A Teen's Perspective of Missions

Our team from First Baptist Church, Longview, spent a week in August helping to lead a Vacation Bible School and revival services at Chariho Southern Baptist Church in Bradford, Rhode Island.

In the afternoons, the team traveled about thirty miles east to the South Kingstown, Rhode Island, area where they prayerwalked and distributed information  in surrounding neighborhoods.  This was to support a new church plant, The Bridge, which launched in the area last spring and ministers to area residents as well as students at the University of Rhode Island.

Faith Pendleton, an FBC Longview member, who has just completed her first semester at Texas State University at San Marcos, Texas, brought lots of youthful energy to our team! In fact, she is pictured here as we celebrated her 18th brithday while on the trip.  Following are her comments about her involvement in sharing God's love in New England:

"Going to Rhode Island this summer was the best mission trip experience I have ever had. As I prepared for the trip I thought that I was at a content point in my life with God. Little did I know all the ways he would work on my heart. Chariho Baptist Church in Bradford, RI has the desire for Christ that I strive to have in my life. To them it’s real. Nothing else in this life matters to them, except for what God’s desire is for their lives to be. The opportunity that I had to lead recreation at VBS was life altering. I saw the kids react to each other in such a Christ-like way; I saw them practice what they were learning in VBS. It made every doubt that I was struggling with about God disappear. Overall, the trip helped me more than I could ever help the people of Chariho. They taught me what true brotherly love is and to love without boundaries. I cannot wait to go back and see my New England friends next summer!"

Texas WMU Team Connects with Internationals

Well, Hello Again!

Somehow the days go so quickly that it's too easy to be remiss in communicating with you, our loyal friends and family.  We do apologize, but hopefully these next three postings will give you just a glimpse of what's been happening as we have served the Lord in New England in 2012.

The year was exciting as we've hosted a total of nine groups (including one whole family and several couples) this year who've come to serve alongside us and the churches of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and eastern Connecticut!  One of those teams was the Texas WMU group shown below who arrived in early September to minister among Muslims and Hindus in the Boston area.  The group leader was Susan Wood, a former International Mission Board missionary who has served among Muslim populations and was most helpful in helping understand the culture.

                      

Here is Ms. Joyce Ridings' (3rd from R) account of their days in New England:   

"My heart was burdened after I read about Paul Biswas' request in the "Missions Mosaic" magazine to come to the Boston area to reach out to people of other faiths by prayer walking and helping at a Multicultural Event. Others in our Women on Mission group at Woods Chapel Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas were interested and plans were made to go. Five from our church plus three from other churches flew to Boston knowing in our heart this is a God-inspired trip to support Paul Biswas's work among Muslims and Hindus. I was a little apprehensive; after all, I'd never even talked to someone with Muslim or Hindu beliefs! When Paul talked of his Hindu background, how he came to faith in Jesus, plus his excellent orientation for our prayer walking, I caught his enthusiasm and passion for reaching other cultures with the Gospel. We set off in pairs to prayer walk around three high-rise apartment buildings housing many Muslim families. Another day we prayer walked a town where many Hindus live and work. His goal is to plant churches in these two areas in 2012. I feel privileged to pray daily with insight for this to become reality. Paul explained that a Multicultural Gathering is for building relationships and for friendship evangelism as people share their cultural heritage and get to know one another. Paul had invited speakers from Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Philippines, Nigeria and from our group - Texas. Some of these were Christians, some not, but the atmosphere was friendly and accepting. About 50 people were at the event, and I sat next to a delightful couple from Bangladesh. I listened to the speakers for two hours and could have listened for two more; it was so enlightening. Some who were Christians shared their faith openly and I prayed that seeds were planted that Saturday night. (We heard later that three contacted Paul to learn more about Christianity!) Sunday morning we went back to Cambridgeport Baptist Church Baptist Church and worshiped with a dozen or so different nationalities. What a heavenly experience - to catch a glimpse of the magnitude of God's love for all peoples!   I still smile with joy when I remember all the experiences on this Boston area mission trip. Don't you know God smiles when all peoples, all languages praise and worship Him together!"

                                          Joyce Ridings with her new international friend

Another Couple on Mission in New England!

We'd like you to meet Truitt and Sherry Eason, Texans who were our "across-the-parking-lot neighbors" in Northborough, MA, for the month of September.    Their story  written below is just another account of "ordinary people" who have committed to making themselves available to use their God-given talents, abilties, and lifelong experiences to serve as the Lord leads.   

                               *************************************

0ur home is an RV (recreational vehicle) – a 34 ft. triple slideout motorhome with 400 square ft. Everything we own is in it and a 10x10 storage room in Temple, TX and we love it. It’s our joy to tell people that we are "living our dream."

Throughout our married life, we were involved in missions. We went on Mission trips to Mexico, New Mexico, Louisiana, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. We also served as Mission Service Corps Missionaries for about 8 years. In addition, Sherry had been a part of WMU for many years with Truitt’s full support. In planning for retirement, we knew we wanted to RV fulltime, but we also wanted to volunteer wherever the Lord might lead. Since we both had office and computer skills (Sherry was a ministry assistant for 16 years), we prayed the Lord could use us wherever we were needed. We also hoped we could be encouragers to those on the mission field.

After Truitt retired as a locomotive engineer from the BNSF Railroad in 2006, we moved into our motorhome and the adventure began. God has been faithful and provided a place for us to serve each summer since retirement. After the first two summers in Montana, we found a new direction – working with Baptist Associations. Since then, the Lord has continued to show us opportunities to work with associations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Our assignments have included creating websites, brochures, flyers, videos; doing general office work; taking pictures; pulling a Block Party Trailer and keeping it stocked; driving a mission group; etc. 

Many people in churches seem to think that if you aren't a preacher, teacher, doctor, nurse, or builder, there's not much for them to do in missions.  However, the Lord has shown us over and over that whatever you can do and are willing to do, God will use.    It's truly that simple.  I Peter 4:10-11 expresses it so well,  "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen." 

URGENCY IN THE NORTHEAST!

This video says it all!  Click the link for more details!

Video Link

LONGVIEW MISSION TEAM HEADS FOR RHODE ISLAND

Please pray for our Longview FBC team who'll be coming up in a few days (August 2-9) to assist with  a Vacation Bible School and revival services at Chariho Baptist Church in Bradford, Rhode Island.

We're also planning to help a new church plant called The Bridge in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, by distributing information about the church, helping with a survey, and engaging local residents in conversation as the opportunities arise. We pray that we will take advantage of many opportunities to share Christ.  Please pray for
                             safety
                                good health
                                    stamina
                                        patience
                                            wisdom
                                                and
                                                  boldness
                                as we share the love of Jesus with New Englanders!

                                         Chariho Southern Baptist Church, Bradford, RI

The Chariho church is currently seeking a pastor, but is being shepherded by Dr. Rafael Hernandez, Director of Missions for the Southeastern New England Baptist Association.

Church Planter Cal Bankston, pictured here, pastors The Bridge in South Kingstown.


                                        
We depend on you to "cover" Southern Rhode Island with your prayers!

Thank you!

"TELL ME A BIBLE STORY!"

One of the most rewarding things we're involved in this year involves chronological Bible storying with an enthusiastic group of members of Chariho Baptist Church in Bradford, Rhode Island!  On successive Wednesday evenings, we began in May with the creation story and will conclude this  36-week session in the book of Revelation  . . .the essence of God's Redemption Story from the beginning to the end of the Bible!

It's such fun!  Each week the leader quickly reviews the last week's story, then TELLS (not reads!) the story in his own words from  the chosen passage for the week.
After the story is told each week in about 3-5 minutes, we reconstruct the facts of the story and then someone in the group retells it again.  Afterwards the groups responds to such questions as "What did you learn about God from this story?" or "What did you learn about mankind in this story?"  or perhaps "With which character in the story do you most nearly identify and why?"  And then "What will I do differently as a result of having heard this story?"  Questions are varied and may lead in many directions depending on the responses of the group.  Most interesting!

Then we are challenged to retell the story each week to at least one person!  In that way we actually get to share the "sword of the Spirit" with someone.  Of course, we know that God's Word is "powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword"!  Can you just visualize how many people can be touched with the Word if each group member retells the story to just one person each week???
In fact, Sherilyn used the story of Abraham and Isaac a few days ago to illustrate God's provision and faithfulness. . . Praise the Lord!  The young man prayed to receive Christ shortly thereafter!

In the picture below,  Ben is telling the story a couple of weeks ago. .Stay tuned for more about this later!

                                              

NEW ENGLAND---CRADLE OF LIBERTY & BAPTISTS!

Since today is Independence Day in our beloved country, it just seemed that we couldn't overcome the urge to share with you, our family and friends, a bit about the  history which surrounds us as we serve as missionaries here in New England!  We hope you enjoy the narratives and pictures!  But---we warn you---there could be more coming at a later date!!!
From our study of history, we remember that it was in New England that the protests against the tyranny of England came to a head, leading to the American Revolution and our country's freedom from England.  Northborough, Massachusetts, where we are living this year, is only a few miles from Concord, Lexington, and Boston - and so was involved in revolutionary activities.

                                                                   Look at that date!
More important for us, Northborough, MA is the location of the Baptist Convention of New England!  The property includes the Convention headquarters building and the Luther Rice Homesite.  Of course, the importance of Luther Rice to Baptists and Baptist involvement in missions is inestimable!  Luther Rice was born on this homesite in 1783, the youngest boy among nine children.  Many early notables passed through Northborough and by the Rice farm: Benjamin Franklin, John Quincy Adams, and John Hancock, among others.  Particularly memorable for young Luther was the day in October, 1789, when President George Washington passed right by the farm, his coach being led by Luther's father!

Rice was responsible for the first national meeting (Philadelphia, 1814) of "The General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denomination in United States of America, for Foreign Missions."  Because of his tireless efforts on behalf of missions, Baptists today are heavily involved in mission efforts and mission organizations.  As an outgrowth of his work with mission causes, Rice and the University Board of The General Missonary Convention founded Columbian College in Washington City (now Washington, D. C.), the first class of which convened in the fall of 1821.  Later, because of dissention, unrest, and a stark depression, the college passed from Baptist hands and in 1901 became  George Washington University.  Also as a result of hearing Rice speak later, several men in Kentucky caught a vision and founded Georgetown University in Kentucky.  Even today, the Rice legacy lives on in two institutions which bear his name:  Luther Rice University and Luther Rice Seminary.

Luther Rice believed in missions,
                                       cooperation between churches,
                                       Christian education,
                                       the authority of the Bible,
                                       the power of the Holy Spirit, and
                                       Bible preaching.
                     

                                                     We are living upstairs in this house

We feel honored to be living in this house (c 1911) on the Rice homesite!  The residence, which sits on a hill facing Lincoln Street in Northborough, bears the marker shown above.  The Suite (1st floor) and the Apartment (2d floor) are made available for Southern Baptist missionaries who are temporarily staying in the area, pastors and others looking for permanent housing, or those serving in New England on short-term assignments. We live in the second floor apartment (which includes a loft) - compact, yet roomy.  Come visit!  We have a couple of extra beds in the loft!

                                                           The Rice Cottage
Also next door to us just a few feet away is the Rice Cottage which was the barn, probably originally used as storage for hay, equipment, etc.   It has been thoroughly renovated and converted into housing for the caretakers of the property.

OOPS!   I'm sorry, but somehow I hit the wrong button and displayed this fun photo of a member of our furry neighbor family seen just outside our dining room window!  Just decided you'd like it, too!!!

                                           Now, back to the Rice Story!!!

                                          The Rice Lodge---home to lots of mission teams!
The third building on the property is the Rice Lodge.  This building was once a blacksmith shop, built by later owners of the property.  Inside are remnants of that occupation: the old forge and the large stock apparatus which was used to suspend horses and oxen that were difficult to shoe.  The lodge building now includes a conference room, a comfortable sitting area, a full kitchen, and four dorm-style rooms.  The Lodge can accommodate approximately twenty-five people and accommodates meetings, retreats, and lodging for seminary students, mission teams, and other guests.  It's such fun to get to meet Baptists from all over the country who come to stay for a few days right across the parking lot!  Perhaps you or someone from your church would like to join us some time soon to fulfill a mission need!!!

Below are pictured two fascinating parts of the blacksmith shop (now the lodge) which have been retained:  the forge (left) and the stocks (bottom) where the sign on the wall reads:  "Horses shod in this stock at your OWN RISK"!!!

As you can see, the historic Luther Rice Homestead  and grounds are a beautiful area made possible by monies from the Southern Baptist Convention, North American Mission Board and donations from generous individuals.  However, there are always maintenance needs - preservation, updating, remodeling, etc.  In fact, right now we're looking for a team who would come up to powerwash, do small repairs, and paint the Lodge before Winter 2011 sets in!  Please let us know if you'd like to help or know someone who might like to minister in this way. . .(508) 393-4133 or sherilynbj@gmail.com. 
We are thrilled and humbled to be living on this historic Luther Rice homestead now owned by The Baptist Convention of New England and made available to so many from all over the country who come here to serve the Lord!