As I write, I am sitting on a wooden bench in a prayer garden in the shade of a huge guanacaste (enterolobium ciclocarpun) tree in Santa Clara, Panama. Strains of “Victory in Jesus” waft from the distant chapel on a warm and gently stirring breeze. Twenty-five Virginia Baptists have been a part of a never-to-be-forgotten experience of celebration with our Panamanian Baptist brothers and sisters in their annual convention. But we have been busy from early in the morning until late each evening and by this time we are weary.
My wife, Connie, who is still chipping ice from her windshield in Virginia, is finding it hard to sympathize with my fatigue. I have told her that the Campamento Crista del Mar, is, as the name in Spanish indicates, by the sea. Here, one must be specific — the Pacific Ocean. The camp, owned and operated by the Panama Baptist Convention, is such a paradise that we Virginians have wondered amongst ourselves whether they will be disappointed in heaven!
Jim White
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But more than the sea and the scenery, and better than the warm ocean breezes and the butterflies at play are the contagious smiles of our Panamanian hosts. Many speak English, but even those who do not have unmistakable ways of communicating their appreciation that we have come such a distance as an indication of our unity in Christ.
Panamanian Baptists had their beginning in 1892 when Baptists from the West Indies came, shared their faith and started churches. Baptist work grew greatly due to the influence of Baptists who came to work on the construction of the canal. As an indication of their influence, until 1943 the services of the First Baptist Church of Panama City were conducted in English only.
The Panamanians are a proud people. They are not looking for a handout; they do not look to Virginia Baptists as deep-pocketed benefactors from whom they are seeking a handout. This independent spirit was evident in a conversation with Dr. Cleveland Cooper, a dentist, who, along with his wife, Matilde, founded and currently directs a medical mission foundation to the poor in their country. Dr. Cooper was born the year Spanish became the principle language of FBC Panama City, which he likes to say he began attending before he was born. He says he learned English, which he speaks flawlessly, in the Sunday school there. He was baptized at 10 by his grandfather, who was a pastor. His father was a deacon.
I mention all this to indicate that these are dyed-in-the-wool Baptists who have more than a century of history behind them. They are looking for a partnership of equals. They do not wish to be, and have no reason to be, treated as junior partners.
The Panamanian Baptists are also realistic. To reach for Christ the lost in their country, they know they will need help. They are looking for inspiration from others and have turned to Virginia Baptists because they see in us some of what they want to accomplish. Not that we are perfect models. Neither we nor they believe that. But they see in Virginia Baptists a people who are having some success at starting new churches and communicating the gospel in non-traditional ways.
Also, according to them, they see in us a Baptist body humble enough to desire lessons from them as well as deliver lessons to them. They see in us a people unafraid to be real; to admit they do not have all the answers and that some of what they have tried has failed. According to them, they see in us a group of believers loving enough to share and honest enough to say that we have much to learn ourselves.
The Panamanian Baptists are deeply committed Christians. We see this not only in their missionary zeal, but in their willingness to seek partnerships with whomever can assist them in the great work of going, teaching, baptizing and making disciples. In addition to signing a partnership document with Virginia Baptists, the same night documents forming partnerships were signed with PAAM, a Latin American missionary-sending agency, and the Medical Mission Foundation led by Dr. and Mrs. Cooper. Far from feeling discounted by these other partnerships, we should feel thrilled that we are partnering with people who are serious about reaching people with the gospel and will reach out to any group that will assist them in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Much has been said this week by convention speakers about being united in the Spirit and being one family of faith as we join efforts. My prayer is that these hopes will prove to be prophetic rather than empty rhetoric.
The first step toward that end is set to occur in a matter of minutes. The convention we have been attending ends today (Friday, Jan. 28, 2011) in less than an hour. The real work begins at that point.
Our group will divide into teams of two or three and travel to different parts of the country to work alongside their hosts in ministries of local churches. As they do, they will watch for ways we may be of further assistance to them and for practical ministries we need to import from Panama.
I will have the privilege of traveling with a small group from site to site observing, interviewing and reporting on their work. Naturally, I will share all this with you on our website and in future print editions of the Religious Herald.
To get a feel of the place, the team members and the Panamanian Baptists themselves, visit our web site, www.religiousherald.org. Jay Butcher, pastor of Millfield Baptist Church, has shot and edited video to put on the web.
Some of you may feel rather like the nine disciples left at the foot of the mountain during the transfiguration. While our team has been in sunny Panama, you have been in icy Virginia conducting services and doing the work of ministry. But, your opportunity will come, if you choose it, for the partnership will be a 5-year commitment. If you cannot go to Panama, perhaps you can host some of them when they visit us.
Only the Lord knows how we will all ultimately benefit from our partnership, but we who are here currently can say without question, the benefits have begun already. I’ve discovered brothers and sisters I didn’t know I had!