2005 Offering for Global Missions

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Special Offering for Global Missions Issue – October 2005

KidsHeart Africa partnership seeks to transform lives of children

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hroughout the world each day, some 30,000 children die from causes that are largely preventable. A disproportionate

work in Kenya in 1999, believes partnerships work best “when they arise out of existing common efforts, passion and association rather

“I am the bread that gives life!”

number of those deaths occur among children in sub-Saharan Africa where CBF Global Missions field personnel Melody and Sam Harrell strive to bring

John 6:35 (CEV)

hope and healing through the love of God. “It is impossible to convey the magnitude of the crisis that is being faced in subSaharan Africa in relation to children in especially difficult circumstances,” Sam said.

“The effects of poverty, HIV/ AIDS, war and corruption have conspired to rob the very life from humanity that is normally manifest in healthy,

than from a ‘grand idea.’

“Both CBF and Buckner have been similarly engaged in the context of sub-Saharan Africa and both have compe-

growing children.”

In an effort to “stem the tide and make the reality of abundant life a possibility” for the children in that African region, the Fellowship and Buckner Baptist Benevolences have formed a partnership called KidsHeart Africa.

Sam, who with his wife, Melody, was appointed to

How to Respond hands and feet, in what God is calling us to do

ing with KidsHeart Africa,

• that our efforts will adapt

contact Karen Gilbert, CBF

and conform to the real

Global Missions associate

needs of communities and

coordinator for volunteer

children

and partnership missions,

• for strength and endur-

at (800) 782-2451 or

ance for the many who

kgilbert@thefellowship.info.

will carry the weight of

For more specific informa-

this task

tion on the scope and philoso-

• that governments and

phy of this initiative, contact

nations will awaken to their

Ana Marie and Scott Houser

responsibilities toward

at housers@worldonline.co.za

children — our future.

or Melody and Sam Harrell at harrell@africaexchange.org.

PRAY – The Harrells request prayer for these specific needs: • that people will be led to be full participants, the

“The body of Christ cannot afford not to participate by all means necessary to avoid ‘the stumbling of one of these.’ As you pray, ask how God might lead you to become involved,” Sam said.

Steve Johnson photo

LEARN – For more information about partner-

tencies and expertise to bring to the table,” he explained.

KidsHeart will focus primarily on very young orphans, vulnerable children and issues related to their welfare and development.

“Our sub-Saharan Africa team will partner with churches, organizations and communities who are already engaged to some degree in outreach to children such as with church-operated nursery schools, community centers and HIV/AIDS infant care,” Sam said. “Our teammates in South Africa, Ana Marie and Scott Houser, and Jade and Shelah Acker in West Africa, will work with partner organizations seeking to provide holistic care and attention to vulnerable children, particularly those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. “A most essential ingredient for the success of KidsHeart is the partnership of individuals and churches,” Sam said. “Our dream would be for a relationship to be built between a church congregation and one of the ministries that we are undertaking. While it will not be possible for everyone to see firsthand what their efforts are achieving, we are ready and willing to facilitate on-site participation and involvement — Continued on page 11

Offering helps personnel bring the ‘Bread of Life’ to most neglected COOPERATIVE Baptist Fellowship Global Missions works with churches and others to provide the bread of life — spiritual, emotional, medical, educational and economic — in partnership with the most neglected, those with the greatest needs and the fewest resources.

This special issue of the newsletter focuses on CBF’s Offering for Global Missions.

Based on John 6:35, this year’s Offering theme is “Famished Lands … The Bread of Life.”

The Offering goal is $6.32 million. One hundred percent of the Offering goes to assist Global Missions field

personnel in connecting with the most neglected people and meeting human need around the world.

This issue will also introduce the Fellowship’s newest Global Missions field personnel using the format from “New Field Personnel Baseball Cards” (see left) available for free from The CBF Store at www.thefellowship.info or (800) 801-4223. f!

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IN THE EARLY DAYS of the Upland Holistic Development Project, good help was hard to find.

“It’s pretty remote and rural,” Rick Burnette said. “We had two Palaung teams come and stay here to get it started. Two of them are still here – Apat and Alap.

Apat has been instrumental in getting our nurseries started and tending to them. They both made a commitment to this project. We couldn’t do what we do without them.”

With the exception of the Burnettes, the entire UHDP staff comes from hilltribes. The project’s manager, Jamlong, a Lahu and a Christian, has been on staff for nine years. All of the 30 people who live at UHDP are from hilltribes.

Jamlong typically leads in prayer when he visits the villages, where Buddhism and animism are the forms of religious expression.

UHDP is host to dozens of visitors each year, ranging from missions teams to agriculturists to university students. The staff not only maintains their duties on the farm, they cook and provide for the teams who stay at the facility.

During the spring of 2004, the Burnettes moved from Fang, which is near UHDP, to the city of Chiang Mai, more than two hours away. This arrangement limits Rick’s day-to-day involvement on the project, but he’s completely confident in Jamlong’s leadership and the staff’s ability to continue the ministry.

“In this part of the world, there is no shortage of people working with unreached people groups,” Rick said. “We have a niche because we are holistic and try to look at the whole spectrum of needs.”

GIVE – You can also contribute directly to the projects of UHDP by going online to www.thefellowship. info/Global Missions/giftcatalog/ td.icm.

By Lance Wallace, CBF Communications

Vol. 15, No. 6 COORDINATOR • Daniel Vestal COORDINATOR, COMMUNICATIONS & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT • Ben McDade EDITOR • Lance Wallace MANAGING EDITOR • Lisa M. Jones PHONE • (770) 220-1600 FAX • (770) 220-1685 E-MAIL • fellowship@thefellowship.info WEB SITE • www.thefellowship.info

fellowship! is published 7 times a year in Sept./ Oct., Special I (Oct.), Nov./Dec., Jan./Feb., Mar./Apr., May/June, Special II (Aug.) by The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Inc., 3001 Mercer University Dr., Atlanta, GA 30341-4115. 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

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

Holistic CBF ministry plants seeds in northern Thailand

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s they pour scalding green tea into plastic cups and pass it to their guests sitting on mats on the concrete floor of the “head

man’s” home, the Palaung villagers explain the benefits of being in Thailand over their native Burma, now known as Myanmar.

one ‘wah’ — basically the distance between my outstretched arms — there needs to be something of value planted. If there are native plants, we say use them. Get as much as you can from nature.”

Because the hilltribes now have access to very little land, they are discouraged from practicing monocultural farming. If all of their effort goes into one crop, and that crop fails for reasons beyond their control, then the village will starve. By having a variety of crops, if one variety fails, they will always have something to fall back on.

“We’re not after high production; we’re after stability,” Rick said. “To our Western eye, it looks like it’s a mess. To us, everything needs to be laid out and separate.

But this type of farming, with different crops growing under trees all mixed in together makes sense to the hill tribes. It’s really farming by niches.”

The UHDP has also expanded into livestock. The project now has several concrete basins for catfish farming, and pens for growing Chinese moisan pigs.

When the project latches onto a successful idea, they take it out to the villages, and barter or sell them what they need to get started. Both materials and ideas are exchanged. And the UHDP staff learns something from the hill people on nearly every visit.

“I usually leave a village encouraged and refreshed,” Rick said.

“I see people coping, surviving and in some ways thriving in a difficult situation, and they have been all of their lives. It goes back to the Sermon on the Mount. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ There isn’t anyone meeker than those guys.” f!

“We’ve identified more than 40 types “In Burma, we have land and we have of plants that UHDP and the hilltribe resources, but we have no peace,” said one people can use,” Rick said. “Biodiversity man through an interpreter. “Here, we have is the key. Our philosophy is that within peace, but nothing else. Life is better here.”

For 11 years Ellen and Rick Burnette and their sons Jesse, Benjamin and William, have walked alongside the Lahu, Karen and Palaung, former Burmese hilltribes, as they scratch out an existence in jungle-covered mountains of northern Thailand. The Burnettes use their expertise in agriculture to help about a dozen impoverished Rick Burnette describes the biodiversity approach to agroforest farming in hilltribe villages grow the UHDP nursery. enough food to support themselves for as long as they are in Thailand.

In 1996, the Burnettes started the Upland Holistic Development Project (UHDP) as an openly Christian ministry designed to meet the needs of the displaced hilltribes, who lack Thai citizenship and access to government services, education and even employment.

The Palaung began to enter Thailand more than 20 years ago, fleeing unrest in strifetorn Burma. Not long after arriving, they were granted asylum by Thailand’s king, to whom they are very grateful.

“Our prayer has been that they will be granted citizenship,” Rick said. “If their felt need is to stay, then the question for us is how do we help them stay?”

That’s one reason why the UHDP operates an experimental farm, designed to grow a diversity of crops in the upland jungle environment. While Ellen manages the books for UHDP and works on the citizenship issues, Rick, who has a master’s degree in agriculture from the University of Tennessee, works diligently to unlock the secrets of growing agroforest crops on mountainous land that was once covered in lush, tropical forest.

By Lance Wallace, CBF The UHDP center is staffed completely by hilltribe people and has branched On the UHDP center’s 16-acres of out into animal husbandry.

Communications scrubby, hilly forest, Rick and the all-hilltribe-people staff of 10 have established nurseries for such crops as rattan palms, which produce edible shoots and cane for LEARN – For more about UHDP and the GIVE – To give to the Offering, please use the use in making baskets or furniture; spices Burnettes’ ministry, visit www.uhdp.org/uh/. For contribution envelope in this issue and mark your and vegetables such as forest peppers, corn more about the Offering, visit www.thefellowship. check “Offering for Global Missions.” Or go online and acacia; multi-purpose crops such as info/Global Missions/OGM/. to www.thefellowship.info/Landing/Giving.icm and click on the Offering for Global Missions button. indigo and bamboo; and what Rick considers the world’s sweetest pineapple.

Lance Wallace photos

Hilltribe ministry utilizes indigenous leadership

How to Respond

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Ministry in Northern Thailand

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Hilltribe Ministr y

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Field personnel use unique ministries to reach Romany

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t’s the Romany’s desire to reach their own people and the use of different media to share the gospel that excites Keith Holmes and

Mary Van Rheenen, CBF Global Missions field personnel serving in the Netherlands.

Stretch Ledford photo

audio recordings of Galatians and the Old Holmes continues work on a Romany Testament story of Joseph; video recordrecording of the children’s animated series ings of the “JESUS” video in two languages; called “The Testament,” originally made by and “Pilgrim’s Progress.” Future projects the Welsh portion of the British Broadcastinclude a ing Company. partnership to Three of the dub the book nine-part seof Acts for use ries have been in corporate dubbed, with Bible studies. plans to transThe relate one more cordings have into the Sinti potential to Romany lanbring Romany guage. closer to “They seem God. “Rudi, to be very Keith Holmes, one of CBF’s Global Missions field personnel, a long-time well accepted makes a Scripture recording.

Christian and by the Sinti,” member of a German-speaking church, Holmes said. “Adults seem to be as said he never really realized God spoke his interested in them as the kids.” own language until he heard Jesus speaking Other translation projects have included

How to make a Scripture recording

Romanese in the ‘JESUS’ video,” Holmes said.

Through micro-economic development, Van Rheenen ministers alongside Romany Christians. Some Romany survive through stealing, drug dealing, begging and fortune-telling — practices that many give up when they become Christians.

“They then seek an honorable way to support themselves, their families and the work of the local church,” Van Rheenen said. “They also desire to become positive examples to the non-Christians around them.”

Because unemployment is high among the Romany, small-business development can provide jobs and livelihood. Through a partnership with CAMED, a Christian organization in Moldova, Romany can receive training and loans for starting a business.

Holmes and Van Rheenen, resource coordinators to the Romany team, were commissioned by the Fellowship in 1996. f!

LEARN – For more information about the Romany, visit www.gypsyministries.com.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

Artists help illustrate Offering theme CBF GLOBAL MISSIONS is using the work of two artists to help tell the story of this year’s Offering for Global Missions. Attendees of the 2005 General Assembly may recognize the two artists — Ken Medema and Simon András — from their art that enriched that meeting.

Ken Medema, a singer/songwriter known for his musical responses to people and situations, wrote the tsunami reflection that was presented at the General Assembly. Through this year’s OGM anthem, “Famished Lands … The Bread of Life,” Medema gave voice to the importance of social justice.

“For years now, I have been looking for ways to express my yearnings about the involvement of our churches in issues of justice and mercy,” Medema said. “One of those issues has been the matter of feeding the world’s hungry people. I couldn’t imagine a better union than that of concern for physical feeding as well as for spiritual feeding.”

Likewise, the art of Simon András touches on themes of social justice. Some of his pieces were included in the General Assembly’s silent art auction. Recently András employed his talents in line art to produce a 12-image series illustrating the Lord’s Prayer. One piece from that series serves as the visual component of this year’s OGM artwork. Originally from Budapest, Hungary, András works in wa-

Ministry to Romany

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tercolor and line drawings to provoke theological and social reflection.

According to Steve Johnson, CBF associate coordinator for global missions communications, CBF Global Missions makes a conscious effort to connect with artists like Medema and András. The resulting collaboration both supports the artists’ work and provides a venue for their art to communicate the importance of global missions. f!

LEARN – A soundtrack and sheet music

A PROJECT BEGINS with a local Romany Christian expressing a need for a recording to be translated. A local group then works with a trained translator to translate the script. Other Romany read the proposed script for accuracy, understandability and dialectical differences. “Is it a lift or an elevator? Does one cut off the lights or turn out the lights?” Mary Van Rheenen explained.

Keith Holmes, a translator and some local Romany watch or listen to the original recording, selecting voices they think suit the tone or message of the video or audio recording. Holmes finds a quiet place, such as a church basement, to record. Van Rheenen arranges for prayer support during the recording.

In order to get proper voice inflection, Romany make the recording rather than a translator. The translator tells Romany participants their lines, which are repeated back for recording. “Most Romany would not feel comfortable reading a script, even if they could read their own language,” Van Rheenen said.

Once all parts are recorded correctly, Holmes mixes the recording. A draft is shown to a sample audience to determine if the message is correctly communicated. Once necessary changes are made, a master copy is sent for reproduction and distributed through locals.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

of “Famished Lands … The Bread of Life” are available by calling Terry Walton at (800) 352-8741. For more information about Simon András’ work, visit www. artbyandras.com. Visit Ken Medema’s Web site at www.kenmedema.com.

By contributing writer Sarah Satterwhite, Houston, Texas

Famished Lands ... The Bread of Life Bread of life For famished lands Gently carried by these our hands We have heard our master’s call Now to bring the bread of life to one and all Living water, healing stream Brings new life, new hope, new dreams We’ll not hide from pain or strife, In this our holy task to bring the bread of life Tiny village, ancient town, city sidewalks, furrowed ground Mountains high or desert sands, out on the sea across the land Bread of life For famished lands Gently carried by these our hands We have heard our master’s call Now to bring the bread of life to one and all

Artists Illustrate Theme

Living water, healing stream Brings new life, new hope, new dreams We’ll not hide from pain or strife, In this our holy task to bring the bread of life We gladly share our daily bread With all who hunger, as the master said We work for justice, we live in peace Now set the table bring the feast, bring the feast Bread of life For famished lands Gently carried by these our hands We have heard our master’s call Now to bring the bread of life to one and all Living water, healing stream Brings new life, new hope, new dreams We’ll not hide from pain or strife, In this our holy task to bring the bread of life In this our holy task to bring the bread of life In this our holy task to bring the bread of life

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R e c o r d i n g Tr a n s l a t i o n

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OFFERING FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS 2005-2006

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Offering resources help churches connect with CBF Global Missions

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he following free promotional resources explain the Offering appeal as well as the CBF Global Missions strategy. The resources are flexible and can be tailored to fit your church’s

unique approach to missions promotion. To order items, contact The CBF Store at (888) 801-4223 or www.thefellowship.info.

The “How-To” Guide for Promoting the 20052006 Offering for Global Missions This comprehensive, easy-to-use resource for teachers and group leaders includes descriptions of resources and explains a variety of methods for connecting with CBF Global Missions — everything needed to prepare for and promote the Offering for Global Missions.

Famished Lands ...

The Bread of Life Multimedia Resource Explores the manner in which CBF Global Missions field personnel are sharing the Bread of Life with famished lands. The theme music is written and performed by singer/songwriter Ken Medema.

Famished Lands ... The Bread of Life Bulletin Insert Introduce your church and family to agricultural innovation among refugees in northern Thailand; progress in Bible translation efforts among the Romany (Gypsy) people of Europe; and care and relief for victims of the tsunamis, hurricanes and other natural disasters. With compelling quotes from field personnel, this insert illustrates the manner in which CBF Global Missions works with churches and others to provide the Bread of Life in partnership with the most neglected.

Famished Lands ... The Bread of Life Promotional Poster Color portraits taken from three continents grace this 18” x 22” poster. This resource is two-sided, one for English speakers and one for Spanish speakers.

MissionConnect Posters A complement to the Offering for Global Missions poster designed to highlight MissionConnect, the Offering’s spring emphasis.

MissionConnect Bulletin Insert CBF’s values of listening, equipping and partnering are demonstrated in the details of stories from CBF Global Missions field personnel who live and work in urban settings.

These include Ronnie Adams, Mary-Katherine Williams and Jesse Loper, working in New York City, as well as Melody and

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

Sam Harrell, ministering in Nairobi, Kenya. The insert includes direct contact information for field personnel.

Offering for Global Missions Envelopes These envelopes provide a convenient way for church members to give to the Offering.

Offering for Global Missions Bank With one touch, the pre-folded item becomes a small, 14-sided world globe with a slot for coins on top and a place for a person’s name on the bottom.

Doing Missions in a World Without Borders Curriculum Promotional Brochure This flier provides a comprehensive overview of the Doing Missions in a World Without Borders Missions Education Curriculum, complete with curriculum topics, testimonials and a tear-off order form.

New Field Personnel Baseball Cards Children and adults will love these cards, which describe the lives and ministries of CBF Global Missions’ most recently appointed field personnel. Samples of these cards are placed throughout this issue of the newsletter. Since printing of these cards, some of the field assignments may have changed, but the need to pray for these field personnel remains unchanged.

Offering for Global Missions E-Update Each issue provides timely, innovative ideas and links to resources to help promote the Offering. Contains prayer calendars to assist churches in remembering to support CBF Global Missions field personnel in prayer, as well as opportunities for volunteer missions service. To subscribe, e-mail your request to ogm@thefellowship.info or call (770) 220-1630.

Prayer resources “Sharing in God’s Grace… by Praying One for Another” Year-Long Guide to Global Missions Praying A small but beautiful volume that guides the reader to participate in the very heart of CBF Global Missions: prayer. It is designed almanac-style with descriptive, week-by-week prayer needs, meditations and more.

Partners in Prayer Calendar This resource helps users remember in prayer CBF Global Missions field personnel and their children on their birthdays.

The online component is the Prayer Central home page on the Fellowship Web site. It includes prayer requests from CBF Global Missions field personnel as well as a birthday list of field personnel and their families. Other prayer needs are often listed as well. To access the Prayer Central home page, visit www.thefellowship.info and click the “Global Missions” and “Prayer Central” buttons. Many of these prayer resources can also be distributed through e-mail and the U.S. Postal Service. For more information, call the CBF Global Missions office at (800) 352-8741.

face2face Promotional Brochure Included in this guide is the process by which churches and individuals can connect with CBF to secure someone to share their ministry story as well as to listen to the needs of the congregation.

People Group Videos/DVDs CBF Global Missions recently released two videos related to the Offering for Global Missions. Videos on the Palaung people group and Kenya are available now, with DVDs on these topics planned for release by November. The videos update previous versions released. The DVDs will contain updates of previous videos on the topics with new interviews and graphics. They also contain a slide show suitable for incorporation into worship services or prayer gatherings. The Palaung video and Kenya video are $4.95 each. DVDs are $9.95.

Web resources The following resources help connect individuals and churches with the Offering online: Offering for Global Missions Web site: www.thefellowship.info/Global Missions/OGM/ Provides comprehensive information about the Offering, including highlighted ministries in the fall and spring Offering emphases. The Web site also provides information about face2face (formerly the CBF speakers bureau) and access to photos, clip art and a chart illustrating giving progress, and allowing you to learn and share Offering promotion ideas and providing input to the Fellowship.

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Global Missions Resources

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face2face links the Fellowship, local churches by sharing, engaging

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ince its inception, the CBF Speaker’s Bureau has played an important role in telling the Fellowship story as staff and

Global Missions field personnel share their specific work with local congregations. However, to assist congregations more intentionally in connecting with missions and ministry opportunities, this initiative has been revisioned to include an emphasis on listening to the needs of the local church and engaging church members in the life of the Fellowship.

“face2face is about one-on-one conversations as well as expanded presentations,” said Terry Walton, CBF face2face facilitator.

“As CBF leadership visit local congregations, mutual advocacy develops. Church members hear of ministry occurring around the corner and across the globe, and they are invited to become an active participant. Our leadership listen to the needs and challenges faced by these congregations so that we can learn how to serve them better.”

Debbie Farrell, WMU director for First Baptist Church in Graham, N.C., called after finding information about speakers on the CBF Web site. Farrell said several CBF staff members made it easy to arrange a visit with CBF Global Missions field personnel.

“It was really neat to have a real live missionary come and share her experiences with us,” Farrell said. “She made a great impact on the congregation.”

Farrell said the speaker shared information with the church about the plight of orphans in Africa. “She was very sincere and spoke from

her heart,” Farrell said. “We all wanted to go there and help her when she was finished.”

She was so inspirational, in fact, that nine church members traveled to Kiev, Ukraine, in August to help construct an orphanage for homeless children. Farrell said her church is also working with CBF of North Carolina to develop a Hispanic ministry for their community.

Walton said this result is an example of what face2face strives to do with every church that contacts the Fellowship.

Sometimes, the contact inspires changes within a congregation and changes in people’s lives. Carolyn Boyle contacted the Fellowship last year to coordinate a speaker for the newly organized Women’s Mission Ministry at First Baptist Church in Asheville, N.C. To kick off the new program, Boyle arranged for Amy Whipple Derrick to come and speak to the group.

“Amy was wonderful, her message was so invigorating,” Boyle said.

Derrick, CBF associate coordinator for

Global Missions Coordinator Position

Global Service Corps and Student.Go, told the group about a new missions initiative called AsYouGo, which allows individuals to affiliate with CBF Global Missions, even if they are funded by churches, have full-time employment, or some combination of both.

A member of the church who heard Derrick’s presentation told some friends, Fran and Mike Graham, about the initiative. At the CBF General Assembly in June, the Grahams were commissioned as AsYouGo affiliates to coordinate the work of Slavic ministries in Asheville.

“Our hope for face2face is that it will bring about more of these connections for people,” Walton said. “Initially, this service was only offered as a promotional effort for the Offering for Global Missions. We now have representatives who are available to speak on a variety of topics ranging from congregational health issues to leadership development.”

It all begins with the first contact from a church.

“We look at the interest and needs of the church. We secure an appropriate speaker and handle much of the logistical planning.

We want to make the process as easy for them as possible,” Walton said. “We believe each visit is an opportunity to discover our God-given mission.” f!

LEARN – To find out more about face2face, visit www.thefellowship.info/ face2face or contact (770) 220-1630 or face2face@thefellowship.info.

By contributing writer Bob Perkins Jr., York, Pa.

CBF Global Missions maintains focus on most neglected as leadership changes

Face2Face Helps Dialogue

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meet physical needs first and then sharing those needs,” said Snell. the love of Christ with people as the Spirit Snell cited some examples of the Fellowdirects, he noted. ship reaching out to the most neglected: Approximately 80 percent of • Increasing ministry to CBF Global Missions’ work is persons with HIV/AIDS among the most neglected, said in New York, Miami, Snell. In the current proposed Nairobi and South Africa budget, $11.3 million of the • Transformational $13.7 million for CBF Global development projects Missions is designated for work • Ministries among the among the most neglected. The hungry in various locations other portions go to Global around the world Missions partnerships, volun• Ongoing tsunami teer missions, church planting relief and rebuilding in Jack Snell explains the strategy behind the and other ministries. f!

Southeast Asia Fellowship’s ministry efforts.

• Work among the Gypsies LEARN – For more informa• The Fellowship’s rural tion about CBF Global Missions, poverty initiative. visit www.thefellowship.info/Global Missions/.

“The Scripture is replete with examples For more information about Jack Snell, read of ministry to the neglected,” Snell said. his online biography at www.thefellowship.

“We are serious that our ministry should be info/Inside CBF/Jack Snell.icm. holistic.” That means addressing spiritual, physical, social and other needs. In times By contributing writer Alison Wingfield, of crisis, this may mean being willing to Dallas, Texas

and may be e-mailed to gmc. search.chm@comcast.net or paper submissions may be mailed to Global Missions Coordinator Search Committee, 1901 Girard Ave., Richmond, VA 23229-4129.

Mark Sandlin photo

FOCUSING ON THE most neglected is Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s key strategy for global missions, according to Jack Snell, interim coordinator for CBF Global Missions.

Snell, who was named interim coordinator by the CBF Coordinating Council prior to the General Assembly, presented an Assembly workshop on the strategic approach behind CBF Global Missions. He had served for six weeks as acting coordinator following the resignation of Barbara Baldridge. Snell served previously as associate coordinator for field ministries.

The strategy of ministering among the most neglected — which includes the unevangelized and the marginalized — has developed out of an ongoing strategic planning process in CBF Global Missions.

“Under our current plan, we have grouped these together as the most neglected,” noted Snell. These are “the people who have the greatest needs in the world and who have the fewest resources to meet

THE COOPERATIVE Baptist Fellowship is prayerfully seeking a person to lead its global missions efforts. CBF works with churches and individuals to help them find and fulfill their God-given purpose.

CBF Global Missions works through a team structure comprised of field personnel, administrative personnel and domestic and international partners. The coordinator will lead this team as it attempts to address the holistic needs of our world, using the resources God makes available through individuals and churches.

The coordinator must have a demonstrated, abiding commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to the fulfillment of His commission to share the gospel with all people in a culturally meaningful manner. An undergraduate degree is required and an advanced degree is preferred. As a person of spiritual maturity and integrity, the coordinator must be ready to fulfill the role of servant leader and team player. The coordinator will need to listen effectively, assimilate varied viewpoints, understand the needs of team members and the people of our world. Strength to make, interpret, and implement difficult decisions will be essential. Experience in administration and budget processes will help the coordinator lead the global missions team effectively.

The person who serves in this position must have significant cross-cultural experience and proven ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups through public speaking and mass media. Candidates for this position also need a demonstrated commitment to the concept of missions and Baptist principles as embraced and practiced by the Fellowship.

The Global Missions Coordinator Search Committee will accept applications or recommendations from now until Jan. 1, 2006. Electronic submissions are preferred

CBF Global Missions Focuses on Most Neglected

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THE FOLLOWING is a journal written by CBF Global Missions field personnel Keith Holmes and Mary Van Rheenen who work among Romany in Europe.

Rudi, a Sinti Romany evangelist, traveled from his home in Germany to visit Romany in the Czech Republic and further east. He preached, baptized and encouraged. When he came to the Ukraine, he was both heartened and disheartened. He worshipped with a joyful congregation … who lived in abject poverty.

Keith and our Wycliffe partner Armin saw video footage of Rudi’s trip. Keith, who has seen children digging for food in garbage bins, came home shocked. The roof ends of the houses weren’t even closed in. Many homes had only mud floors.

Armin wrote to his Wycliffe contacts to ask for help. A contact in Poland responded. Two teams of volunteers wanted to help local people winterize their homes, but did not have enough funds to do the job.

Keith shared about the needs in the Ukraine at his English-language Bible study in the Netherlands. A couple from New Zealand and one from the U.S. donated enough funds for the volunteers from Poland to finish their job.

“No field or entity can see this happen alone,” Armin wrote, “but what we form together, with full ownership, can be a great tool for the Lord’s work.”

GIVE – To help fund projects like this one, contribute to the Offering for Global Missions. Please use the contribution envelope in this issue and mark your check “Offering for Global Missions.” Or go online to www. thefellowship.info/Landing/Giving.icm and click on the Offering for Global Missions button.

Prayer requests Keith Holmes and Mary Van Rheenen request prayer for the following items: • Thank God for the outreach to Bosnian refugees in St. Louis.

Pray for Sasa and his wife, Mira, as they reach out to Romany as well as Bosnians.

• Thank God that three children’s videos, Ruth, Jonah, and Noah/Creation, are completed in the Sinti Romany language; continue to pray for distribution and use during the Sinti Christian’s summer season of tent meetings.

• Pray for encouragement for Armin, our partner with Wycliffe Bible Translators, Sinti Romany.

• Thank God for a volunteer team (American and Moldovan) which held Vacation Bible School in the Romany village of Vulcanesti the week of July 4.

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Handshake begins partnership between Brooklyn, Georgia churches

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handshake was all it took to begin a meaningful partnership between two diverse congregations.

The second year of the partnership, “I remember that first morning, we got off Harlem sent a team to work on a project the subway and walked to Greater Restorain conjunction with Greater Restoration tion (Baptist Church). We saw Ken (Bogan) members at a community center, and conin the doorway, and he greeted each of us ducted VBS at a local park. Ken Bogan with a handshake and a hug,” recalled Philip and his wife, Bettye, have also gone from Vestal, pastor of Harlem Baptist Church in Brooklyn to Harlem to speak.

Harlem, Ga. “God moved in that initial moment, just that instant bond that we felt for one another.”

That was the beginning of a long-term partnership between the two churches, one primarily white, located in rural Georgia, the other primarily African-American, located in the urban setting of Brooklyn, N.Y. Vestal’s church first heard about Greater Restoration through Jimmy Lewis, missions coordinator for CBF of Volunteer Taryn Birchfield does a special request painting during Georgia, following Sept. 11. Vacation Bible School in a Brooklyn park.

“I made the appeal to my In addition to sending teams, Harlem church, and they responded with overwhelmhas given prayer and financial support, ing love and concern and action,” Vestal said. sending money for scholarships to help A team of 20 volunteers went to New York in enable kids to attend Greater Restoration’s the spring of 2002. Their first task was to assummer camps and praying for Greater sist Greater Restoration, which is housed in a Restoration every Wednesday night. storefront, to renovate a basement, turning it Long-term partnerships such as the into a functional, multi-purpose room.

Courtesy Harlem Baptist

Missions journal

one with Harlem, have the most impact, according to Bogan. “They (long-term partnerships) are the ones that make the difference,” he said. “They’ve brought work teams that have helped us to get our buildings into shape so we can carry out the kinds of ministry we need to carry out. This kind of partnership has not only helped us keep our doors open, but helped to minister to hundreds of people.”

Harlem has also benefited from the partnership. “It has gotten people to look beyond their borders,” Vestal said. “It increased our burden for people and the lostness of people, and increased our prayer life. It has also caused us to be better stewards of our money and evaluate our missions giving.”

Vestal also noted that going to Brooklyn enabled members to practice racial understanding. “It increased our passion to connect all people to Christ.”

In a recent meeting on future missions projects, Harlem committed to go back to Brooklyn. “This partnership is like a journey and we will continue to travel with GRBC until God ends the journey,” Vestal said. f!

LEARN – For more information about the ministries of Greater Restoration, visit www. thefellowship.info/Global Missions/fieldteams/ Urban/WilliamsProjects.icm or contact MaryKatherine Williams at (618) 567-6279.

By contributing writer Alison Wingfield, Dallas

Prayer helps meet challenges of New York City POVERTY, HUNGER, AIDS issues, broken homes, language barriers and gangs are just some of the overwhelming issues CBF Global Missions field personnel in New York City deal with on a daily basis. In light

of these issues, what is the greatest need for their ministries?

Prayer.

“Prayer support is always our number one need,” said Ronnie Adams, program

How to Respond LEARN – For more information, call (212) 594-4464 or visit www.metrobaptistchurchnyc. org/.

GIVE – Hell’s Kitchen is largely populated by various ethnic groups with jobs usually below minimum wage. RMM’s efforts are geared to meet the needs and concerns in the area.

In addition to the prayer support, Adams and Loper outline some of the needs coming up this fall and winter and beyond: • Clothes Closet: Need for winter clothing for adults, including coats and sweaters in October for distribution starting in November.

The clothes closet helps provide clothing for the homeless and seniors who live in poverty in the area. “CBF churches have a huge part in this,” Adams noted.

• AIDS Christmas Cheer Program: Funds needed for Christmas bags for people with AIDS which are filled with local items, such as METRO cards for the subway.

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• Toiletry Kits: Year-round need for basic toiletries for the homeless. Kits should include gallon-size plastic bags with travel sizes of deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush, a comb, washcloth and lotion.

Groups can send multiples of one item or full kits already assembled.

• Teen Center: Open on Sept. 19, the teen center provides a central gathering place for teenagers to come after school and receive homework assistance and hang out in a safe environment. The center is in need of new computers, as well as additional financial help to add more programs. “We’re taking it step by step as God provides,” Loper said.

• Sponsors: Need for scholarships for youth to attend summer camp.

Send items to: Metro Baptist Church Attn: Rauschenbusch Center 410 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018

director for Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries (RMM), located in Hell’s Kitchen in midtown Manhattan.

Jesse Loper, director of youth and ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) at RMM, agreed. “Prayer is number one,” he said. “Pray for our kids and our English students, especially for our youth.”

Prayer is especially needed for their volunteer leadership, Adams noted. “(The ministry) is pressure-packed, it wears and tears on your physical, spiritual and emotional health,” he said.

Adams, who works with three different AIDS programs primarily in pastoral care, also asks for prayers for those with HIV/ AIDS, that the ministries would make a difference in their lives.

The urban ministries in New York City are being highlighted as part of MissionConnect, the Offering for Global Mission’s spring emphasis, which encourages personal missions involvement. See the How to Respond sidebar on this page to discover ways to assist these ministries. f!

By contributing writer Alison Wingfield, Dallas

Par tne r ship C onnec t s Bro okly n , G eorg i a C hurches | P ray e r Helps Meet Ne w York Need s | Mi ssi on s Jour nal

Offering for Global Missions

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Kenyan, American students hold second international Passport camp

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lex Lowman, 15, didn’t know if she would have anything in

Courtesy of Passport

to Colleen Burroughs, executive vice president of Passport, Inc., who said many of the common with youth from Kenya. But a weeklong Passport youth Kenyan campers come from the American equivalent of middle-class homes. camp just outside of Nairobi, Kenya, showed her the world was a smaller “That’s exactly what happens with Passport kids in the [United] States. A lot of them place than she thought. have never been exposed to the poverty that that incorporated elements of the local lan“Being with the Kenyan youth was really exists right outside their door,” she said. guage, heard from local pastors and hosted cool. We thought we were going to be really Each child at the orphanage received a a day camp for nearly 170 children in one different but we were similar,” she said. backpack with basic school supplies, which of Nairobi’s poorest areas.

Thirty students from the United States were provided by the American churches parjoined 30 Kenyan students ticipating in the trip. for an international youth “The (purchase of) school camp this summer sponsored supplies are a financial hinby Passport Inc., a non-profit drance to many of the chilyouth camping organization dren who want to attend and Cooperative Baptist Felschool. Our hope is that some lowship partner. of these children will get to at“Through Passport Kenya tend school this year because we are given the opportunity of this simple gift,” wrote Wes to learn about ourselves and Browning, the camp’s videogwhat we’re called to do,” said rapher, in an online Passport Philip Pierce, a freshman at forum from Kenya.

James Madison University.

Passport first offered this Rather than transplanttrip in 2003, partnering with ing the format of U.S.-based Melody and Sam Harrell, CBF camps, Passport Kenya uses Global Missions field personThirty students from the U.S. and 30 Kenyan students participated in the second Passport Kenya international camp with CBF Global Missions field personnel hosts, the Passport framework nel serving in Kenya. f!

Melody and Sam Harrell. with a focus on Kenyan LEARN – For more on For many of the Kenyan students, who themes. It offers the local and visiting Passport Kenya, visit www.passportcamps. helped the American students with language youth a chance to become part of a muorg/forum/categories.cfm?catid=232. interpretation, the day camp was their first tual expression of friendship, learning and

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications experience with extreme poverty, according service. Campers went to church services

‘Prayer Safari’ takes VBS through missions experience

Courtesy Wieuca Road Baptist Church

morning of VBS, not only to participate in CHILDREN AND volunteers from Wieuca worship together, but to watch video footRoad Baptist Church in Atlanta journeyed age of the Harrells, their three children, and on a prayer safari during Vacation Bible the children among whom they minister.

School and, in the process, raised more “Having the family on video really than $1,000 for missions. helped our children get to know the misVBS Director Helen Wallace, along with sionary family much better,” Doud said. “I Wieuca’s Minister to Children Dale Doud, led a group of 225 children through “Kingdom of the Son, A Prayer Safari,” a unique VBS experience which gave children an up-close look at a missionary family. More than 60 volunteers helped make the week possible.

During the week, Wieuca chose a missions project to support CBF Global Missions field personnel Melody and Sam Harrell, who work with at-risk chilA VBS participant writes in her prayer journal beside dren in poverty in Nairobi, Kenya. her offering container for missions in Kenya.

The Harrells support two ministries: believe it caused our children to want to Baptist Children’s Center, an orphanage that give to real people who face real needs.” includes a technology training center, a mediMelody said she and her family are gratecal clinic, a chapel, and a nursery school for ful for the creativity of many in Fellowship the community; and Kids to Kids, a day prochurches who work hard to tell the missions gram that reaches out to impoverished chilstory in their context. “I believe very deeply dren through feeding and formal education. that the community of faith extends beyond This year, Wallace, along with Doud, the seas and that each of us has something sent a letter to the parents of pre-registered to offer the other. God is at work in both children to explain the project in advance. contexts and we only gain when we willingly In addition, the children gathered each

Second International Passpor t Camp

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‘Prayer Safari’

participate in His love around the world.”

A new concept to Wieuca’s VBS was the prayer journal. Instead of participating in a closing ceremony at the end of each day, the children were encouraged by their “safari guides” to record their prayers in journals. The guides, volunteers of all ages, told the children not to worry about spelling or punctuation errors.

“There were no restrictions. They could draw pictures if they wanted to,” Wallace said.

“I like how we brought missions to our church instead of this faraway land,” said Laura Buchanan, a church member who served as a safari guide.

Wieuca raised $1,053.66 to help support the Harrells.

“The offering raised during Wieuca Road’s Vacation Bible School will go towards various ministries to needy children in Nairobi, all of whom live in situations of extreme poverty,” Melody said.

“We were stunned at what came in by the end of the week,” Wallace said. “For me, this VBS was one of the best.” f!

LEARN – For more information about the Harrells’ ministry, visit www.africaexchange.org.

By contributing writer Ashley Grizzle, Atlanta

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OFFERING FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS 2005-2006

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CBF Global Missions field personnel in Sri Lanka hope one village will go a long way to rebuilding lives of tsunami victims.

On the western coast of Sri Lanka, Scott Hunter, one of CBF’s field personnel, is leading the Fellowship’s efforts in a partnership that will build a new village for Sri Lankans whose livelihoods and homes were destroyed in the tsunami in Southeast Asia.

Hunter is requesting immediate volunteers to aid in the construction of an 88-home village with a community center. Originating with Sri Lankan Baptists, the new village will provide housing for “squatter” families, who lived on borrowed land within 100 meters of the ocean. The Sri Lankan government created a buffer zone preventing homes from being rebuilt within that area. While coastal landowners were compensated for their land loss, squatters were left without homes, Hunter said. “They will not be compensated for their loss and have nowhere to go and do not have the resources to buy land to start over.”

The Fellowship helped purchase the land for the new village. In addition to providing housing for 350 people, the village will have a community center with specialized programming based on residents’ needs that could include day care, English language training, computer training, welding and small engine repair, and agriculture classes.

“The center we are building is planned to offer life restoration skills to people that need help to rebuild their lives,” Hunter said.

“The center is an outward sign that we are committed to rebuilding homes and lives, not just building houses.”

In Thailand, the Fellowship is partnering with Habitat for Humanity and Mercy Foundation to build more than 2,000 homes in southern Thailand. While the project can use any volunteer who can do manual labor in the heat, specific needs are for construction site supervisors, general contractors, brick masons and welders.

Volunteers should commit to a minimum of two weeks. In Sri Lanka, family teams can also participate as long as the family provides its own childcare. Although volunteer needs are immediate, the need is long-term, said Timothy Wood, the Fellowship’s volunteer missions program manager. Hunter anticipates the Sri Lanka project taking a minimum of two years to complete.

SERVE – For more information, visit www.thefellowship.info/Global Missions/Volunteer Missions/ or contact Volunteer Missions at (800) 782-2451 or volunteer@thefellowship.info.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

Tsunami response shifting to transformational development Note: Due to global security concerns, names and specific locations of some of CBF’s field personnel will not be publicized.

T

he heat of the mid-afternoon equatorial sun is softened by a strong breeze off the Indian Ocean as a man digs a trench on the

former location of his village.

“One of the reasons we have been so The Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami took effective is that we already had people his village and many of his family and on the ground who spoke the language,” friends in one of the hardest hit regions of said Scott, one of CBF’s field personnel Southeast Asia where more than 25,000 in Southeast Asia. “We’ve gotten a good people died. He lifts his broad-brimmed As the reputation. People know our local hat and wipes his brow on his sleeve as one transformacontacts. A lot of the bigger NGOs (nonof CBF’s Global Missions field personnel tional develgovernmental organizations) come in and speaks to him in his native language. opment phase tell local people what they need. We come At the conclusion of the conversation, takes hold, in and ask them what they need.” the man says to him, “Tell America thank the need for Craig, one of the responders in Southyou for all they have done.” He nods and volunteers has broadened. Voleast Asia, said that the CBF response takes up his shovel and resumes digging. unteers no longer must have a limited skill philosophy is to “facilitate the work faceThroughout the tsunami-affected area, set involving water filtration. to-face, connecting people to resources, people are trying to resume their lives by “We need people who can reclaiming their homes, work in construction, who can their livelihoods or their carry buckets,” said Jim Rich, health, and CBF Global one of CBF’s Global Missions Missions field personnel field personnel dispatched are connecting resources to the affected area in the to these efforts and immediate response. “We walking alongside them especially need welders.” as they persevere.

Even though the world’s “CBF has responded attention has shifted, the with personnel, funds tsunami response in Asia is and compassion to the just beginning. The devastation tsunami victims,” said inflicted by the tsunami will Anita Snell, CBF Global take years to recover from Missions associate coor— long after the initial $2.5 dinator for missions million has been spent. teams in Asia.

Areas of Southeast Asia hardest hit by last December’s tsunami still face great needs.

Among CBF’s highest So far, the priorities for relief funds and volunteers people to people” in helping build or renoFellowship has received more than $2.5 include construction of education vate water systems, provide medical aid, million for tsunami relief, distributing centers, development of water treatment reconstruct homes, encourage economic more than $642,000 on the effort systems, economic development through rebuilding through business development throughout Southeast Asia. Additional micro-enterprises, home construction initiatives and foster transformational detransformational development projects, or rehabilitation, and medical and dental velopment. totaling more than $1 million have been clinics. f!

“As a result of the tsunami, many people planned for the area.

Lance Wallace photo

Construction volunteers needed for tsunami relief

Much has been accomplished, including establishing 10 medical clinics, installing water filtration systems for internally displaced persons camps, cleaning fish ponds for the resumption of aquaculture, cleaning wells and repairing water reservoirs, purchasing sewing machines for the resumption of local industry and many, many other projects.

are searching for Christ,” he said. “And the people have responded. In one area, a woman told us, ‘The Christians were the first to arrive and they wiped away the tears.’”

In keeping with the CBF Global Missions approach of basing transformational development on local assets, field personnel work strategically to mobilize and equip local believers in order to have a long-term impact.

By Lance Wallace, CBF Communications

How to Respond Assist the efforts of CBF Global Missions field personnel and their partners in Southeast Asia by taking the following actions:

volunteers working with them. Prayer updates are available online at www.thefellowship.info/ AsianResponse.icm.

LEARN – For more information about CBF’s response to the tsunami in Southeast Asia, visit www.thefellowship.info/AsianResponse.icm.

SERVE – For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Timothy Wood at (800) 782-2451 or twood@thefellowship.info or visit www.thefellowship.info/Global Missions/ Volunteer Missions/asiarelief.icm.

PRAY – Pray for the tsunami survivors and CBF Global Missions field personnel and

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Ts u n a m i R e s p o n s e

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C o n s t r u c t i o n Vo l u n t e e r s N e e d e d

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Hattiesburg church reaches out to fellow hurricane survivors

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n a church and a community ravaged but not destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the ministry of helping others goes on —

day after scorching hot day.

Carla Wynn photo

Church members Bryant and Peggy Myatt, The back parking lot of University Red Cross-trained disaster response volunteers, Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Miss., are coordinating the debris removal efforts. has become the center of operation for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship disaster response in Mississippi.

A supply line has been set up so that those in need can drive through to pick up water and energy drinks, baby and paper products, toiletries, food and some building supplies. And while some volunteers Roy Peterson, a member of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., helps handle the districlean the yard of a University Baptist Church member in Hattiesburg, Miss. bution of supplies, others have been Benefiting from the debris removal involved in debris removal at church memteams have been church members Carroll bers’ homes and around Hattiesburg. About and Pattie Russell and their son, Lee. Their 30 volunteers are working at any given time. carport, with their car inside, collapsed On Sunday, Sept. 11, Fellowship when a tree fell on it. Nearly every tree in Coordinator Daniel Vestal responded their backyard is down. Church and CBF to a request by Pastor Phillip Reynolds volunteers have helped. to preach at the 375-member University “Our church is a family,” Pattie said.

Baptist. His two key points to a church “Everybody has supported us.” filled nearly to capacity: God is at work in our hurts as well as in our pleasures; and our pain can never separate us from God’s love.

“This was just right that Daniel be with The Fellowship has organized several ways to us today,” said Darleen Dale, a church help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. member for 35 years. “Our church has LEARN – Visit www.thefellowship.info/ never been through anything like this.” landing/relief.icm to see the latest stories, As soon as worship was over, the supply photographs and resources related to Hurricane Katrina. If you need resources to assist you with lines were reopened and a steady parade addressing the disaster in worship or prayer of cars streamed through the parking lot gatherings, visit www.thefellowship.info/CL/FF/ throughout the hot afternoon.

CMResources/Disaster.icm.

The CBF Disaster Response Team is coGIVE – Your contributions to the Offering ordinating the relief effort, led initially by for Global Missions make it possible for the Ken Corcoran, the CBF Disaster Response Fellowship to have Global Missions field personteam leader in Hattiesburg who serves as nel respond immediately to events such as Hurricane Katrina. If you have items to donate, minister of missions at First Baptist Church in Columbus, Ga.

Relief efforts focus on long-term recovery

Among those working on debris removal were Robert Sproles and Roy Peterson, who arrived on Sept. 7 from Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., with a carload of tools. They spent four days cleaning up two yards with 18 other volunteers.

As worship ended at University on Sept.

11, another truckload of supplies arrived from First Baptist Church in Rome, Ga., six hours away from Hattiesburg. Church members Scott Smith and Frank Clements delivered this load, the sixth sent by the church.

“Our church is responding to the needs as we learn about them,” Smith said.

And the members of University are waiting with expectation to see how the storm of their lives will impact the church.

Reynolds already sees change.

“It has been profound the way this disaster has brought us together,” he said. “The storm that was to break things apart has brought us together.

“And outside of our own membership, we have reached more people in the community through all of this than any evangelism program or outreach plan ever could,” he said. “But we’re not doing this to help our church or to strengthen our position in the community. We’re doing it because people are thirsty and hungry and babies need diapers. Period.” f!

By contributing writer Sue H. Poss, Greenville, S.C.

How to Respond

2005-2006 CBF Budget

please contact Laura Cadena, missions partnership relationship manager, at (800) 782-2451 or lcadena@thefellowship.info prior to collecting items. Donors are responsible for all shipping costs related to gifts in kind.

SERVE – All volunteers, individuals and teams, should contact Timothy Wood at (800) 782-2451 or volunteer@thefellowship.info to begin the application process for work in hurricane relief. If you want to connect to churches in the Gulf States that have been impacted, contact Michele Deriso, associate coordinator of congregational life, at (770) 220-1626 or mderiso@thefellowship.info.

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AS HURRICANE KATRINA relief efforts continue in the Gulf Coast region, the Fellowship continues to employ its disaster response processes to determine how to best meet the growing needs of the affected communities.

“We’re trying to keep [relief efforts] within the focus of who we are and what we have as a fellowship — that often determines where and to what extent we can respond,” said David Harding, CBF international coordinator for emergency response.

Because the Fellowship is a network of churches, the heart of any disaster response is the local church.

And Fellowship churches around the country are responding with donated supplies, financial support or housing.

Another church-based response to Hurricane Katrina has been the housing of evacuees. Some churches are serving as American Red Cross shelters, and some church members have opened their homes to victims.

State CBF organizations help manage disaster response in their areas, with national CBF coming alongside as a partner and resource, Harding said. Resources available from the Fellowship include preparedness planning, volunteer management and immediate emergency funding of up to $5,000.

Depending on the magnitude of the disaster, the Fellowship sends an initial response team to the region to evaluate needs and how the Fellowship can best respond with the resources it has.

Often times, the most effective strategy is to partner with other relief organizations that specialize in disaster response.

“We’re deliberate in coming alongside other responders to fill niches that they might not be able to fill,” Harding said. “We’re not a full-fledge relief operation, but we do want to provide opportunities for those within the church family who can help in situations like this.”

Because the Fellowship does not have the infrastructure to act as a first responder organization, volunteers are sent not for emergency aid but to meet long-term needs.

“Volunteers come in not as search and rescue but to begin the recovery phase,” Harding said.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

OFFERING FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS 2005-2006

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Global Service Corps Opportunities THE GLOBAL SERVICE CORPS provides opportunities for service from one to three years in assignments that fill strategic needs all over the world. The following opportunities relate to people groups or areas highlighted in this year’s Offering for Global Missions: Street School Developer: Brooklyn, N.Y. The Street School Developer (principal/lead teacher) would be responsible for the start-up and development of a small non-public school located in the heart of Brooklyn. The school will target urban youth, initially sixth-eighth graders that have failed or are struggling in the public schools and will seek to minister holistically while pursuing an individualized plan of success for each student.

The ideal candidate should be highly motivated and skilled in building relationships and community alliances; have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in education; have classroom teaching experience; and have the tolerance and appreciation for a diverse urban lifestyle.

Length: two – three years Agriculture/Rural Development Assistant and/or Project Assistant: Thailand A person or couple is needed to assist with the ongoing activities of the Upland Holistic Development Project (UHDP). A university degree, preferably with a professional background related to agriculture, natural/environmental sciences, natural resource management and/ or rural development is required.

Primary duties will include the following: host and assist Englishspeaking volunteers and teams to UHDP, host English-speaking visitors and provide project tours, teach English to interested UHDP staff, assist in proposal writing, and other duties within agricultural testing, data collection and analysis, and rural development.

Experience with project and community development is helpful.

Length: two – three years Office Support Worker: Bucharest, Romania A person is needed to participate in the activities of the Project Ruth office of the Ruth School, which works with illiterate Gypsy children, and other related ministries for Gypsy people. Computer and communication skills are needed for maintaining relations with supporters including writing of documentation and publicity material, and managing the database of supporters. Other responsibilities include coordination of visiting volunteer teams, bookkeeping and financial reporting, possible English teaching opportunities, and possible graphic design. Length: two years LEARN – For more information, call (800) 352-8741 or e-mail gsc@thefellowship.info.

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

Offering for Global Missions

journey As We

By CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal

Christ is the Answer I REMEMBER as a boy while riding in the back seat of the family car seeing a roadside sign: “Christ is the Answer.” I didn’t think too much of it until college when I heard a cynic ask, “Yes, but what’s the question?” In the passing years I have struggled, as have so many, with a number of philosophies and world views. As I grow older, I become more and more convinced that indeed Christ is the Answer.

Christ is the answer to the question • OF LIFE’S ORIGIN, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.”

• OF LIFE’S DESTINY, “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things.”

• OF LIFE’S MEANING, “I have come that

they may have life, and have it to the full.”

• OF LIFE AFTER DEATH, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”

Students of the New Testament often make a distinction between the “kerygma” and “didache” of the early church. But both in its proclamation to unbelievers and in its teaching to believers, the earliest Christian communities centered everything around the crucified/risen Jesus. The message and mission of the Church have always been premised on this fundamental conviction: Jesus is Lord.

In a pluralistic world where there are competing voices and a marketplace of ideas, let it be clear that Cooperative Baptist Fellowship resources congregations, develops leaders and sends field personnel to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We believe that conversion is to Christ and spiritual formation is in Christ. We ourselves seek to be followers of Christ, to live in communities where Christ is loved and engage in Christ’s continuing mission of world redemption.

In a broken world where there is so much suffering and pain, let it be clear that Cooperative Baptist Fellowship sees the crucified/living Jesus in that very brokenness. If we want to “know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” then we will do so by entering into and embracing the sufferings of people.

When we see Christ in the faces of the poor and most neglected then we will engage them, serve them and advocate for them.

In a materialistic, consumer world that worships money, sex and power, let it be clear that Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has as its vision to be the presence of Christ to one another and to the world. That vision compels us to a more simple lifestyle, a more humble witness, a more loving spirit, a more holy character. That vision contradicts competitiveness, compulsiveness and control.

With each passing year, I realize how little I know about so many things. I also realize that the challenges and complexities of our time are daunting to the best and brightest among us. But I also become more and more convinced of the greatness and goodness of God, of the providence and power of God at work in the world and of the revelation of God in the life, death, resurrection and continuing presence of Jesus Christ.

Christ is the Answer. f!

Children’s art provides ‘Wave of Hope’ homework, then more thoughts came to my THE NEWS was personal and painful. mind: drawing, children and lessons from a When Liliana Cadavid-Ponce arrived in book I would have rather not opened,” Lily her hometown of Caracas, Venezuela, on said. “If people can hold a blood drive or a Dec. 26, 2004, her mother told her about food drive, why not a draw drive?” the tsunami. Southeast Asia is home to Cadavid-Ponce envisioned this Cadavid-Ponce’s stepfather, and he had collection of drawings — the Wave of been there for several months visiting Hope — as a way to extended family. unite children across Upon Cadavid-Ponce’s cultural boundaries as return home to Miami, her the oceans encircle the stepfather was constantly world. She wanted to on her mind, along with communicate the hope all of the funny and of friendship and of still difficult moments they waters. She spread word of had shared. She wanted the project to friends and to help in the midst of to her church, Cooperative the tsunami devastation, Baptist Fellowship-affiliated to give back some of University Baptist Church in the companionship, Coral Gables, Fla. love and joy that her A drawing by Luigi Luciani, Through the generosity stepfather, his people the 6-year-old son of Wave of Hope organizer Liliana Cadavidof friends and of strangers, and his culture had Ponce, illustrates the theme of along with the speed of e-mail given her through the “A Big Heart Will Keep Children communication, Cadavid-Ponce years. In thinking of Together on Both Sides.” is finding a tremendous network that generational legacy of support for Wave of Hope throughout and in seeing her 6-year-old son, Luigi, the United States and in Europe. The CBF Cadavid-Ponce became determined to help of Florida is coordinating the delivery of the children of Southeast Asia. the Wave of Hope drawings to Asia.

“As much as clothes, food and water Cadavid-Ponce still has not received were my first thought, I learned that giving word about her stepfather. She prefers to those things would be difficult, timefocus her energy on Wave of Hope and its consuming and risky,” Cadavid-Ponce said. meaning for all participants — both now In the face of that logistical challenge, she and in the future. The project is giving still wanted to help. children, through their artwork, a chance “I remembered that Luigi, my son, had to affect the lives of people on the other to draw what he had learned in a book as w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

‘A s W e J o u r n e y ’

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side of the world. The process also provides a therapeutic element for those who are grieving the loss of life — perhaps the loss of a particular life. For others, Wave of Hope is an opportunity to reach beyond the realm of the familiar to minister to those in need.

For Cadavid-Ponce, it is all of these.

Born out of her personal experience of pain, this quest is spreading hope to the farthest corners of the world.

For more information about Wave of Hope, contact Cadavid-Ponce at Lilycadavid@yahoo.com. f!

By contributing writer Sarah Satterwhite, Waco, Texas

‘ Wa v e o f H o p e ’

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Global Service Corps

Offering for Global Missions

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Churches develop long-term partnerships with New York City ministries

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rom a small inner city church in Virginia to a large suburban congregation in Texas, the Big Apple is taking a bite out of church member’s hearts.

For many members, Smoke Rise’s trips to New York have given them their first taste of missions.

“When you actually go there, that’s when missions gets in your heart,” Adcox noted. “(This relationship) has created new life, new health and new vision in our church.”

All agree that a continuing relationship with RMM and Greater Restoration increases the impact of their ministries.

“We can accomplish so much more,” Hitt noted. “We know them, they know us.

The people in the community and the children in the camp know we are dependable.”

“It’s one of those things where you can see where God is working and you get excited about that and want to be a part of that,” Ummel added. f!

Photos courtesy of Tabernacle Baptist Church

break, student minister David Ummel of and artistic. They’re comfortable with the A number of churches and organizations First Baptist Plano knows they will conhigh energy and creativity in the camps.” have developed long term partnerships with tinue their partnership with Metro.

Tabernacle has had one of the lonGreater Restoration Baptist Church (GRBC) “It has benefited our students tremengest relationships with Metro, beginning in Brooklyn and Rauschenbusch Metro dously,” Ummel said. “They see a different in 1984. Now they take teams of about Ministries (RMM) in New York City. Some side of life than what they of these include Teleios Minissee here. It stretches our stutries in Greenville, S.C.; Taberdents.” nacle Baptist Church in RichThe relationship with Metmond, Va.; First Baptist Church ro and First Baptist Plano goes in Plano, Texas; and Smoke Rise back more than 10 years, when Baptist Church in Atlanta.

Ronnie Adams, now program All four ministries have director at RMM, served as the been heavily involved in church’s singles minister before GRBC and RMM summer going to New York. and/or spring break camps for LEARN – For more information about After sending teams for children. In addition, some RMM, call (212) 594-4464 or visit www. three years to both RMM and have helped with clothes closmetrobaptistchurchnyc.org/.

Greater Restoration, Smoke ets, soup kitchens, painting For more information about the Rise Baptist is ready to expand and construction projects and ministries of Greater Restoration, visit their partnership. setting up computer networks. Volunteers from Tabernacle Baptist Church and residents of Brooklyn tour the www.thefellowship.info/Global Missions/ neighborhood.

“We would like to send Teleios Ministries, a misfieldteams/Urban/WilliamsProjects.icm some folks back at Thanksgivsions group of area churches or contact Mary-Katherine Williams at ing and/or Christmas,” said Tim Adcox, min20 youth and adults every few years to from Greenville, S.C., began its relation(618) 567-6279. ister of recreation and missions. The church help with the camps. ship with the New York ministries in By contributing writer Alison Wingfield, is also working on adding money to their Last year, the benefits of their 1999. It started with one church’s annual Dallas budget for additional projects in the future. long-term relationship were adult mission trip, but soon expanded. brought home to Fiske when “When we got there, we all felt like her current youth group met that was exactly where we were supposed Volunteers from Tabernacle Baptist help conduct an up with Metro’s youth at a to be,” recalled Anne Hitt, director of the art camp in New York City.

PASSPORT camp last summer New York partnership for Teleios and in Louisville, Ky. minister of missions and education at “We knew the Metro Pelham Road Baptist Church. About 60 to kids, because we had had 65 different people from 15 congregations them in camp (when they have participated over the years. were younger),” she said.

As an inner city church, Tabernacle “They have a very speBaptist Church feels a special bond with cial place in our RMM and Metro Baptist Church. “My hearts.” youth and their youth have a lot in comAfter just mon,” noted Judy Fiske, minister of music two years of and youth. “My kids tend to be creative taking seniors in high school to work at Metro during — Continued from page 1 their spring

KidsHeart Africa

for groups that covenant to substantially support one of these ministries.”

Currently, KidsHeart’s greatest need is for funding to carry out the programs that are required to make the partnership a reality.

“True partnership means a sharing of available resources,” Sam emphasized.

“We are bringing all of the resources that we have developed to the table. What we need are churches and individuals that are willing to share sacrificially or from their abundance in order to allocate needed resources to this effort.” f!

By contributing writer Gay Campbell, Nashville, Tenn.

How to Respond CBF Global Missions field personnel MaryKatherine Williams, community outreach coordinator for Greater Restoration Baptist Church in Brooklyn, outlined the upcoming needs of the ministries she coordinates.

PRAY – Pray for students and their families as GRBC reaches out to the community through their new after school program, No Limitz which started in September.

GIVE – Three GRBC ministries need items this fall.

• Christmas Store and Gift Giveaway: The gift give away is for children in the after school

P a r t n e r s h i p s w i t h N e w Yo r k C i t y M i n i s t r i e s

program at Albany Homes, a large housing project near the church. The church also invites families from the community to a “Christmas Store” where they only pay 10 to 15 percent of the retail costs of the gifts. Items needed: gifts for children and teens, ages 8 and up, including CD players, Walkmans, board games and remote control vehicles, as well as Discovery Toy items for younger kids. Financial gifts also welcome.

Items needed by Thanksgiving, if possible.

• No Limitz: New after school program at GRBC for middle and high school students. Items

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needed: books (preferably new) for teens, magazine subscriptions (Sports Illustrated for Kids, Time for Kids, etc.), computer software (contact Mary-Katherine Williams for software needs), and financial assistance for field trips.

Donated items may be sent to: Greater Restoration Baptist Church Attn: Mary-Katherine Williams 1156 St. John’s Place Brooklyn, NY 11213 Please note if the items are for the Christmas programs or after school programs.

OFFERING FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS 2005-2006

Lance Wallace photo

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

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tragedy so much more real when you have VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL can be a a glimpse of it from their perspective.” logistical challenge in your facility in your Providing programming for children of own community. field personnel may not be the most obviFor a seven-member team from First ous way for churches to support missions, Baptist Church of Columbus, Ga., that chalbut leading children’s activities and paying lenge was magnified when they took the their way to the meeting was a contribu“Kingdom of the Son” VBS curriculum to tion that exceeded a check.

Thailand this summer to conduct day camp “What First Baptist Columbus did is so for the children of CBF Global Missions important to our field personnel,” said Jack field personnel during a team meeting.

Snell, interim CBF Global Missions coor“One of the challenges was packing all of the stuff we needed to put this on,” said Ken Corcoran, minister of missions at First Baptist Columbus.

The team consisted of Corcoran; his wife, Beverly, an elementary teacher; their teenaged sons, Josh, a high school student, and Blake, a Mercer University student; Cindy Sparks, an elementary Cindy Sparks, chair of the missions committee at First Baptist Columbus, teacher, and her daugh- does story time for the children of CBF Global Missions field personnel during the All Asia Team Meeting in Thailand. ter, Emily, a Samford dinator. “This is the only time during the University student; and Steve Olive, who year that their children get to interact with teaches kindergarten through 8th grade other kids their age who share their life students in the Title I program. experiences. The parents tell us that this is Each day was structured with Bible the best part of these meetings.” stories, crafts, music and recreation in the Childcare and children’s activities are morning. After lunch, younger children ongoing needs in support of CBF Global had swimming instruction and rest time Missions field teams. CBF Global Missions while the older kids worked on crafts and is composed of 13 field teams, and each had swim time. team meets twice a year.

The children’s maturity and concern for “We always have needs for children’s the needs of the world impressed the Coactivities,” Snell said. f! lumbus team. As they assembled a prayer box for a craft project one morning, nearly SERVE – To learn about providing chilevery child mentioned the victims of Dedren’s activities for CBF Global Missions field cember’s tsunami as a prayer request to go teams, contact Timothy Wood, CBF Global in their box.

Missions volunteer program manager, at “We see tsunami coverage and hear (800) 782-2451 or twood@thefellowship.info. about the devastation, but these kids lived

By Lance Wallace, CBF Communications through it,” Corcoran said. “It makes the

First Baptist Columbus ministers to children of missions field personnel

Steve Johnson photo

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED (800) 352-8741

www.thefellowship.info

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

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

KidsHeart Africa partnership transforms lives

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Holistic ministry plants seeds in northern Thailand

CBF Global Missions field personnel Melody and Sam Harrell minister among children who live in the slums of Nairobi.

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face2face facilitates dialogue with churches

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CBF responds to Hurricane Katrina

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Christ is the Answer

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

Fellowship helps bring the Bread of Life to famished lands

OFFERING FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS 2005-2006

COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP | WWW.THEFELLOWSHIP.INFO

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f fellowship!

CBF