was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for meritorious service. Coley, a Navy lieutenant, serves on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk.

O. Errol Simmons, a CBF endorsed chaplain, was recognized as National Senior Chaplain of the Year by the Civil Air Patrol

Vol. 17, No. 4 Coordinator • Daniel Vestal Coordinator, Fellowship Advancement • Ben McDade Editor • Lance Wallace managing Editor • Patricia Heys Associate Editor • Carla Wynn Phone • (770) 220-1600 Fax • (770) 220-1685 E-Mail • fellowship@thefellowship.info Web Site • www.thefellowship.info

fellowship! is published 6 times a year in Sept./ Oct., Special I (Oct.), Nov./Dec., Feb./Mar., Apr./May, Special II (July) by The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Inc., 3001 Mercer University Dr., Atlanta, GA 303414115. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices. USPS #015-625 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “fellowship!” Newsletter, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, P.O. Box 450329, Atlanta, GA 31145-0329

(CAP), a civilian auxiliary organization supporting the United States Air Force.

CAP supports U.S. Air Force active duty and reserve chaplains and assists national relief organizations during disasters.

Simmons is a part of the Mississippi Wing, which was heavily involved in ministering after hurricane Katrina.

CBF Georgia names missions coordinator R. Scott Ford is the new associate coordinator for missions at CBF/GA. He has been the minister of education and youth at Haven Fellowship Baptist Church in Conyers, Ga., for five years and the March Mission Madness coordinator for CBF/GA for seven years.

Church starts specialist Hester retires Phil Hester, the Fellowship’s specialist for new church starts, has announced he will retire at the end of this year. For the past seven years, Hester has helped start churches in

Phil Hester

21 different states. He also created and facilitated the annual CBF Boot Camp for Church Starts, which helps prepare church planters to start churches.

“Phil Hester has brought new church starts to the forefront of this movement,” said Bo Prosser, the Fellowship’s coordinator of congregational life. “He has worked hard to plant churches that will make a difference in this Fellowship. He has been diligent about raising money, training church starters and challenging us all to participate in new work.”

Baylor names associate dean Dennis Tucker has been named the new associate dean at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary, a Fellowship partner school. Tucker, who joined the Truett faculty in 2002, said he will primarily focus on academic matters, including the continual improvement in faculty development opportunities and assessment of the seminary’s educational experience. He also will continue to teach in the classroom.

CBF of North Carolina hires new personnel Jack Causey has been called as CBF of North Carolina’s ministerial resources coordinator to work with reference and referral and the development of a statewide interim ministry network. Wanda Kidd is serving as college ministry consultant and will assist congregations in efforts to minister with college students.

Upcoming Events Sept. 7-9, 21-23 CBF of North Carolina Fall Youth Retreats Myrtle Beach, S.C. Info: www.cbfnc.org

Oct. 14-17 Missouri Fellowship Gathering Multiple locations Info: www.cbfmo.org/events

Sept. 15 Regional 11 on 11 Project Info: John Mitchell, john@alabamacbf.org or (888) 245-4223

Oct. 15 Worship in Your World: Enabling and Encouraging Those Who Plan and Lead Worship in Small Congregations Samford University, Birmingham, Ala. Info: Resource@samford.edu or (205) 726-4064

Sept. 21-22 Forging a New Church Starts Culture Conference Birmingham, Ala. Info: mike@alabamacbf.org Sept. 17-18 Ministers Retreat Windermere Conference Center, Mo. Info: www.cbfmo.org Sept. 23-25 Mercer Preaching Consultation St. Simons Island, Ga. Info: www.centerforbaptiststudies.org Sept. 24-26 CBF Spiritual Formation Retreat for Pastors Fruitland Park, Fla. Info: khurry@thefellowship.info or (770) 220-1648 Oct. 5-6 BWIM of Georgia Fall Retreat Hampton, Ga. Info: nikhardeman@gmail.com

Oct. 27 CBF Midwest Annual General Assembly Ashworth Road Baptist Church, West Des Moines, Iowa Info: www.cbfmidwest.org Nov. 2-4 North Carolina Missions Initiative Henderson/Littleton area, NC Info: www.cbfnc.org Nov. 4-5 CBF of Georgia Fall Convocation First Baptist Church of Savannah, Ga. Info: www.cbfga.org Nov. 13 CBF of North Carolina Fall Fellowship Gathering First Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C. Info: www.cbfnc.org

Millennium Development Goals and CBF

By CBF Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal In September 2000, 189 nations, including the U.S., affirmed a set of international development goals in the United Nations Millennium Declaration. Known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they have helped focus the energy and resources of the nations of the world on a common vision to address the issues of poverty, hunger and health.

By 2015 the goals are to: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development.

This year’s General Assembly approved a motion that “the Coordinating Council investigate the feasibility and means by which the CBF might be involved in acting with other bodies to reach the U.N. MDGs.” What an exciting and energizing challenge.

In his book, “Crises in the Village” Robert Franklin, president of Morehouse College, suggests five phases of faith-based public ministry: charity, support, social services, justice, transformation. He then offers a model of spiritual renewal in public ministry from the book, “The Wisdom Community” by the African American Catholic theologian Edward Braxton: religious, theocentric, christocentric, ecclesial, intellectual, moral.

He then quotes the famous words by Reinhold Niebuhr: “Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime.

Therefore, we must be saved by hope.

Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history. Therefore, we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.

Therefore we are saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as it is from our own standpoint. Therefore, we must be saved by the final form of love, which is forgiveness.”

My conviction is that all of us have much to learn about being the presence of Christ as a missional people. We have much to learn how God is at work in the world (U.N., ONE Campaign, government and non-government organizations) and in the Church (congregations, Micah Challenge, Baptist World Alliance, Bread for the World, Together for Hope, missionaries).

We have much to learn from Scripture, from one another and most of all from the living Christ. My prayer is that this year will be one of learning. And then in learning we will discover what God would have us be and do — as individuals, as families, as congregations and as a Fellowship.

Coo p e r a t i v e B a p t i s t F e l l o w sh i p

Inside CBF

3

• • • • • •

LuAnne Prevost For two years, LuAnne Prevost has been enrolled in classes at Central Baptist Theological Seminary’s satellite campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. For a few weeks this summer, Prevost left the classroom and immersed herself in the ministry of Metro Baptist Carla Wynn Davis photo

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september/october 2007

Fellowship People

Church S potlight

University Baptist, Baltimore, Md.

fellowship!

hotographs documenting an immigrant’s journey, masquerade Church member and artist Kandra Wynne Bellanca discusses a masks and a variety of paintings piece of artwork with Dayna Eng and Tom Burns. were all part of supporting CBF’s HIV/AIDS ministry in Africa and reaching out to a transitioning Affect, “the church got excited about AIDS Baltimore community. ministry. The art gallery was a separate idea.

University Baptist Church recently hosted Then the idea became, ‘Let’s connect the “Art Under the Dome,” a two-week show, two.’” with participating artists donating 20 percent The art show was more than a ministry to of the proceeds to the Fellowship’s HIV/ those affected by HIV/AIDS, it was also an AIDS ministry in Africa. opportunity to reach out to local artists and The church was already planning an art to the surrounding neighborhood. show when members studied Affect, the “University Baptist Church seeks to care Fellowship’s missions education resource for for our community by valuing the expression adults. They learned about Ana Marie and of our local artists,” Anderson said. “Through Scott Houser, CBF Global Missions field ‘Art Under the Dome,’ we hoped to bring personnel who work among HIV/AIDS our community together by celebrating our caregivers in South Africa. artists, listening to their voices and working “Our church is extremely interested in together to help others.” missions,” said Robin Anderson, associate pastor of education and outreach. Through

By Carla Wynn Davis, CBF Communications

Church’s Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries in New York City, a Fellowship partner.

“God was everywhere,” Prevost said. “I saw it in the faces of every man, woman and child which I encountered. The mix of ethnicity in the city is amazing,

LuAnne Prevost

and I was reminded of Paul’s words to the Galatians — there is no difference, we are all one in Jesus Christ. I saw God at every corner, and it was beautiful.”

Prevost, who has three children and works as a personal trainer, has been a member of First Baptist Church of Knoxville, Tenn., for 25 years. She said the satellite campus has made it possible for her to pursue her calling without the upheaval of changing jobs, leaving her church and uprooting her family.

• • • • • •

Daniel Mathangani More than 30 undergraduate and graduate students worked alongside CBF Global Missions field personnel and partners this summer, participating in hands-on missions. Daniel Mathangani, a native of Birmingham, Ala. and sophomore at Jacksonville State, served at Camp Fraser in Great Falls, Va. The camp is sponsored by Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and its mission is to provide inner-city children with opportunities to grow physically, spiritually, mentally and socially. The campers, who

Daniel Mathangani

are 7 to 13 years old, spend a week participating in activities such as rafting, camping, climbing and worship.

“I wanted to allow these kids to be kids for a week,” Mathangani said. “Many come from single parent homes where they are required to help out a lot and

A Look Back n

9 years ago

For the first time, CBF endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors.

n

6 years ago

have more responsibilities than most kids their age. I tried to build relationships with them that went beyond one week — to be their friend and mentor.”

• • • • • •

Wanda Kidd CBF of North Carolina recently hired Wanda Kidd as college ministry consultant. Kidd, who retired after 13 years as the Baptist campus minister at Western

Together For Hope, the Fellowship’s 20-year commitment to work alongside people in 20 poorest counties in the U.S., was created.

Carolina University, will assist North Carolina leaders,

n

hurdle to reaching young adults.

3 years ago

CBF launched the Spiritual Formation Network.

congregations and partners in developing ministries for college students. Kidd believes fear is the greatest “We are afraid that they will not like us, so we avoid the possibility of rejection by hiding behind institutional

Wanda Kidd

invitations — we ask them to work with our youth, keep the nursery or sing in

meet Amy Morris As the associate for CBF’s face2face speaker’s bureau, Amy Morris serves as a contact between churches and the Fellowship. Through direct communication with churches, Morris assesses the needs of congregations and connects them with the appropriate field personnel, congregational life experts, missional church speakers, Fellowship leaders and topical speakers.

Hometown: Millbrook, Ala. Education: Troy University

the choir,” Kidd said. “We are afraid to listen to the music that they have on their iPods for fear that we will not like what we hear, but we want them to come to church and sing our songs that are foreign to their lives.”

Kidd challenges churches to engage young adults not by simply adding a new staff person, but making it a desire and mission of the whole church.

• • • • • •

Graham Walker Graham Walker, associate dean and professor of theology at McAfee School of Theology, is participating this year in a Poverty Truth Commission. The commission has provided a forum for individuals from

Church membership: North River Baptist Church, Roswell, Ga. Interesting Fact: Amy’s husband, Chuck, works at a non-profit organization, Serve Management Group, which plans mission trips around the world for groups, primarily Baptist churches.

“My face2face job is meaningful because it is a channel for relationship building and the exchange of information between our churches and our speakers. I love to hear church members tell me, after a speaker has visited, that their experience was life-changing, that their perspective on global missions or missional church or the Fellowship has deepened and that they’re excited. And I love to hear speakers come back and tell me how excited they are about new relationships with a church, a new ‘family’ that they feel a part of. I get to help with that connection — partnering churches with field personnel and their mission.”

If you are interested in scheduling a speaker through face2face contact Amy Morris at amorris@thefellowship.info or (770) 220-1630.

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the U.S. to testify on the injustices they face as a result of living in poverty. Walker has served as one of the commissioners, bearing witness to the testimonies.

“Of all the things we talk about in Christian theology, Jesus is central,” Walker said. “We all want to be ‘red-letter Christians.’ Jesus talked more about

Graham Walker

the inequality between the poor and the wealthy than any other topic, and it is still a central topic to Christian theology.”

As the commission moves from dialogue to response, Walker will focus on how Christian theology has endorsed global injustice in the past and how the Christian message can be a catalyst for social change in the present and future. In October, Walker will meet with other theologians, social activists and leaders at the 2007 Bonhoeffer Lectures to further discuss strategies of social change in a global context.

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Poverty

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n 2000, the United Nations announced eight goals related to reaching the needs of the world’s poor and established a target date of the year 2015 for reaching the goals. The goals provide a framework for countries, development institutions, non-profit organizations and others to work together toward a common end.

Almost a decade before the U.N. established the Millennium Development Goals, the Cooperative Baptist

Fellowship was focused on ministering to the world’s most neglected and marginalized people. Since then, the CBF Global Missions network of field personnel, churches and partners has been working to alleviate poverty around the world in a variety of ways.

Below are a few examples of how the U.N. Millennium Development Goals align with the Fellowship’s vision of being the presence of Christ in the world.

U.N. Millennium Development Goals 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

In China, children born with cerebral palsy are frequently abandoned by their families primarily because of poverty and limited services. It has been estimated that there are more than 1.78 million children in China with cerebral palsy, a motor skills impairment due to brain damage.

While there is no known cure for cerebral palsy, most children benefit from early intervention and education.

Brenda Lisenby serves in China as one of the Fellowship’s representatives. She works with Angel House Rehabilitation and Education Center in the Guangxi Province, one of the few schools in the country designed specifically to serve children with cerebral palsy.

3. Promote general equality and empower women In India, teenage girls without a high school education often end up making just 25 cents a day.

As the southern region of the country continues to rebuild after the 2005 tsunami, local industries are still recovering and job opportunities for women are limited.

In villages like Sardu Kadapa, CBF field personnel are facilitating vocational

In Southeast Asia, CBF field personnel provide medical care to children who would otherwise not have access to treatment.

training for girls and women. Through sewing centers, women learn skills that will help them earn approximately $2 a day by sewing dresses and provide vital incomes for their families.

4. Reduce child mortality Along a river in Southeast Asia, children are living in “poverty that kills.” Parents struggle to provide the most basic needs for their children — food, water, clothing and shelter. For children without access to medical care, treatable illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhea can be life-threatening.

Using a river boat equipped with medical exam rooms, CBF field personnel, along with doctors and nurses from CBF partner churches, provide medical services to adults and children who live along the river. On average 70 patients, who would otherwise not have access to medical care, receive treatment each day on the boat.

5. Improve maternal health In Haiti, 80 percent of the population are too poor to pay for medical care, and skilled medical professionals are often overworked and underpaid. Without the proper healthcare infrastructure, women

are at high risk to develop complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

CBF affiliates Nancy and Steve James use their medical training to reach out to the people of Haiti. Maternal health is a concern for Haitians living in poverty. As the James travel to small, rural medical clinics, they provide staff with training, including education related to pregnancy and childbirth.

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Around the world, an estimated 39.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, according to the United Nations. And Ronnie Adams, one of CBF’s during 2006, field personnel, ministers in approximately New York City to people living with HIV/AIDS. 3 million people died from AIDS-related causes, including malaria and tuberculosis.

The Fellowship’s AIDS Network is a community of churches, individuals and organizations who work with HIV/AIDS ministries. In New York City, CBF field personnel Ronnie Adams and Taisha Rose partner with local organizations to minister to people living with HIV/ Stretch Ledford photo

2. Achieve universal primary education

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

CBF Global Missions photos

In Ukraine, more than 17,000 children are homeless. These street children often live under buildings, in heating and sewage tunnels or wherever they can find shelter. They scrounge the streets for food and sometimes steal so they can eat.

CBF field personnel Gennady and Mina Podgaisky live and work in Kiev, Ukraine, helping to provide not only food but homes for the street children.

The Podgaiskys, along with hundreds of Fellowship partner church members, have helped to create a residential foster care facility. They also partner with ministries around Kiev, supporting feeding stations and medical care for street children.

AIDS. In other parts of the world, CBF field personnel are caring for children orphaned by AIDS, caregivers of AIDS patients, and providing basic necessities and medicine.

In Africa, the United Nations reports that more than 300 million people lack access to clean water.

Without clean water, water-borne illnesses such as guinea worm and cholera spread quickly, droughts can be deadly and food scarce.

CBF field personnel work in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa, and with funding from the Fellowship, help build water wells. One well, which costs approximately $2,000 to build, can provide uncontaminated water to an entire village and help lift Africans out of poverty.

8. Develop a global partnership for development In Macedonia, environmental issues such as polluted rivers, dying lakes and destruction of natural resources and habitats affect the quality of life. For example, Lake Doiran has provided for the livelihood of local fisherman, but as the lake has dried the fisherman struggle to support their families.

CBF Global Missions field personnel Darrell and Kathy Smith live in Macedonia and work with national and international organizations in environmental protection efforts. As part of his ministry, Darrell, who has a doctorate in ecology, not only gathers environmental data for international organizations, but also develops infrastructures to support agriculture and clean water and sewage systems.

If you are interested in financially supporting any of these ministries, give to the CBF Offering for Global Missions by using the enclosed envelope. For more information about getting involved in partnership opportunities, please call CBF at (800) 352-8741.

By Patricia Heys, CBF Communications Coo p e r a t i v e B a p t i s t F e l l o w sh i p

Poverty

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september/october 2007

5

Together for Hope sows seeds of hope, transformation in rural Alabama county

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ach summer for seven years, members of Pintlala

Baptist Church in Hope Hull, Ala., have spent a week in Perry County, Ala. Some stay the full week, others stay a few days but they’re among the hundreds of Fellowship Baptists helping sow seeds of hope for a rural county struggling to

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Perry County resident Melvin Mahan’s house was repaired by Fellowship partner church Pintlala Baptist Church in Hope Hull, Ala. Recently, Sowing Seeds of Hope helped Perry County earn a grant for federal self-help housing, which will help low-income families afford and build their own home.

Carla Wynn Davis photo

“We feel like we’re being led by Jesus to be there,” said church member Kendall Shehane. “As long as the Lord wants us there, we’ll be there.”

Pintlala was among the first churches to be involved with a ministry called Sowing Seeds of Hope (SSH), which began in the late 1990s as a group of local residents collaborated to reverse the county’s economic downturn. Leadership from AlabamaCBF has partnered with SSH since its beginning and the Fellowship’s supportive presence in the county continues to grow.

“My hope is that … [people will] be touched by the love of Christ and that all these programs will be vehicles in which they will understand the depth of God’s love for them and the way that God cares for not only their spiritual needs but also every need that they have,” said Brent McDougal, AlabamaCBF coordinator.

Hope is sown daily in Perry County through a variety of community development efforts aimed at reducing poverty — helping homeowners renovate, providing health advocacy and screening, cultivating education opportunities, promoting tourism, making arts and humanities events accessible, and bringing hope through spiritual and social development.

“We’re about change and making a difference,” said SSH executive director Frances Ford. “We’re about not looking at how things can remain the way they are but looking to see what we can do to change and make a way for a better Perry County.”

Perry County’s economy began to lag in the mid-1900s, when this former plantation-based community continued to focus on agricultural industry while other communities were diversifying industry as technology boomed. Although economically struggling, Perry has assets and resources in its own residents, who want to make a lasting difference, Ford said.

Carla Wynn Davis photo

overcome poverty.

Sowing Seeds of Hope’s many activities with children include literacy projects, music and art lessons, sports camps and Vacation Bible Schools.

Local leaders believe when residents’ “I would like to see Perry County grow — better jobs, better housing, hospitals,” gifts, time and talents can be linked with said Perry County resident Dorothy community needs and desires, Perry Hornbuckle. “I County can grow y hope is that … [people will] be would like to see stronger. Fellowship touched by the love of Christ and that Baptists have helped our community as a whole work make some of these all these programs will be vehicles together to get in which they will understand the depth of God’s connections and these things continue to be a love for them.” because it’s not one supportive presence person’s job. It takes everybody working among local leaders. together. And if everybody works together, “Together for Hope respects Sowing then … even though we’re a poor county, Seeds of Hope, encouraging its leadership we can have as fine a community as and celebrating its effective practices,” anywhere.” said Tom Prevost, manager of Together

“M

for Hope, the Fellowship’s rural poverty initiative in 20 of the poorest counties in the United States. “It has also provided partnership funding and a resource network of like-minded Baptists and other persons who are fighting to reduce poverty.”

Along with Pintlala Baptist, hundreds of Fellowship Baptists bring skills, resources, tourism dollars, friendship and inspiration to Perry County each year.

“Volunteers provide an opportunity for the locals to stand back and say, ‘This is something I see them doing and we can do that,’” said SSH volunteer coordinator John Mitchell.

Without the initiative and commitment of local residents, community transformation efforts cannot grow. So, more than anything, “we … empower [local residents] to be decision makers and help them learn about what resources are available,” Ford said.

“We want them to take advantage of those resources and not feel like they’re begging. We want them to look to those resources as stepping stones to a way out of poverty.”

By Carla Wynn Davis, CBF Communications SERVE – To learn about partnership opportunities through CBF’s Together for Hope, call (800) 352-8741 or visit www. rurualpoverty.net.

Help alleviate

over P “F

Dig a well “We have a saying ‘fighting poverty one well at a time.’ That way we keep from thinking the situation is hopeless because the situation is not hopeless.

Once we build a well in the community we see how it revolutionizes that community, then we move onto another community to do the same thing. The only discouragement we have is that we don’t have enough resources to do that in all the places we would like to.”

— Lonnie Turner Turner and his wife, Fran, are CBF Global Missions field personnel who serve in Sub-Saharan Africa. Field personnel work together with churches and partners to provide access to clean water not only in Africa, but Asia and Europe as well.

Welcome refugees “We need to be the ones who model the message that we are all created in the image of God, no matter where we were born or what language we speak. So we welcome them as we would welcome Christ; and if we can be a home for them and engage them in the larger life of the congregation – that would be my greatest hope.” — Greg Pope Pope is pastor of Crescent Hill Baptist Church in

or I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:35-36

Louisville, Ky., which has intentionally reached out to Karen refugees. It has been predicted that as many as 30,000 Karen will arrive in the U.S. during the next year – starting over with very little after fleeing the violence and persecution of their homeland.

Feed the hungry “Worship and missions are not about ourselves but others, and our desire is to serve persons in our community.” — David Hinson Hinson is pastor of First Baptist Church of Frankfort, Ky., which in 2005 founded the Emma Quire Mission Center. Last year, with $5,000 from an “It’s Time” Missional Ministry Grant awarded

by CBF, the center fed 2,600 persons through its food pantry program and housed 27 groups doing mission work in the area.

Fight disease “When a family lives in [poverty], a sick family member can be a real crisis. Transportation to the nearest clinic can cost the equivalent of a week’s income, and to see the doctor and obtain the needed medication can cost another two weeks’ income. As the father or mother of a sick child, you have to choose between feeding your family and going to the doctor.” — Matt Matt and his wife, Katie, are CBF Global Missions field personnel who serve in Southeast Asia. They

conduct a large part of their ministry through a medical boat, which provides medical services to more than 10,000 people a year.

Educate “Literacy is a great need in this community because through reading these children can go to places they will probably never see... Their books and their imagination will take them anywhere.

Some of the kids will never leave Helena, but if they can pick up a book, who knows where they’ll land — they might just go around the world.”

— Tracy Davis Davis is a resident of Helen-West Helena, Ark., where CBF’s Together for Hope ministry works in partnership with the community, leaders and other ministry organizations in asset-based community development.

Coo p e r a t i v e B a p t i s t F e l l o w sh i p

rty

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Partner with a community

Create sustainable agriculture

“The experience cannot be expressed adequately in words or pictures. One must experience this sort of partnership ‘hands-on’ to fully grasp the emotional and physical needs of the Roma people.

Ralph and Tammy prepared us exceptionally well, and it was important to have some sense of context going in.” — David Causey

“Along the Thai-Burma border, we’ve learned that poverty alleviation requires investment of not only money but also time and a participatory approach.

Time is needed to gain trust for meaningful partnerships with the poor and to develop mutual respect. Time will also be required to discern the roots of poverty, such as the lack of citizenship, insufficient access to natural resources needed for adequate rural livelihoods and unavailable capitol for micro-enterprise.”

— Rick Burnette

Causey is a member of First Baptist Church of Greenville, S.C. In a partnership facilitated by CBF field personnel Ralph and Tammy Stocks, First Baptist has partnered with the Roma community in Hungary, helping the church in Kekcse purchase a building and working at the Gandhi School in Pecs.

Build a home “The [home building] is just a small part of addressing poverty in Eastern Kentucky. Housing is one of our most basic human needs, but more than that, when a child can be proud of his or her home, it increases self esteem and sets that child on a path toward a brighter future. That’s our ultimate goal: a brighter future for these kids and others in our focal counties.” — Rhonda Blevins Blevins, Kentucky Baptist Fellowship’s associate coordinator for missions, facilitates partnerships of congregations and communities to help alleviate poverty in some of the poorest counties in Kentucky.

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

Burnette and his wife, Ellen, serve as CBF field personnel in Thailand. The Burnettes work with hilltribe villages to develop water systems and sustainable food sources in mountainous rain forests.

putting food on the family’s table or helping him or her to take a step toward a better life.” — Jonathan Bailey Bailey and his wife, Tina, are the Fellowship’s international coordinators for the arts and coordinate the distribution of fair trade products to Fellowship Baptists in the U.S.

Advocate “While living in Waco, I saw rampant poverty in my own neighborhood, and I saw how policies were directly affecting the people around me. As a Christian I am not called to make my government a Christian government, but I’m called to make it a just government. Advocacy is another way we are involved in proclaiming God’s kingdom.”

— Meredith Story Williams

Buy fair trade products

Williams earned master’s degrees in divinity and social work at Baylor University. She is a volunteer advocate for Bread for the World, a Fellowship partner.

“When we buy a work of art, whether a painting or textile, basket or necklace, we give to the artist that made the piece. In the past five years, we have seen those simple contributions do amazing things in the life of the artist, whether it means

To learn more about any of these partnership opportunities contact the Fellowship at (800) 352-8741.

8

fellowship!

News

september/october 2007

Allford leaves legacy of empowering ministry through bequest to CBF Foundation

S

uch a supporter of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, John William Allford always wanted to be the first to register for the Fellowship’s

annual General Assembly. He didn’t care where it was or when it was, he

Now, the man whose passion for the Fellowship took him to 15 Assembly meetings, is helping sustain the Fellowship’s ministry for years to come.

Allford, who died unexpectedly in 2006, left a generous portion of his estate to the CBF Foundation, which raises funds for endowments, and manages endowments for CBF and for CBF ministry partners.

It was just another example of generosity from a man who spent his life doing and supporting ministry.

“He just reached out his hand to anyone he saw that was a little needy,” said his first cousin and closest friend Helen MooreMontgomery, a previous member of CBF’s Coordinating Council.

Allford attended CBF’s founding meeting and was criticized heavily by his church for involvement with the

Fellowship. While he still remained a member and still tithed to the church, the hospital became his place of ministry. He spent his Saturdays and Sundays there, helping anyone in need.

“They adored him,” MooreMontgomery said. “Everyone knew him and knew who he was but didn’t know why he did that as a ministry instead of attending church.”

A 42-year employee of First National Bank and Trust in McAlester, Okla., Allford was always a donor — once among the top blood donors in the nation to the American Red Cross — and always a volunteer — giving the most volunteer hours ever recorded at McAlester Regional Health Center.

On Feb. 26, 2006, Allford fell in the hospital while volunteering, never waking from his coma.

Allford died June 7, 2006, The CBF Foundation serves individuals, churches and ministry dividing his organizations by providing: estate among • Administration of charitable trusts and gift several organannuities izations for • Monthly reports on investment performance which he • Monitoring preservation of endowment principal cared deeply.

• Private consultation on endowment “Mr. Allpromotion strategies ford’s gift • Seminars on the importance and uses to the CBF of endowments Foundation • Educational seminars on giving options through wills, bequests will have a and trusts transformative • Assistance with direct donor solicitation effect. We will To learn more about any of these services, contact the CBF now be able Foundation at www.cbff.org or (800) 352-8741. to provide additional

CBF Foundation

I

John Allford attended CBF’s founding meeting.

endowment fundraising support to the CBF movement in ways we had not thought possible for another three or four years without Mr. Allford’s gift,” said CBF Foundation president Don Durham.

In addition to the CBF Foundation, Allford gave portions of his estate to two other Baptist entities — Central Baptist Theological Seminary, a Fellowship partner school, and CBF of Oklahoma, where he served in every elected office including most recently parliamentarian.

“John William was a deeply caring servant of others,” said Central

president Molly Marshall. “He supported those on the margin — elderly and infirm, boys and girls clubs, women in ministry. He was especially known in his community for his efforts for racial justice for minorities.’

“He was always supporting important kingdom ministries,” said CBF of Oklahoma coordinator T Thomas. “He encouraged by his presence, and he encouraged by his work.”

By Carla Wynn Davis, CBF Communications

Brandon & Tirzah Turner

t’s just connecting the dots, really.

A church wanting to minister to its community; a local urban ministry needing help; the invisible awaiting some hope; and a couple of recent seminary graduates connecting all the pieces.

Brandon and Tirzah Turner are CBF Global Missions affiliates, who serve among the invisible poor in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Their goal as affiliates is to “get [churches] to look at the world differently, biblically through the eyes of Christ,” Tirzah said. “You’re so used to your comfort zone, but if you look five feet beyond, there’s something bigger out there.”

That bigger world includes a large number of people in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., who are among the invisible poor — homeless, refugees or even victims of human trafficking. The Turners visit local churches to advocate for the invisible poor and provide congregations with information about existing local ministries and how the church can become involved.

“Just the two of us can’t minister to this entire corridor,” Tirzah said. “If we can get churches to have a vision for their own neighborhoods, then they can start the ministry.”

Graduates of Gardner Webb Uni-

versity’s M. Christopher White School of Divinity, a Fellowship partner school, the Turners believe in and encourage churches to engage in holistic ministry, addressing both physical Brandon and Tirzah Turner minister among the invisible poor in and spiritual needs.

Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

“Their first felt need isn’t

By Carla Wynn Davis, CBF Communications their soul. It’s their body — their stomach,” Tirzah said. “You can’t If you are interested in becoming an affiliate, listen if your stomach is growling louder contact Matt Norman at (770) 220-1609 or than anything else. With the invisible poor, mnorman@thefellowship.info. To learn about you have to deal with justice issues before partnership opportunities, call (800) 352-8741. they can ever listen to the spiritual part.”

Carla Wynn Davis photo

Affiliate S potlight

Photo courtesy of Helen Moore-Montgomery

would be there.

Coo p e r a t i v e B a p t i s t F e l l o w sh i p

News

fellowship!

september/october 2007

9

Q&A with Harriet Harral, CBF moderator Harriet Harral, a native of

ing Council can support an emphasis on engagement with local congregations.

Devine, Texas, currently serves

As a consultant, what skills and experience to you bring to this position?

Harral: The Harral Group specializes in organizational effectiveness — in whatever guise that is needed. Usually, I find that organizations have the skill and knowledge that they need; my job is to facilitate the process that allows them to discover and capitalize on those resources.

I work with a lot of non-profit boards, so I hope that my experience there will be helpful as we work through some of the logistics of how we work as a Coordinating Council. In addition, much of my work deals with bringing together people from very different perspectives and helping them find common ground. I often facilitate such processes for city government, for instance. And my work as executive director of Leadership Fort Worth also focuses on leading people to collaborate and serve as community trustees — getting beyond personal agendas to serve the common good. Each of those pieces of my professional life has some resonance with what we do or how we work at CBF.

as the Fellowship’s moderator, presiding over the Coordinating Council and General Assembly.

Harral is the founder of The Harral Group, a consulting firm that focuses on organizational effectiveness. She is a member of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort

How did you become involved with CBF? Harral: When CBF first started I was a member of Broadway Baptist Church, where Cecil Sherman was pastor — of course, he eventually became the Fellowship’s first coordinator. Our whole congregation was interested in CBF. My interest and my heart responded to CBF because it offered me a context to exercise those commitments that have always kept me wanting to be Baptist — freedoms of Bible, church and soul. Those are important to me. CBF honors the role of women in spiritual life as well, and of course that speaks to me. CBF simply gives me the opportunity to hold hands with other Christians globally to be the presence of Christ, to embrace diversity, to seek justice, to honor local church autonomy, and to spread the word of Jesus Christ.

How do you view the role of moderator?

Harral: The first responsibility of the Coordinating Council is to make sure that what we are doing at CBF is what we are called by God to do. And that our mission statement — to serve Christians and churches — is where we are putting our service, resources, hard work and energy.

As moderator, my primary role is to help

Partner S potlight

S

Harriet Harral has served on CBF’s Coordinating Council since 2002.

the governing body do that and to assure that we have the organizational health to do it effectively.

What would you like to see the Coordinating Council focus on in the coming year?

Harral: I had a wonderful opportunity to spend a week in interaction with CBF staff in Atlanta. At the conclusion of that time, all of us came to a sense that it is time for us to work on some prioritizing, on be-

ing sure that we all — in Atlanta, in states and regions, around the world with field personnel, in our local churches — have clarity in what is our compelling focus at this time in our life. I have been intrigued by discussions in which we realized that we are a unique body — and perhaps we have the opportunity to create a model for how to function as a movement, internally and externally. And, finally, I think there may be some exciting ways that the Coordinat-

Your doctoral dissertation was on social movements. How do you see the Fellowship developing as a movement?

Harral: My dissertation dealt with how a movement communicates with those outside the movement. That is certainly important to CBF. So much of what is appealing in the context of a movement — its energy, its vision, its sense of comradery — can build either to sustain it long-term or cause the movement eventually to burn itself out. For 15 years, CBF has been honoring vision and the freedom within the movement while it has simultaneously been working toward practical supports (staffing, finances, etc.) for the movement.

It’s a unique challenge that means we consistently seek insight to find the new model that works rather than falling back on traditional institutional models. It’s an exciting time for CBF!

Baptist Joint Committee

teps away from the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Capitol a Baptist watchdog organization guards religious liberty and church-state separation.

Fourteen Baptist organizations, including the Fellowship, provide operational funding for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, which has worked since 1936 to uphold the principle of religious liberty and churchstate separation.

“We Baptists have always understood that the two must go together,” said BJC

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

Photo courtesy of Baylor Alumni Association

Worth, Texas.

executive director J. Brent Walker.

“As soon as government starts to meddle in religion — for or against — or take sides in matters of religion – favoring one over another — someone’s religious liberty is denied and everyone is threatened. The best thing that government can do for religion is leave it alone.”

Focusing on the religion clauses of the

First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protect religious freedom, BJC addresses many public issues, including church electioneering, civil religion, free exercise of religion, government funding of religion, religious displays and public prayer.

Formerly known as the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs until 2005, BJC is the only religious organization in Washington, D.C., focusing solely on

religious liberty, Walker said.

“They are our advocates in the nation’s capital to ensure that the government doesn’t encroach on the autonomy of the local church nor the rights of religious freedom granted to all of us,” said Bo Prosser, the Fellowship’s congregational life coordinator.

For more on the Baptist Joint Committee, visit its Web site at www.

BJConline.org.

By Carla Wynn Davis, CBF Communications

10

fellowship!

News

september/october 2007

Disaster response team prepared to facilitate CBF’s relief efforts As hurricane season enters

of response depends on the nature and scope of a disaster and desire of Fellowship Baptists to be involved.

appropriate response.

New to improve response efforts: • Charles Ray, who began serving as CBF’s first national disaster response coordinator this year. He can be reached at (501) 680-2722 or cray@abfar.org.

• A covenant between CBF and American Baptist Men USA, the disaster response arm of American Baptist Churches USA, to work together in response efforts. CBF also works with Rebuilding Together, American Baptist Association and Volunteers of America.

• An online source for disaster response preparation at www.cbfresponds.com.

This site includes disaster response coordinators (DRC) for each state/ regional CBF organization. Contact your local DRC if you wish to be involved in disaster response.

As with other years, the Fellowship will not engage in search and rescue operations but help in the recovery phase. The level

Because disasters create such vast need, criteria are used to select where CBF responds.

• First priority for use of resources is to take care of CBF church communities.

• Once the CBF family is cared for, the response moves into the wider community as an outreach of a CBF partner church in Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, leadership from the Fellowship and Volunteers of America met in Gulfport, Miss., to selected marginalized discuss disaster response efforts. or overlooked communities. disaster through the Fellowship will be posted at www.thefellowship.

• Depending on available resources, go directly to fund the appropriate info. Do not send materials or giftsthe response widens to include poor response. Financial gifts for hurricane in-kind (GIK) until instructed to do and marginalized communities where relief can be made online at www. so. Financial donations are preferred there is no CBF presence, working in thefellowship.info/give, or mailed to CBF, so that necessary supplies can be partnership with other groups.

P.O. Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392. purchased as close to the disaster zone What you and your church can do when major disasters strike: • Give financially: 100 percent of all financial contributions given to a

Save the Date

True Survivor VIII

March 3–5 (Monday –Wednesday) Asheville, North Carolina Mark your calendars for three days of retreat formation worship community Designed especially for Christian Educators Associate Pastors Youth and Children’s Ministers

www.thefellowship.info/involved/events

fellowship!

CBF

Cooperative

r/OctOber 2007

Ship baptiSt fellow

| www.thefello

In case of a hurricane disaster, checks can be made payable to CBF with “Hurricane Relief Fund #17004’’ in the memo line.

• Donate gifts-in kind: Supplies needed

as possible.

• Serve: Volunteers are an important part of CBF disaster response. For more information, call (800) 352-8741 or email volunteer@thefellowship.info.

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship “Memphis has a lot to offer. From Beale Street to Graceland, from Mud Island to Redbirds baseball, from great barbecue to fried catfish, the Memphis experience awaits you. Come be a part of it. See you in 2008!

— Randy Hyde, chair of the General Assembly steering committee and pastor of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark.

2008 General Assembly

provide a meaningful and

Make plans to attend | June 19-20

Fellowship is preparing to

Carla Wynn Davis photo

its most active phase, the

The Marriott Memphis Downtown will serve as the host hotel.

The Wyndam Garden Inn and Doubletree Hotel Memphis will also have rooms available. For more information, go to www.thefellowship.info.

wShip.info

God-given mission and fulfill their as they discover s and churches Serving Christian

SepteMbe

Poverty related the many issues is just one of field eradicating hunger Global Missions poverty. Cbf g around to fighting global are ministerin partner churches personnel and world’s poor. the needs of the the world to meet

Order fellowship!

Global Missions

photo

To order multiple copies of fellowship! to be sent to your church, e-mail contact@thefellowship.info or call (800) 352-8741.

iate poverty Pages Poster: Help allev

6-7

Coo p e r a t i v e B a p t i s t F e l l o w sh i p

Offering for Global Missions

fellowship!

september/october 2007

11

Newells open spiritual, cultural center for oppressed Albanian immigrants in Greece

F

or oppressed Albanian immigrants in Athens,

Greece, a new door is opening — a door that could lead to life with Jesus Christ.

Bob and Janice Newell, CBF Global Missions field personnel serving in Athens, have recently opened Porta, a spiritual and cultural center for Albanian in Greek society.

“They came to Athens in search of a new life, personal freedom and economic opportunity,” said Bob. And through Porta, they will hopefully also find new life and

Photos courtesy of Gary Barchfield

immigrants who face discrimination

freedom through Christ. Daily, the Newells are the presence of

At Porta, Janice Newell facilitates art, sports and music camps for Albanian children.

Christ among these immigrants —

and “Jesus Loves

country of Albania, there is now a small

teaching them what Christ taught,

You” in Albanian.

Albanian Christian population living

feeding the hungry, providing

This mass hospitality

in Athens. More Albanian adults and

clothes for struggling families, and

effort, combined with

children learn about Christ during two

walking alongside the grieving, the

volunteer teams from

Porta-supported weekly Bible studies.

sick and the imprisoned.

seven Fellowship partner

And through Porta, some Albanians are

churches this year,

growing in their faith. During Porta’s

“When we take the initiative toward Albanians, who are

has helped Porta start

normally discriminated against in

making a difference

this culture, and give them cross

already.

stitch presents which read ‘welcome’

“We intend for Porta

in the Albanian language, we are

to be a place where

reproducing the act of Jesus who

believers can be united

dared to initiate contact with the

around those core

Samaritan woman at the well,” said

Christian beliefs which

Janice. “When we enter into the

draw us together rather

genuine sorrow of an Albanian

than divided by the

woman whose aunt died recently

practices about which we

and unexpectedly in Tirana,

may disagree,” Bob said.

Albania, it is as though we are

“I

dream that Porta will become the center of a multi-cultural movement in Athens where the gospel of Jesus Christ is lived out authentically and attractively.”

At Porta, Albanian

inaugural event — a prayer conference — an Albanian man prayed publicly for the first time.

“We do not know these people, but we must say thank you that they care about Jesus and about us,” said

following the steps of Jesus into

children can learn

one Albanian man that takes English

the home of Mary and Martha in

Shqip, the language

classes at Porta.

Bethany, when Lazarus died.”

of their grandparents.

In both Albanian and Greek — two very different languages — Porta translates as “door.” And

Porta means door in both the Albanian and Greek languages.

for immigrants trying to find ways to keep their native culture alive,

Fellowship partners churches in the

It is the ultimate goal that the center

Senior adult Albanians

will be a place of spiritual and social

can learn the Greek

reconciliation between Greeks and

language. More than

Albanians and that through this, Christ

100 Albanian-authored

will be made known to others.

books have already been donated to the

“I dream that Porta will become the

opportunity knocks at Porta. Although

United States have helped make Porta

Porta library. During the summer, Porta

center of a multi-cultural movement

a large number of Albanians have lived

a reality. Gifts to the CBF Offering

was home to the first all-Albanian art

in Athens where the gospel of Jesus

in Athens for 15 years, there has not

for Global Missions directly support

exhibit in Athens. There are also English

Christ is lived out authentically and

been a place where Albanian culture was

the Newells’ ministry, and Fellowship

classes and future plans for classes on

attractively — universal in its appeal, but

celebrated — until Porta. It has become

Baptists have also invested their time

marriage enrichment and parenting, as

unashamedly Albanian,” Bob said.

the fulfillment of a hope and dream for

and energy. More than 60 churches

well as needed job skills.

many Albanians, who now have a place

and individuals created nearly 600

to connect with their own culture.

cross stitch items that say “Welcome”

Online — Go to www.thefellowship.info/involved/give/. For questions regarding online giving, contact igive@thefellowship.info.

Mail — Use the contribution envelope included in this issue and make your check payable to CBF.

Phone — Call CBF toll-free at (800) 352-8741.

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

Because of initial missionary efforts in the 1990s in the former atheistic

By Carla Wynn Davis, CBF Communications

A

Coo p e r a t i v e B a p t i s t F e l l o w sh i p

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

Lessons on internationals ministry (featuring the Glenns) are found in each of the other age-group’s resources as well: Form (preschoolers), Spark (children) and Ignite (youth). To order missions education resources, call (888) 801-4223 or visit www.missionseducation.org.

The Fellowship’s mission education curriculum for adults, Affect, tells the story of the Glenns, gives ideas for how you can participate in ministries with internationals, and provides suggestions for book clubs or Sunday school classes.

The Glenns suggest several simple and practical ways for churches to “welcome strangers” in October’s issue of Affect.

“Welcoming Strangers:” Learn more with Fellowship missions education

0610P012

aron and Stephanie their only American Glenn, Cooperative friend.

Baptist Fellowship Global “We have Missions field personnel, had numerous have served with the Feldiscussions lowship since 2005, workcomparing ing with internationals Christianity as in Los Angeles, Calif. being a civilization Their daughter, Kiersten, to what is the true resides with them in essence of our faith, Pasadena. which is to follow Aaron and Stephanie Glenn Background: The Christ devotionally,” Glenns met in their first year at Hardin-SimAaron said. “It is neat when they realize that mons University in Abilene, Texas. They both to follow Christ does not mean that one must earned master of divinity degrees from Bayadopt Western culture and practice.” lor University’s Truett Theological Seminary The Glenns are also a resource for Fellowin Waco, a Fellowship partner school. Before ship churches, as congregations develop local serving with CBF, they participated in misministries in response to the needs of intersion trips to Germany, Cuba and India. nationals. The Glenns encourage churches to Ministry: As CBF Global Missions field embrace the diversity within communities personnel, the Glenns work with immigrants, and invest time to build friendships and unrefugees and international students at the derstanding between cultures.

University of Southern California. Stephanie “We really want to see more churches enand Lizzie Fortenberry, who is also one of gaging the internationals in their midst,” the CBF’s field personnel, reach out to the female Glenns said. “It is a hard task, but churches spouses of graduate students. They organize need to realize that every continent of the cooking classes and weekly teas, helping to world and every major religion of the world build community and provide a place where are represented within our own borders.” the women feel welcome. Aaron spends time with many Hindu students, and is often

By Courtney Hodges, CBF Communications

CBF Global Missions photo

Aaron and Stephanie Glenn

Field Personnel S potlight

CBF Global Missions photo

(800) 352-8741

www.thefellowship.info

P.O. Box 450329 • Atlanta, Georgia 31145-0329

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

fellowship!

Poster: Help alleviate poverty Pages 6-7

Eradicating hunger is just one of the many issues related to fighting global poverty. In parts of Africa, a dried fish called ‘Kapenta’ is a primary food source.

Poverty

Serving Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission

Cooperative baptist fellowship | www.thefellowship.info

September/October 2007

CBF