RICHMOND — Twelve members of Broadus Memorial Baptist Church in Richmond served on the children’s ministry team from Virginia that traveled to Interlaken, Switzerland, July 4-9 for the annual summer assembly of the International Baptist Convention. The IBC is a fellowship of 65 English-language churches and missions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and this is the second year that Virginia has partnered with the IBC to provide ministry to the children of its pastors and leaders during the conference.
Ron and Lynn Kirk with their 4th grade class.
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While some may envision a summer trip to Switzerland as a perfect opportunity for a vacation, team members work hard in preparation for ministry while there. The Vacation Bible School led by the team this year was “Boomerang Express: It All Comes Back to Jesus.” Team members were assigned classes from babies through 5th grade and before leaving the United States worked to gather teaching materials and supplies.
“It’s like doing an entire VBS from a suitcase,” said one team member. Everything needs to be packed in luggage also containing the clothes and personal items needed for a 9-day stay. With a maximum of 50 pounds per suitcase, one team member’s case weighed in at 49.7 pounds. At the end of the assembly, decorations are shared with IBC churches that will be conducting the same Bible school later in the summer. So luggage on the return trip is much lighter.
The assembly is held at the Interlaken Secondary School and furniture and equipment in the rooms are moved into the hallways to decorate and get ready for the children. Boxes of supplies and furniture stored in the basement by last year’s team are loaded in a van and brought to classrooms for use.
During the mornings and evenings, the team was with the children; but in the afternoons there was free time for sight-seeing and enjoying the beauty all around.
The Virginia team in Interlaken, Switzerland.
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“Some mission trips you’re constructing buildings or feeding people or planting a church,” said Lynn Kirk from Broadus Memorial. “Ours was to nurture the families serving abroad and it was a joy and a privilege.” Lynn and her husband, Ron, taught 4th graders.
For six members of the team from Broadus Memorial, it was their first mission trip. Four of the 12 have made a commitment to return next year.
As the week draws to a close, many of the families express their appreciation to those who have cared for their children with small gifts or notes of thanks. “We cannot thank you enough for your willingness to come to Switzerland to minister to our children,” wrote Lee and Shannon Powell from Budapest, Hungary. “They have been blessed by your teaching, your love and your life stories. Being in full-time ministry, it is difficult to step back and let others do all the work. We know how much time, effort and money you have poured into this one week and we appreciate your sacrifice.”
It all comes back to Jesus — wherever we serve him.