RICHMOND—By this fall, Virginia Baptists' Venturer program will have 14 Venturers serving around the world in response to requests from Virginia Baptist mission partners for assistance with a variety of ministry needs.
Venturers are individuals and couples at least 18 years of age who serve in hands-on mission roles for a period of six months to two years. The willingness and call to serve come at different times in people's lives. Some choose to serve during transitions from college to career, others between career and retirement, and still others during their career years.
Financial support for Venturers comes from a variety of sources. Some Venturers are completely funded by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board through the Venturer Program, some are funded by the mission partner with whom they serve, and some are self-funded or receive support from a local church.
• Megan Redd: Collegiate ministry at Cornell University in partnership with the Ithaca Baptist Church and the Baptist Convention of New York. Ministry includes leading Bible studies and discipleship groups, planning fellowship activities, and personal evangelism. During her first year of service, she planned and led two mission teams, one to Philadelphia and another to Ghana. Serving August 2006 – June 2008
• Shelly Webb: Collegiate ministry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ministry includes outreach to international students and teaching English as a second language (ESL) courses and personal interest classes (e.g., cooking) to develop relationships. Serving Aug. 2006 – May 2008
• Amy Douglas: Collegiate ministry at Harvard and Hope Fellowship Church's student ministry outreach in Cambridge. Serving June 2006 – May 2008
• Eric Reiber: Collegiate ministry at Lockhaven University in Pennsylania in partnership with Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey. Serving August 2007 – May 2008
• Dennis Stroll and Nancy Bell-Stroll: Directors of Nutshell Camp and Conference Center, Kingston, Jamaica. Ministry includes administration, vision casting, staff management, programming, facilities management, and development. Serving March 2007 – March 2009
• Charlie Benton: Church and clergy ministry trainer/encourager in the Caribbean. Service to begin Fall 2007
• Cecil and Ruth McKinney:English teachers in Nabrezna, Slovakia. Ministry includes teaching English as a foreign language, as well as pastoral care, evangelism, music ministry, community outreach, and church development. Serving September 2007 – August 2009
• Bob and Celia Munson:Community outreach and social ministries in Baguio City, Philippines, in partnership with Spring Hill Baptist Church and the VBMB. Ministry includes organizing and operating medical and dental training, organizing volunteer mission groups from the U.S., and serving as liaison between Philippine Baptists and the BGAV. Serving June 2006 – March 2008
• Carol Seeley: Youth work and social ministry in the Touch Life Center, Troyeville Baptist Church, Johannesburg, South Africa. Ministry includes hosting an afterschool program, fellowship activities, and Bible studies for youth, as well as modeling and teaching life skills and values clarification learning. Serving June 2007 – May 2008
• Amber Williams: Preschool teacher at the Touch Life Center, Troyeville Baptist Church, Johannesburg, South Africa. Ministry includes implementing a Christian curriculum into the existing preschool program and training teachers in the use of the curriculum. Serving July 2007 – June 2009
• Sara Hubble: Assistant to Baby Care Manager at the Door of Hope Ministry, Johannesburg, South Africa. Ministry includes assisting new mothers with adoption procedures, making hospital visits, and helping with care of abandoned babies, and serving as volunteer coordinator for the Door of Hope Ministry. Serving September 2007 – August 2009
Completed Service:
• Paul Williams: Collegiate ministry at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. Served August 2006 – May 2007
• Dreama Montrief: English teacher in Lovosice, Czech Republic. Ministry included ESL classes and outreach activities, as well as providing assistance to pastor Radek Pospisil at the Baptist Church in Lovosice. Served January 2007 – August 2007