Virginia Baptists are making an impact through partnership missions, said Craig Waddell, partnership and short-term volunteer coordinator for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board's glocal missions and evangelism team, in a recent report.
In other news from Virginia Baptists' international partners:
• Baptists in both Austria and Grenada have given money through the Mission Board to assist victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Grenadians gave more than $1,300 and the Austrians almost $1,000.
The Grenadians are also sending four disaster relief volunteers to Virginia in November, to join a Virginia Baptist disaster relief team working in Mississippi for a week.
• At the annual meeting of the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship in St. Lucia, member bodies expressed appreciation for their partnership with Virginia Baptists. Antolino Flores of Belize wrote, “May the good Lord continue to bless the Virginia Baptist Mission, Caribbean Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist Association of Belize as we cooperate together for the advancement of his Kingdom. Thank you, Virginia Baptist Mission.”
• So far this year, more than 900 Virginians have volunteered to serve overseas in Virginia Baptist partnerships. That figure does not include participants in church and associational partnerships and projects.
More than 100 volunteers from Virginia Baptists' mission partners have come to Virginia to help minister here. Among them were the Brazilian soccer team, the Italian teen exchange, the Austrian disaster relief workers, the Grenadian summer missionaries and evangelist, a Jamaican youth worker and a Chinese seminary teacher.
“Our partners are encouraged by and excited about the willingness of Virginia Baptists to see them as equals in the Body of Christ,” said Waddell. “They want to help us too and are willing to come. As you think of ways to go on mission to them, please think also of ways they can bring their gifts to bear on your needs at church and in your community. If you have a church-to-church partnership, don't forget to invite your partner to Virginia!”
Mission project requests for 2006 may be seen at www.vbmb.org.
Staff report