RELIEF EFFORTS HAVE DEFINED 2020

By Mark Powell, Director of International Ministries

General Baptists have been extremely generous during 2020 to International Ministries. We are so grateful for your ongoing faithfulness. It is important that you know that your missionaries and national workers have also been faithful during this interesting year. Much ministry has been accomplished, and we want to celebrate that with you. As you read through these updates, you will see a variety of approaches to the funds that have been given, with each ministry area doing its best to understand and minister to the needs of their context.

It is amazing to see how the faithfulness of God’s people combined with the faithfulness of our missionary team can do so much good in the midst of very difficult days. International Ministries is extremely thankful for your generosity and the hard work of our missionaries and field workers. We would certainly not choose days as difficult as these, but we are grateful that in the midst of it God can and is glorified through the gracious acts of His people. India Association • 195 families of poor women and widows through Grace Home ministries

The Philippines

• Cash distributions on 2 occasions to 267 workers • Unemployment rate in Davao City at nearly 20% • Enrollment at the General Baptist Bible College is down from 600+ to about 400 • A budget shortfall at GBBC of nearly $115,000

The Calvary Grace Association (India)

• 2,544 families in Chinnakodur have received food assistance during the COVID crisis • 2 food distributions in Siddipet reaching 168 and 113 families in the slum areas • 20 pastoral families received food assistance • 42 individuals in a transgender community received food assistance • Cash gifts were made to 25 pastoral families in 2 distributions of $92 and $66 • In response to need during severe flooding 500 families received food assistance and 1,166 people received medical care in Thummileru, Dharmathaalagudem, and Reddigudem • 500 masks were distributed to individuals who could not afford one • 7 pastors received bicycles, and 2 pastors received motorcycles

India Association

• Assistance of $10 per month given to 50 pastors and 4-12 Dorcas Sewing Center teachers each month • 500 families provided food assistance in 8 different communities, totaling 3,550 pounds of food • 195 families of poor women and widows through Grace Home Ministries • 10-15 Bible women (an important ministry within the association) provided monthly assistance • Pastor Prakash states, “All this is because of the generous donations of all our General Baptist saints. We thank our Lord for His blessings to the needy people in our ministry field in these difficult days through our General Baptists.”

Honduras

• As of the date of this writing, the country is still experiencing curfew and Faith Home is on lockdown • Several pastors have had the virus • $8,247 given over 11 distributions to pastors • Faith Home provided 3 food distributions to neighboring families in El Barro

West Africa (Yeomans)

• 26,972 meals provided to Nigerien Christians costing just $7,282 ($0.27 per meal) • Women completely out of food and about to give birth given a meal just before delivery • Plans to purchase an additional 4,000 meals in the next month • $1,454 to 9 pastors. Pastor AZI says, “I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. [I am writing] to thank you...for your love for me. Thank you for this good [deed] done...God will give you back a hundredfold. God Bless you - Shalom.” • $7,137 spent on flood relief, especially directed at other missionaries displaced by the flood and who lost all of their possessions • 454 Nigerien people and families provided assistance, including buckets and bowls, cooking utensils, mosquito nets, soap, and bags of water and rice. • The Yeomans say, “We are so grateful to everyone who has given to help. The generosity and prayers of our people have sustained us through a very difficult time.”

Mexico and Guatemala

• $6,560 distributed through Bible Institute leaders to pastors who passed along the gifts to needy members in their congregations • Elida Quezada (Juarez) lost a family member to COVID, so a donation was made to assist with expenses

Jamaica Association

• 2 distributions of financial assistance totaling $2,800 • Mixed response to the pandemic due to difficulties in moving to an online presence