“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations,” Psalm 67:1,2. A Quarterly Newsletter
Fall 2012
UPDATE OF THE OUTREACH OF GBIM Sean Warren, Director
Like no other time, the church of Jesus Christ is advancing in every direction around the globe! Like no other time, incredible numbers of Muslims are finding faith in Jesus Christ. Like no other time, the world economy is demanding that we depend less on our wealth and resources and more on the empowering Spirit of God! Like no other time, the persecution of our brothers and sisters is fast moving, farreaching and extremely brutal. Like no other time, the lines of the battle are being drawn and the church sees the enemy like never before. Like no other time, the Spirit of God is being poured out upon people…like no other time. It is within these realities, that we as General Baptists have the great privilege to serve the King, and the wonderful opportunity to be amazed by His sovereignty! Mobilization of the Church: The Call is being answered The Spirit of God has been, and is calling General Baptists to fulfill the great commission. Currently we are seeing a renewed interest in full-time Christian service and this is demonstrated by the fact that we will have 9 new missionaries working for us in 2013. They will be working in Central America and Asia in a variety of ways. This is incredible! People are answering the call! Internships: Opportunities are being given As a way of expanding worldviews and equipping young people for ministry, we developed
Fall 2012
our Internship Program in 2011. This year, we were able to build upon the success of the year before by offering not just Honduras, but also Hong Kong as ministry opportunities. In 2013 we will be offering Honduras and the Philippines as locations for service. Partnerships: Strategic Ministry Allies are being formed English Language Institute China. GBIM, in partnership with ELIC, will be sending teachers into Asia to teach and share and be a shining example of servanthood. So far, we have 2 couples and 1 single that have taken up the call for service as teachers to Asia: Laos, and China specifically. Lone Wolf Buildings out of Missouri. Lone Wolf is able to provide churches for many of our fields at a cost of $5,000 a building. The Leadership Matters Course. We have sent 5 of our leaders to be further equipped in training as they then seek
to replicate leadership in the people they serve. Center for Intercultural Studies. In 2012 we have been able to send 4 new missionaries through their pre-field training programs. The Timothy Initiative. The Timothy Initiative has been incredibly successful in their approach. This strategic partnership, with God’s blessing, could be a tipping point for GB church planting internationally. The cost for underwriting the training for 1 church planter, and for them to start a church is only $200. Asia: Hong Kong Becky Coomer will be returning to Hong Kong in the next few months to take up a new assignment in ethnic ministries. Please pray for her new focus and direction. Asia: The Philippines Josh and Patricia Hammond along with Keith and Carrie Bowers will be going to Davao City in the Philippines to assist in the advancement of the ministry there.
The General Baptist Bible College of the Philippines and the Matigsalug Bible Institute The new library at GBBC is nearly completed, and we are all rejoicing in the resources God has provided in helping our brothers and sisters in Davao get a godly education! The Matigsalug Bible Institute is able to report an increase to 44, up from 29 in 2011. The Pacific: Saipan Community Church and School The student body of the school is at approximately 140 students and the premier Christian school on the island. Greg and Sandy Dickerman have had to endure several physical challenges over the last 2 years. Greg and Sandy will be returning stateside after the completion of the 2012-2013 school year. At the end of July, Jason and Annie Warren joined the missionary team in Saipan. Central America: Faith Home This past spring, after 4 years of service, Rodney and Teresa Walls transitioned out from Faith Home to a pastorate in South Carolina. God has been working in the life of Christina Massey for many years. She took over the reins of Faith Home right after the M&M Summit. But before she arrived, Robyn Shoulders along with Sid and Vicki Smith, and a host of volunteers managed to cover the bases of Faith Home. Robyn Shoulders is to be commended for her service during the transition.
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A.J. Ford will go to language school in Guatemala in November, and will arrive at Faith Home to serve in March. Ryan and Amanda Stead will be going to FH to serve in the Fall of 2013. Robyn Shoulders has made the difficult decision to return home and advocate for Faith Home from the United States. Robyn has an incredible way of communicating with supporters, and she will be missed. Her love for the children, education, and Honduras will not soon be forgotten. Jamaica and Mexico GBIM is continuing its support for our brothers and sisters in Jamaica and Mexico by providing leadership training for pastors. It is our intent to see the leadership in Jamaica and Mexico embrace the church planting initiative and to go forward with it. Asia: India India continues to be one of the most unreached places in the world. With over 1.2 billion people and 45 cities with over 1 million people, the challenges are significant. We continue to operate several ministries in India in partnership with Dr. Prakash. MVP Our short-term ministry opportunities this year have taken us around the globe. This year we had 23 teams, or right at 2 a month serving overseas. That is up 3 teams from the year before. We were able to have 369 people participate this year, up from the 2 previous years as well. What is very encouraging to us this fall is the fact that we have 29 teams scheduled for next year. Funding: Opening Up Opportunities April – We will be having a fishing tournament at the Wappapello Lake in Missouri. While we know not everyone fishes, it still is a fun event to participate in, and we are hoping it can become an annual event. On May 18th we will have our first Faith Home Golf Classic at the Ozark Ridge golf course in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. We plan on having 21 church teams at $400 a team or $100 a participant. In order to play your church will need to take up a love offering for Faith Home for you to bring to the tournament! We also anticipate this being an annual event, and one that we might be able to replicate in other states. On June 8th, we will be having a bike-athon for missions in which we will encourage children, teens, and adults to get sponsors and ride a bicycle.
NEWS FROM OUR MISSIONARIES AND OUR FIELDS Becky Coomer Becky is currently visiting churches to raise support so she can quickly return to her ministry in Hong Kong. Pray for hearts to be open to the Gospel as she returns to the field. Joyce Porcadilla, GBBC, Philippines The new library and resource center is a great blessing! It is near completion and the dedication and commissioning service will be done on October 27, 2012. We praise and thank our Almighty Father for touching the hearts of so many people who have given and contributed to make this facility a reality. Please pray for the following: 1. More students, specifically in the Basic education department, will be won to Christ through our daily classroom interactions and cell groups. 2. That the graduating college students will be ready and equipped to go to the different fields of ministry. 3.The students will have unwavering commitment to follow Christ and be diligent in their studies. Financial Support • We need additional sponsors for our students who can help them in their tuition, dormitory fees and other basic needs like food ($500/semester including food). • We need donors to help us build one classroom ($15,000 cost of one classroom). Robyn Shoulders Robyn is recuperating from her total knee replacement on her right knee on October 16th. Each day, the children and teachers begin the school day with prayer. They have been praying for people with cancer. Mr. Guillermo’s (the principal) wife continues to take chemotherapy treatments to prevent further cancer. Please pray for the school and all of the teachers, as the school year will soon be ending. Mr. Eder, the third grade teacher, will be getting married next month and Ms.Nadia, our first & second grade teacher is expecting her first baby in December!
Face book: Another Means of Communication We know we are living in changing times and GBIM launched this year its Facebook page to keep in contact with supporters who are into social media. Please take the time to look at it. You do not have to have a FB account to visit the page. www.facebook. com/gbiminfo
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Fall 2012
Jason, Annie, Emilia, and Titus Warren The Warrens have been in Saipan for three months and it is feeling more like home. The greatest challenge over the past three months was the transition from living in the St. Louis area to living on a tiny island in the Pacific. Their biggest blessing for has been the birth of their son Titus Mark Warren on October 22. Another great blessing was the baptism of new believers. Jason writes, “What a blessing it was for me to take part in baptizing 17 new believers in the ocean just a few weeks after being here on Saipan. Seventeen new brothers and sisters in Christ! It never gets old talking about that. Standing waist deep in the Philippine Sea as the rain fell from the sky, arms outstretched toward heaven, tears streaming down faces as seventeen people, ‘died to the old self and came out a new person in Christ Jesus.’ What a blessing indeed!” Pray for Jason, Annie, Emilia and baby Titus. Pray for increased enrollment at the school. Greg & Sandy Dickerman Greg and Sandy have been dealing with two challenges: the healing of Greg’s broken leg and the transition that has to do with the Department of U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The impact of this transition has been devastating upon business and families. Pray for Dean, a young man I lead to the Lord who is preparing for baptism. Pray that the Department of Public Lands will approve our permit to erect a new pavilion on the church grounds and that we can see this need come to completion soon. Pray that we reach many lost souls through our Christmas Cantata at the various venues planned, especially in the prison here in Saipan. Dr. Prakash and Jemima There are many challenges in the work in India but the biggest challenge is to preach the gospel to Hindus because they believe in many gods and accept Jesus only as one of the many gods. We thank the Lord for His blessings upon the work in India and particularly for His protection for all of our workers who minister in places that are highly resistant to the Gospel message. Because of the support received from General Baptists in the USA, many are being won to faith in Christ, the very poor are being ministered to, and young Hindu women are being saved in the Dorcas Sewing Centers. Praise the Lord for 70 new converts that were baptized! Pray for a new missions vehicle, the new church plant in Kakinada, and sewing machines for the graduates from our Dorcas Sewing Centers. AJ Ford AJ has completed pre-field training at the Center for Intercultural Training and begins language study at CSA in Guatemala City, Guatemala in November. Christina Massey We have been working hard to prepare the transition housing for the young adults across the street. We have 30 students committed to pray for missions in Asia. Through the midst of many changes at Faith Home, the staff and children are adapting well. Sunday school is growing and house parents Olvin and Lilli have started 2 classes for the younger children. Saturday night youth service is being completely led by the young adults of Faith Home and they are doing an excellent job of preaching and praising God. I have visited with several of the area Pastors and things are going well in the ministry of the churches. Pray for continued spiritual growth of our children and young adults-especially the ones leaving. As I stand each morning praying over the valley of our children below, I can feel God’s presence in this place. One day, as I was praying, I saw Odalin on the road below walking to the bus stop and I prayed for God’s protection and peace for her as she traveled to El Progresso. Later she told me that she could feel my prayers as she walked. I pray that God would protect and guide each of the children of Faith Home into becoming His hands, feet and heart to their country, that the necessary funding and opportunities are provided as they seek further education and jobs and that we recognize His plan and equip the children to fulfill that plan. I am thankful for our amazing children, house parents, Hector & Maria and the support and prayers that continually bless me. There are many days that I, like Odalin, can ‘feel the prayers’ of the warriors back home.
Fall 2012
OCU Student Kyle Fischer’s Reflection on China Trip English Language Institute/China is an educational non-profit dedicated to sending committed servants to colleges and universities to teach English in Asia. Kyle Fischer, a recent participant in an ELIC summer program, commends the organization as one which does a great job of achieving its two primary goals: teaching English and sharing hope. “The best part about working with ELIC,” says Kyle, “is that the organization and friendliness of ELIC staff was amazing!” After a short orientation and training period, Kyle was confident in the task that was before him and felt equipped and excited to start teaching. Kyle found that his time with ELIC was more than just an opportunity to teach and improve the students’ English ability, but also a chance to share life and really get to know the students. He was amazed that in just two and a half weeks such deep relationships were built between him and his students, many of whom he still has contact with and thinks about on a consistent basis. Since his trip to Asia, Kyle has found himself more excited and passionate about international work and he looks forward to deepening his trust and discovering where he will go next. For more information about ELIC, please check out www.elic.org. — Prepared by ELIC
Bike-a-thon
We will be having another means to raise funds for our fields next year. On Saturday June 8th 2013, we will be holding a denomination wide bike-athon. It is our goal to have churches participate by hosting this event on their grounds to raise community and missions-minded individuals. More information to come; contact mat@ generalbaptist.com today to register your church as a hosting site. 3
General Baptist Missions
MISSION GIVING OPPORTUNITIES • Share support for missionaries (Coomer, Bowers, Hammond, Stead): $10 per share or $120 per year. • 25 Church Planters Training scholarships @ $200 for India, the Philippines, Honduras, and Jamaica • Bibles for India, Philippines, Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica: 50 @ $50 • Faith Home security lightening: 25 @ $100 • Child sponsorships for Faith Home children: $20 per month or $240 per year • Sponsorships of Dorcas Sewing Centers in India: 75 @$20 per month • Student sponsorships for GBBC students: $200 per semester • Student sponsorships for MBI students: $200 per semester • Youth development training for the Philippines, Jamaica, Honduras, India: 40 @ $100 • New replacement vehicle for India mission: 1 @ $15,000 • Lone Wolf pre-Fab church buildings for Philippines, Honduras, Jamaica, and India: 20 @ $5,000
Capsule GBFMS, INC. GBFMS, INC. 100 Stinson Dr. Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid Return Service Requested Permit NO.164 Poplar Bluff, MO
Their purpose and the desire of their hearts is to disciple and minister to Hondurans – equipping them to reach fellow Hondurans. The Steads ask for your prayers and financial support as they begin their deputation and preparation for going to the field. Contact information: www.stead-family-missions.com; ryan.stead@generalbaptist.com; (217) 259-0027. GBIM is pleased to announce that the Stead family, Ryan, Amanda, Emily, Thomas and Sam have been appointed as missionaries to Honduras. The Steads are members of the First General Baptist Church of Mattoon, Illinois. Amanda and Ryan each received God’s call to missions and Faith Home in a unique way. Individually, and as a family, He has given them a heart for the people of Honduras and the children of Faith Home.
INTRODUCING THE STEAD FAMILY WHO WILL BE GOING TO HONDURAS