may/june 2008 fellowship! magazine

May/June 2008 Serving Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission

CBFfellowship! Cooperative baptiSt fellowShip | www.thefellowShip.info

ABetterFuture

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around the world, Cbf field personnel and partner churches are working to provide educational opportunities to children. in Kenya, child development centers are changing the lives of children and giving communities a renewed sense of hope for the future. See pages 6-13.

Education changes children’s lives

2 | f e l l o w s h i p ! M a y / J u n e 2 0 0 8

The Baptist FamilyThe word “denomination” conjures up all kind of images and creates varied responses. From

nostalgia to repulsion, from benign indifference to hostile rejection – few words in the Christian vocabulary cause more conversation than the word denomination. If asked what is my denomination, I readily answer – “Baptist.” Within the Christian church I find myself most at home within the Baptist family, tribe or clan.

The question many are asking is this, “Are Christian denominations a thing of the past or are they here to stay?” And even more specific, “Is the Baptist denomination a thing of the past?” My own answer to these questions is that I believe the Baptist family is not only relevant for today but is undergoing something of a renewal for tomorrow.

Note that I am using very relational and personal language to speak of the Baptist denomination. Although I realize the Baptist denomination is much more than this, it is in family terms that being Baptist has its greatest meaning. Baptists are real people with convictions and with whom relationships are established. The Baptist family is not about to go away, and let me tell you why I believe this is so.

First, the Baptist family was born out of a faith tradition that continues to nourish a great number of churches. Recently I took our grandson to a pre-school sponsored by a local United Methodist Church. As I walked into the building seeing the posters about ministry and programs, I was made aware of a congregation now ministering to my own family. My heart was warmed, my eyes filled with tears, and I gave thanks to God for a faith tradition that had nurtured this and many other churches.

The same could be said about the faith tradition we call Baptist. It was birthed by Christians who gathered in worshipping congregations and started other worshipping congregations that are ministering in today’s world. The local church is where people come to Christ and where they are nurtured in Christ. Churches are where people are baptized, ordained, married and buried. Churches are where the gospel is lived out in community. So as long as churches are started and strengthened by people who hold to a living faith tradition, the family that embraces that tradition will continue to have relevance.

Second, the Baptist family is an association of churches that fosters community for churches beyond themselves. I will occasionally say to someone who wants to claim the local church as the “end all” and “be all” that the local church is the Body of Christ but it is not all of the Body of Christ.” Or to put it in different terms, the church of which I am a member is the Body of

Christ, but the Body of Christ is bigger than the church of which I am a member. Churches need community and connections beyond themselves. They need association with other churches.

Third, the Baptist family is a social system that extends the mission of local churches. If you are listening at all to the conversations about “missional churches,” you know that something of a revolution is taking place in which local churches are rightfully reasserting themselves as the center of the world mission enterprise. But I disagree with those who conclude there is therefore no need for collaboration between churches in mission. None of us wants to return to the day when churches designated the mission society or the denomination to take their place. Collaboration for mission is woven into the fabric of the gospel.

If collaboration and cooperation is to occur in a way that extends the mission of local churches, some system, structure or organization will be required. The Baptist family of today will be a social system that looks different from 100 years ago or even 25 years ago, but such a system is still important.

The Baptist family is far from perfect but it is my family and I am grateful for it.

Daniel Vestal, CBF Executive Coordinator

vol. 18, no. 3executive coordinator • daniel vestal

coordinator, FelloWsHip advanceMent • Ben Mcdade

editor • lance Wallace

Managing editor • patricia Heys

associate editor • carla Wynn davis

pHone • (770) 220-1600

Fax • (770) 220-1685

e-Mail • [email protected]

WeB site • www.thefellowship.info

fellowship! is published 7 times a year in sept./oct., special i (oct.), nov./dec., Jan./Feb., Mar./apr., May/June, special ii (July) by the cooperative Baptist Fellowship, inc., 3001 Mercer university dr., atlanta, ga 30341-4115. periodicals postage paid at atlanta, ga, and additional mailing offices. usps #015-625

postMaster: send address changes to “fellowship!” newsletter, cooperative Baptist Fellowship, p.o. Box 450329, atlanta, ga 31145-0329

6-13 a better future: education transforms lives of children, communities

15 five tips ... For making the most of your general assembly experience

16 Church benefits board attracts members with competitive plans

18-19 Cbf offering for Global Missions: Field personnel develop Bible translations

f e l l o w s h i p ! M a y / J u n e 2 0 0 8 | 3

Contents

Jeremy Lewis serves as manager of Together for Hope, the Fellowship’s rural poverty initiative. Lewis works alongside individuals, churches and partner organizations to help alleviate poverty in 20 of the nation’s poorest counties. His goal is to connect people where their skills fit

best, creating mutually beneficial relationships. Based out of the Fellowship’s Atlanta office, Lewis frequently travels to the focal counties of Together for Hope, building relationships with community members and assessing the goals, assets and opportunities for Fellowship Baptists to address some of the challenges these communities face.

Hometowns: Cave Spring, Ga.; Smyrna, Ga.; Morrow, Ga.

Education: University of Georgia in Athens, Ga.; Emory

University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Ga.

Church: Northside Drive Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga.

Interesting fact: Lewis’ interest in economic development continues in his spare time. He’s involved in a cooperative catering business, Tummy and Soul, based in the Grant Park community of Atlanta.

“I am so thankful for Together for Hope and the opportunity to work alongside people who are a part of this ministry. Together for Hope’s long-term commitment and capacity focused approach remind us that relationships are a catalyst for change, both physically and spiritually. At the center of these relationships, is our commitment to being the presence of Christ and finding guidance in our response to poverty from our biblical foundation.”

Contact Jeremy Lewis at [email protected] or (800) 352-8741.

meet Jeremy Lewis

WhyI give...

Fellowship People


Vilma Manso and Edwin Perez

LOvE IS THE kEy to reaching the Hispanic community, vilma Manso believes. Manso and her husband, Edwin

Perez, are co-pastors of Un Nuevo Amanecer, which translates as “A New Dawn.” The church started a year and half ago and reaches out to the growing Hispanic population in Morrow, Ga.

“Everyone responds to smiles and hugs … people know when they are loved,” said Manso. “[In the Hispanic community], there are spiritual, educational, fellowship needs, a need to help them grow in a foreign land, and a need to be accepted by Christians.”

Natives of Puerto Rico, Manso and Perez are bi-vocational

pastors. She works as a counselor, and he works as a doctor.

The couple encourages English-speaking churches to reach out to Hispanics through English classes, after-school programs, Spanish-language Bible studies and worship services. Through the Fellowship’s Hispanic Church Start Initiative, their church has partnered with First Baptist Church of Morrow, which provides Un Nuevo Amanecer with meeting space.

Scott McBroom

HELPING PEOPLE attempt to satisfy a deep hunger for God motivates Scott McBroom’s continued involvement

in the Fellowship’s Spiritual Formation Network.A founding member of Providence Baptist Church in

Charleston, S.C., McBroom served on the Fellowship task force that developed “Light for the Path: A Guide to Spiritual Formation Resources.” He believes making people aware of available spiritual formation resources is one valuable service the network provides. McBroom has also participated in the

network’s annual events at General Assembly and the Fellowship’s spiritual formation retreats.

“It has also been tapping into a real hunger, a hunger for meaning rather than frenetic activity,” said McBroom, a CBF-endorsed pastoral counselor. “This is what I’m passionate about. It’s at the core of who I am. I’m deeply interested in connecting with God and with helping other people do that. you’re not going to find peace and purpose in frenetic activity.”

Katie McKown

AS CHAIR of the steering committee for Current, katie Mckown strives to build on the “wonderful foundation”

those before her established. Current, established a decade ago, serves as a network for young ministers and leaders in the Fel-lowship movement.

“As [Current participants] engage in dialogue, we encourage one another to live the missional life,” said Mckown, a graduate of Truett Theological Seminary, a Fellowship partner. “We learn from one another and share ideas, and then we employ them in

our own ministries.”Currently an assistant pastor at Memorial

Baptist Church in Arlington, va., Mckown helps to facilitate Current events throughout the year, including the annual retreat, a gathering at General Assembly and the 11-on-11 missions project held each September.

“I want to help in whatever way I can,” Mckown said. “I want to be part of the CBF mission – being the presence of Christ.”

Chuck Arney

MEMBERS OF Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lee’s Sum-mit, Mo., strive to become more missional because “Jesus

Christ came alongside people and calls the church to do so,” explained pastor Chuck Arney. And the congregation’s deep-ened missional commitment has grown out of “Miracle Word,” a resource developed by the church’s pastoral leadership team.

The church has spent more than five years exploring what it means to be missional. With “Miracle Word,” the daily readings and missional reflections have helped church members realize

how the Bible calls them to involvement in the world. The study has led some groups, particular-ly young adults, to develop ministry projects and has energized the overall worship atmosphere.

“God is calling us to find the marginalized and to seek to connect,” Arney said. “Being missional is important because it’s the gospel. It’s who Jesus is and who he has called us to be. It’s also uncomfortable because we want to gravitate toward comfort and ease.”

vilma Manso and edwin perez

Scott Mcbroom

Katie McKown

Chuck arney


“I believe it’s so important to

support CBF because together we

are fighting oppression in many

different forms — race, gender,

socio-economic. There are few

organizations out there like CBF,

which looks at difficult situations

and then gets involved in being

part of the solutions.”

Tiffany KelloggRichmond, Va.

WhyI give...

Tiffany kellogg’s grandfather, pastor Jerry Barnes, introduced her to CBF many years ago. But it was

a “burning bush experience” at a Passport camp that reinforced her call to ministry. Since then, kellogg, 29, has been an active leader in CBF life, including becoming the youngest member of the CBF of Oklahoma

Coordinating Council at age 24.“I felt called, and I was looking for

a place to serve where I, as a woman, could have a voice,” said kellogg. “CBF of Oklahoma offered me that place, with the Baptist distinctives I so love.”

One of the Fellowship’s leadership scholars, kellogg is currently enrolled at

Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, a Fellowship partner, where she also serves as the school’s admissions director.

‘‘The CBF scholarship has been huge for me,” she said. “It has been instrumental in enabling me to go to school, and I’m so grateful to the people who have worked so hard to put these scholarships in place.”

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“People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” – Luke 18:15-16

Motima — At 15 years old, Motima is already a wife and a mother. She’s already grieved the loss of her parents, who were killed in the Liberian civil war. But something she’s never done is go to school — until CBF field personnel Calandra and Jessy Togba-Doya helped open Balama El-ementary School in 2006. Before the school opened, the only education village children received was a literacy class that met under a tree. Motima attended until, at 10 years

old, she was forced to join “sande,” the tribal bush school where seclusion from society and female circumcision is common. Now, like hundreds of other villagers, she’s learn-ing to read and write and will one day be able to help her young daughter do the same.

“She is one of our students who never ceases to amaze us by her courage and determination to overcome the challenges women of rural Liberia face,” said the Togba-Doyas. “It is just not enough to preach

‘Jesus saves’ throughout the villages we serve. We seek to be the presence of Christ through our work by leading lives that point to Christ, being his hands and feet in hopeless situations.”

The Ioan Family — In Bucharest, Romania, the Ruth School is providing hope for a better future to Roma families such as the Ioans. Doina Ioan and her three children, Gigi, 15, valentin, 9, and Georgiana, 8, all live in one room of a four-room house shared by three other families in the Ferentari neighborhood, the poorest area in the city. Like many Ro-many, who face discrimination, the Ioans struggle financially.

“If it weren’t for [the Ruth School], I wouldn’t be able to send all three of my

children to school. I couldn’t afford it,” said Doina, who works as a maid. Her hope for her children is that they will be able to attend high school and college and break the cycle of poverty.

Founded by a Baptist church, the Ruth School offers educational opportunities to children such as Gigi, valentin and Geor-giana, who might drop out otherwise. At the Ruth School, children are not required to pay dues or pay for supplies. The school receives funding from the Fellowship and CBF partner churches and relies on hands-

on involvement from churches, including First Baptist Church of Midland, Texas, and Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson, S.C.

From mobile schools and

kindergartens to specialized

programs and tutoring, CBF field

personnel and partner churches are working

together to provide educational opportunities to

children around the world.


ABetterFuture“Achieving universal primary education” is one of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, and

Fellowship Baptists have been working toward this goal for years. Individuals and churches are facilitating,

supporting and leading educational programs that give children resources for a better future and transform

communities.

Learn about their stories. Pray for the children. Explore where you can serve. And give to these ministries

that make a difference.

“People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” – Luke 18:15-16


Chris — One of six children being raised by a single mom, Chris dropped out of school in the ninth grade. For months, Christy Craddock, one of CBF’s field personnel in Miami, encouraged Chris to return to school, and one day he told her he was ready to go back but needed help.

“In our neighborhood, where drug

dealers are happy to employ young men with nothing to do, I wanted to make sure I helped Chris get back in school,” Craddock said. “It was important to me to see Chris finish high school and be able to find a job he can enjoy.”

With his mother’s approval, Craddock helped Chris gather the necessary documents to apply to local alternative

education programs. Now, Chris stops by on a weekly basis to tell Craddock how he’s doing in school.

Ernesto — Ernesto moved to the United States from Honduras at age 12, and without English language skills, he quickly fell behind in school. By the time he met CBF field personnel Greg and Sue Smith, Ernesto had been expelled from alternative school. But the Smiths worked with Ernesto to develop a plan. They provided counseling, tutoring and advocated on his behalf in the school and court systems. They also encouraged him to write a letter to the principal of the local high school.

“What I am asking for is a second chance,” Ernesto wrote. “We all mess up in life, and I would like to have the opportunity to go to a regular high school. I would like to try sports like wrestling or maybe baseball, and get to go to homecoming and to prom one day. I have been making some good friends like Ms. Sue and Mr. Greg, and they have been trying to help me become a better person. I want to make them proud of me. And I want to be proud of myself.”

The principal called Ernesto for an

interview and admitted him into the school. Now, Ernesto is finishing 10th grade and passing all his classes.

Toi — When Toi’s father died, leaving her mother with huge debts, Fellowship Baptists and partner churches stepped in to provide scholarships that enabled her to complete high school and college. In Toi’s village in Southeast Asia, few children can afford to attend school past the sixth grade. With CBF scholarships, Toi and three other young people have become the first people in their village to

graduate from college. “Toi was the first person in her people

group to come to Christ,” said one of CBF’s field personnel. “Her boldness in the face of social opposition to her decision is all the more dramatic due to the fact that Toi is blind. But that has not stopped her from reaching her full God-given potential.”

Now, Toi is attending seminary. She

plans to work alongside CBF field personnel and the other college grad-uates from her village to translate the Bible into her native language.

Lily — Two years ago, Lily would of-ten fall when she walked and she seldom spoke. Her mother enrolled her at Angel House, one of the only programs in China that provides rehabilitation and education-al services to children with cerebral palsy, such as Lily.

Angel House, which is funded in part by the Fellowship, has provided Lily with the education and therapy she needed to

improve her physical, language and social skills, and she is now able to participate in a regular classroom. Recently, CBF repre-sentative Brenda Lisenby walked with Lily to her new kindergarten and asked the 5-year-old if she enjoyed school. Lily nodded and replied, “yes.”

“I was so proud to be walking by her side, letting her hold my finger and guide me to her classroom,” Lisenby said. “I

knew we had come a long way in two years. Be-fore, she would not interact with me. But now, she was willing to walk with me, hold my hand and con-verse with me.”

John Williams of Roanoke, va., found that when a group of American Christians build something in kenya

— particularly something as beneficial as a school for young kenyan children — the villagers come.

They come to watch progress happening before their eyes. They come to support the work, and they come to say thank you. They know the change it will bring to their

community, and they know the difference it will make for their young children.

“It’s just unbelievable,” said Williams, who has helped construct two child de-velopment centers in kenya as part of the ministry of CBF field personnel Melody and Sam Harrell.

The Harrells call this education project Change for Children because the construction of eight integrated child development centers around kenya has the

potential to better the lives of the nearly 650 children, ranging in age from 3 to 6, who will attend the schools this year.

“Those who follow after Jesus will recall how he often welcomed children. He also said that it would be better not to have been born than to cause harm to come to a child,” said Sam Harrell. “Unfortunately, children as a group, remain among the most vulnerable, marginalized and neglected sectors of the human family.”

Change for childrenEarly education centers transform lives in Kenya

praY To learn about specific prayer requests related to these ministries, subscribe to the prayer e-newsletter at www.thefellowship.info/subscribe.

as part of their partnership with child development centers, members of first baptist Church of hopewell, va., sang songs with children at a center near baringo, Kenya.


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Children in sub-Saharan Africa countries such as kenya are among the world’s most vulnerable children. In 2004, statistics showed the region was losing ground in child mortal-ity. Then, 42 percent of all children who died before the age of 5 were living in sub-Saharan Africa. Lack of access to nutrition, vaccines, safe drinking water and other resources are just some reasons these children are so vulnerable.

The Harrells, who have served in kenya since 1999, wanted to build on the change they have seen through previous feeding projects, agriculture advances and education initiatives. While government-sponsored primary school has been free for children since 2002, pre-school and kindergarten programs are not available in rural areas. Seeing a need, the Harrells launched Change for Children with the hope that the centers would give children a head start in school and also help marginalized communities.

The Harrells turned to Fellowship partner churches for funding and support of the proj-ect. Williams’ church, Rosalind Hills Baptist Church, is one of several Roanoke-area churches who have helped fund the centers.

“The [centers] give children an opportunity to be in a school. It gives them a place to learn — that they can come to and not only be fed from school work but be physically fed with food,” Williams said.

Change for Children includes a daily nutritionally-balanced meal. The project also ensures children have all the materials necessary for learning, are immunized and treated for parasites and malaria, have access to safe drinking water, and receive an insecticide-treated mosquito net to protect them from malaria at home while they sleep. The construction of foot bridges ensures children can get to school even during kenya’s rainy season when river levels rise and are impassable.

“Change in the lives of children through education, better nutrition, elimination of disease, and Christian love and compassion is the goal of this effort,” said Harrell.

But kenyans aren’t the only ones changed. “An equally important benefit is the

change that occurs in the lives of those who commit to be partners in the initiative, us-ing their God-given gifts, resources and skills and discovering God in the process,” Harrell said.

And that’s the kind of project CBF of Missouri was looking for when it commit-ted to funding and supporting a child de-velopment center.

“We wanted to do more than raise money and give it to the project,” said CBF of Missouri coordinator Harold Phillips. “We wanted it to be an experience that had some personal involvement. [Change for Children] helps us to have our eyes opened to a part of the world and some needs and challenges beyond where most of us live.”

CBF of Missouri will continue sending teams of church members to kenya to teach, play with children, do construction and provide medical services. Other churches supporting Change for Children have sent similar teams to serve and learn.

With all eight centers now constructed and educating children, the Harrells look to the future – adding playground equipment to better develop children’s motor skills and continuing work to ensure children have access to food and clean water no matter the season in kenya.

“It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child,” Harrell said. “In these days, a global village response is [needed] in order that children in difficult circumstances are treated with the dignity they deserve and are not forever hampered due to improper treatment during the most crucial develop-mental periods of life.”

By Carla Wynn Davis, CBF Communications

Children from age 3 to 6 attend the child development centers.


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praY To learn about specific prayer requests related to these ministries, subscribe to the prayer e-newsletter at www.thefellowship.info/subscribe.

In the Banjara community in India, education of the children began by educating the adults. As

the parents learned to read, they wanted the same for their children. So after Eddie and Macarena Aldape, CBF field personnel, started literacy programs for adults, they began mobile schools for the children.

For many Banjara children, work begins before sunrise. Some spend the day taking care of their younger siblings, and others work washing dishes, selling tea or delivering food. School is often not a viable option.

“When we first started our mobile schools we asked the children what they want to be when they grew up, and not

a single one aspired to be anything more than what their parents did,” said Eddie Aldape. “The caste system enslaves them into thinking they have no right to dream of better things. But when a Banjara comes to Christ, everything changes. They find their worth in Christ and are no longer sentenced to accept their situation — the possibilities are endless.”

Mobile schools prepare Banjara children for classroom setting


Give To financially support the educational programs for children, give to the Fellowship using the envelope included in this issue.

The church building may be small and unassuming, but the members of Priddy Baptist

Church are making a powerful impact on children living in the ghetto of Skojpe, Macedonia.

A few years ago, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel Darrell and kathy Smith traveled to Priddy, Texas, located 75 miles west of Waco, to speak at Priddy Baptist. The Smiths spoke to the congregation about their ministry in Macedonia — the languages, culture, ethnicities and the needs.

Many of the approximately 40 members of Priddy Baptist are teachers, social work-ers and foster parents, and they were moved by the stories of the children living in pov-erty in Macedonia. A few months later, they invited the Smiths back to the church.

“When we were invited back, the church wanted to know more about the kindergarten project,” Darrell said. “The kindergarten had touched the heart of this church and given them a vision for where God was working.”

In Macedonia there are no state spon-sored kindergartens or preschool programs, but children are still required to pass a test

before they can start first grade. The kin-dergarten started by the Smiths and CBF field personnel Ar-ville and Shelia Earl provides a free educa-tion to children living in the ghettos of Sko-pje, who otherwise might not have access to education.

In addition to their annual con-tributions to mis-sions, Priddy Baptist members gave $17,000 last year to support the kindergarten in Skopje, and they have pledged to do the same again this year.

“We are a very small church and support for this project gives us a sense of contributing to a cause greater than ourselves,” said Butch Pesch, pastor of Priddy Baptist. “We love the Smiths and the Earls and are thrilled to have a small part in what God is doing in Macedonia.”

The church’s funds have provided educa-tional opportunities for 40 children, paying for the expenses of the kindergarten for

half the year — utilities and rent, plus back-packs and school supplies.

“Just as hope came into the world as a small child, so hope has come to the families of the kindergarten through the efforts of a small church,” kathy said. “Though they might never meet each other, Priddy Baptist has changed the lives of these children and their families. Only God knows how these seeds of hope that have been planted will sprout and grow.”

By Patricia Heys, CBF Communications

Small church makes a big impactcB

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the kindergarten provides a free education to children in the ghettos of Skojpe, Macedonia.


At the annual Martin Luther king Jr. Day parade in Helena-West Helena, Ark., local children

expected free candy, but they didn’t expect a free book. Thanks to a CBF ministry called Stories on Wheels, more than 200 books were given to children on the parade route as yet another way to enhance literacy in Phillips County, one of the poorest counties in the United States.

CBF field personnel Ben and Leonora Newell live in the county and have worked to address literacy needs since they arrived in 2002. What began as a small library in the local community center has grown to book giveaways at Christmas, an after-school tutoring program and a traveling library that brings books to children who wouldn’t visit a library otherwise.

“The purpose of this is to instill a love for literacy early on,” Leonora said. “kids are more likely to go to a library and explore [because of] being exposed to this.”

In 2005, Stories on Wheels, as the literacy program is called, grew to include a bus, which was donated by First Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ala. The inside of the bus was refinished with shelves, books,

and an area for storytelling. During the school year, the bus goes to kids for the Future, a center where children at risk of development delays are read a Bible story and can borrow a book to read at home. In the summer, the bus visits outlying communities several times a week.

“Literacy is a great need in this commu-nity,” said Tracy Davis, a local resident who works with children in the Helena-West Helena Community Center. “Some of the kids will never leave Helena, but if they can pick up a book, who knows where they’ll land. With their imagination they can go around the world.”

The Newells are part of Together for Hope, CBF’s rural poverty initiative, and their ultimate goal in Phillips County

is to reduce poverty. Helping people to appreciate reading and the ability to read is part of that effort.

Over the years, the ministry has received more than 5,000 donated books and can always use more — new, gently used and especially multicultural books. Opportunities are also available year-round for Fellowship Baptists to be involved with the Stories on Wheels program.

By Carla Wynn Davis, CBF Communications

‘Instill a love for literacy’ cB

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the Stories on wheels bus includes book shelves and an area for storytelling.

Mobile schools prepare Banjara children for classroom setting

Give To financially support the educational programs for children, give to the Fellowship using the envelope included in this issue.

Through the mobile schools, children are prepared for a classroom setting. They learn to read, write and speak English. They also learn about classroom behavior and expectations.

“Besides the education they are receiving, many parents have thanked us because of the changes they have seen in their children,” Al-dape said. “Their behavior has changed and

their future is brighter. Many were also malnourished, and by providing them a healthy meal, their learning has increased and their health has improved. As we see what God has done with this first generation of believers, we know something great will come in the next.”

cBF

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banjara children often begin working before sunrise.

Serve To learn about service opportunities related to education, contact Chris Boltin at (800) 352-8741 or [email protected] | f e l l o w s h i p ! M a y / J u n e 2 0 0 8

When Glen Adkins started the music program at the Gandhi School, one of the first songs he learned

was the “Gypsy Hymn.” He was surprised to find out that the chorus of the rhythmic but lamenting song translated “God, have mercy on us, so as our people should not suffer any longer, you have cursed us, you have punished us, you have made us eternal vagabonds.”

For the Romany people, also referred to as gypsies, the words of the song reflect their experience of discrimination, persecu-tion and suffering. The Gandhi School in Pecs, Hungary, where Clista and Glen Ad-kins serve as Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel, provides unique educational opportunities for 250 Romany youth.

“Glen and I hope that we can help [the students] to understand that God loves them,” said Clista, who teaches English classes at the school. “To understand that God loves Roma people, that they are part of the larger family of God, and that God’s gift of love in Jesus Christ was for Roma just as much as it was for everyone else. We have this goal in mind in everything we do.”

Only 3 percent of Roma attend a univer-sity, and less than 20 percent attend high school. Those who do enroll in a public school are often placed in classes for stu-dents with mental disabilities in order to separate them from non-Roma. The Gan-dhi School provides a nurturing alternative for Roma, who come from impoverished backgrounds. The students travel from

throughout Hungary to attend the school, and all of them come from families facing hardships — poverty, unemployment, life-threatening illnesses and social discrimination.

“When students graduate from Gandhi, perhaps they will have what few Eastern European Roma have — hope for their future,” said Clista. “That hope might include a broader view of the world and their potential to be a part of that world, the ability to lead, opportu-nities for jobs and education, am-bition for their future, the ability and knowledge required to make life better for the next generation or the ability to maintain their heritage while working within the larger society.”

The school gives hope to students such as Jaelle, who when asked at Bible club one evening what she was most afraid of, re-sponded “I don’t ever want to have to stand on the side of the road.” Jaelle, who has seven siblings and whose father must travel to Germany to find work, was referring to girls in Hungary who enter into prostitu-tion in order to survive.

“We are finding that people all around us seem to be looking for hope,” Clista said. “We are constantly surrounded by Roma people, particu-larly, who seem to be hanging on to their lives by a thread. So, with every word we say and every coin we give, we hope we are being the pres-ence of Christ.”

The Adkins, members of First Baptist Church of Greenville, S.C., first served at the school in 2005, but last year they moved to Hungary to minister full-time. First Baptist’s partnership with the Gandhi School was facilitated by church members Ethel and Jim Chil-dress in 2005. Since

School of hopeGandhi School provides rare opportunity for Roma youth

cBF

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Clista adkins, right, teaches english at the Gandhi School and helps to facilitate partnerships with churches in the United States. cB

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f e l l o w s h i p ! M a y / J u n e 2 0 0 8 | 13Serve To learn about service opportunities related to education, contact Chris Boltin at (800) 352-8741 or [email protected].

then, missions teams have traveled to the Gandhi School each fall, teaching English classes and leading special programs.

“Our focus of each trip has been to build relationships, share God’s love, and teach conversational English,” said the Childresses, who have participated in six trips. “The common thread in these interactions and relationships is openness and acceptance. Over the years we have come to love these remarkable Roma teenagers. knowing them and working with them has been life changing. We are humbled that even though they are treated so poorly by most people outside their culture, they still treat us with acceptance and respect.”

First Baptist is one of several churches partnering with Glen, a former music minister, to sponsor choir mem-bers as they prepare to perform at the Baptist World Alli-ance youth Confer-ence in Leipzig, Ger-many this summer. In addition to learn-ing hymns from the Romany tradition, Glen is also teaching the choir songs such as “Oh Happy Day” that communicate God’s love.

“Our partnership through CBF with field personnel at the Gandhi School is one opportunity for our members to live out [the church’s] mission statement and covenant,” said Laura Shelley, missions co-ordinator at First Baptist. “As we share the inclusive love of Christ with the Gandhi students, we serve alongside CBF person-nel, Gandhi teachers and Hungarian Chris-tians. An important aspect of our partner-ship with the Gandhi School is the recog-nition that God may speak to us through this mission experience, transforming us in ways yet unimagined.”


Glen adkins, far left, leads the Gandhi School choir, which has quickly grown to 40 members.

Gandhi Schoolthe school was named for Mahatma Gandhi of india. while he was not roma, he was an advocate for the poor and the op-pressed in india and around the world. the romany people originated from india more than 1,000 years ago, migrating across europe.

at this year’s assembly, attendees will have the opportunity to be part of shaping cBF’s future ministry priorities

through a guided, assembly-wide prayer and discernment experience.

“after 17 years of growing ministry, we will have important conversations about the shape of our future,” said cBF

executive coordinator daniel vestal. “Where would god have us focus our energies, time and resources?”

in a year-long process, cBF’s advisory council, coordinating council, state/regional leadership, staff and many

others have been exploring these questions. this assembly is an opportunity for all Fellowship Baptists to be part of

the strategic prioritizing process.

the discernment process begins thursday, June 19. after receiving instructions and a time of worship prepara-

tion, the assembly will divide into nearly 30 groups for an hour-long, guided

prayer and discernment experience. Within these groups, small groups of

10-15 people will form for prayer and reflection on specific questions. each

group’s determination of priorities will be brought to the assembly Friday.

“all 30 groups will be given a list of potential priorities developed through

this year-long process,” said cBF moderator Harriet Harral. “they will pray

about these ideas, share responses and work through to a sense of what they

feel god is calling cBF to focus on.”

after the assembly, the feedback will be reviewed by cBF’s advisory

council, coordinating council and staff to develop and implement new

ministry priorities. Harral anticipates a full report to be presented at the

assembly in 2009.

Meet in Memphis, June 19-20the 18th annual cooperative Baptist Fellowship general

assembly will gather June 19-20 in Memphis, tenn., at

the cook convention center. under the theme “embrace

the World: Building Bridges,” the assembly will explore

the significance of personal and church ministry and help

discern the future direction of the Fellowship’s ministry.

pre-registration — go to www.thefellowship.info/

assembly and pre-register. pre-registration is free and

can also be done by calling (800) 352-8741. deadline

is May 31.

hotels — cBF hotel discounts are available

following successful pre-registration. two hotels have

sold out, but additional rooms are being made available

at other area hotels. go to www.thefellowship.info/

assembly or call (800) 352-8741 for details

travel discounts — airtran and northwest airlines

are offering up to 10 percent savings on flights to

Memphis. use airtran code MeM061908 to book flights

for June 15-25. use Worldfile code nMdsW to purchase

northwest tickets for June 16 -23.

Get involved at the assembly — there is a need

for ushers, hospitality volunteers, communion servers

and registration workers. also, while the general

assembly is happening, children and youth have special

age-specific programming that need volunteers. visit

www.thefellowship.info/assembly/volunteer for more

information. to sing in the mass choir during worship,

contact donna gosser at [email protected].

organizations hosting auxiliary events

— associated Baptist press, Baptist center for

ethics, Baptist theological seminary at richmond,

campbell university, duke divinity school, central

Baptist theological seminary, truett seminary, Mercer

university, Baptist Joint committee for religious liberty

Discernment process:thursday10:30 a.m. business session

– instructions given

1:30 p.m. worship – time of

preparation

2:30 p.m. – Small group time

friday9 a.m. – Small group time

10:30 a.m. – business session,

presentation of priorities

Schedule of EventsSunday, June 15“the Memphis Sessions,” an event for college students, begins.

Monday, June 16Missions opportunities begin in Memphis and the surrounding area.

wednesday, June 181-5 p.m. – “Celebrating God’s Call”

leadership Summit for ministers

7:30 p.m. – Global Missions field personnel commissioning service at first baptist Church in Memphis

thursday, June 198-9 a.m. – poverty emphasis event

8:30 a.m. – resource fair opens

9-10:10 a.m. – Ministry workshops

10:30 a.m. – business session and introduction to discernment process

11:30 a.m. – lunch & auxiliary events

1:30 p.m. – worship with preparation for prayer/discernment

2:30-3:30 p.m. – assembly-wide discernment and prayer groups

4 p.m. – State and regional Cbf meetings

5:30 p.m. – Dinner & auxiliary events

7:30 p.m. – worship with keynote speaker lauran bethell

9:00 p.m. – resource fair fellowship

9:30-10:30 p.m. – Coffeehouse concert with bethany Dillon

friday, June 208:30 a.m. – resource fair opens

9-10:10 a.m. – feedback from prayer and discernment groups

10:30 a.m. – business Session

11:30 a.m. – lunch & auxiliary events

1:30-2:40 p.m. – workshops

3:15-4:25 p.m. – workshops

5:30 p.m. – Dinner & auxiliary events

7:30 p.m. – worship – a Celebration of Missional Churches

9-10 p.m. – “baptist blues & barbeque bash” in the resource fair

Baptist minister and human rights advocate lauran bethell preaching thursday evening

christian recording artist bethany Dillon performing thursday

cBF executive coordinator Daniel vestal speaking thursday afternoon

Krystaal, christian musicians from congo, performing during Wednesday evening’s global Missions commissioning service

Mississippi pastor Chuck poole doing theme interpretation during worship

Special musicians, preachers and speakers include:

Prayer, discernment about CBF’s future


By Bo Prosser

Folks are gearing up for general

assembly, June 19-20, in Memphis, tenn.

this year’s assembly features a variety of

worship and workshop opportunities. the

days are packed with activities and events

to inspire, encourage and help you in your

personal ministries. Here are a few tips for

making the most of your general assembly

experience.

Pray 1 Begin praying now that god will bless the

assembly. this is a very important meeting

as our Fellowship will pray and discern what god

would have us to do in the coming years. the

entire assembly will stop for worship and prayer on

thursday afternoon. We will be asking you to help us

discern the work of the Fellowship as we together

figure out “what’s next?” as we enter into a time of

strategic prioritizing, prayer is crucial. please pray

that god will speak to each of us.

Don’t miss: the prayer labyrinth will again

be offered for those seeking a guided prayer

experience. daily devotionals and prayer thoughts

will be printed in the general assembly guide.

come expectantly for what god is going to do.

Come early and stay late2 Memphis is a wonderful place for a

family vacation. there are sights and

sounds and tastes that are unique to Memphis.

Bring your family and plan to spend some extended

time in this grand city. ride the trolley to Beale

street and enjoy barbeque and blues. cruise the

river on an old fashioned riverboat and relive life

on the Mississippi. visit graceland and immerse

yourself in the life and legacy of elvis.

Don’t miss: the global Missions

field personnel commissioning

service, which will be held Wednesday

evening before the assembly begins.

the inspirational service begins at

7:30 p.m. at First Baptist church in

Memphis. also, pre-assembly mission

opportunities offered this year will

enrich your experience. Work with

other Fellowship Baptists to reach out

to the residents of Memphis.

Attend the General Sessions3 these times of worship are inspirational

and informational. the speakers will

challenge us to engage in missions and ministry in

ways that we’ve yet to think about. lauran Bethell

will certainly be an inspiration to us as she shares

stories from her ministry to victims of human

trafficking. churches involved in missional ministries

will be sharing their stories and challenging us to

involve our own congregations in god’s mission

in the world. and the music — from choirs to

ensembles to soloists — is always a highlight of

every assembly.

Don’t miss: Friday evening’s worship that will

celebrate the missional ministry of three Fellowship

partner churches. celebrate with them and learn

how you and your church can become involved in

missional ministries.

Spend time in fellowship 4 come looking for two old friends and

two new friends. We are a fellowship!

the general assembly is a time to reconnect and

re-energize. the assembly is a time to make new

friends and hear new presentations. speakers and

workshop leaders are very accessible, so make a

point to meet them before or following their teaching

sessions and dialogue with them about your church.

Don’t miss: the Baptist Blues & Barbeque Bash

Friday night in the resource Fair will be a highlight.

throughout the assembly, look for new and old

friends. don’t participate alone. eat meals with

someone else, go to workshops with someone else

and sit in general sessions with others. this is a

wonderful opportunity for networking and fellowship.

Find a buddy and share the experience with others.

Seek new ideas5 Make use of the resource Fair, which

will feature more than 100 vendors,

with ideas and services for your church. look at all

the workshop offerings on the cBF Web site and

plan ahead what you want to attend. More than 70

workshops will teach, inspire and challenge you with

fresh perspectives. your friends are filled with ideas,

so network, network, network. take home at least

five new ideas that you can immediately implement

to energize your congregation!

Don’t miss: there will be an opportunity to

participate in “an offering of letters” to stop world

hunger. Join others in writing elected officials,

urging them to pass legislation that will better

the lives of poor people in the united states and

around the globe.

for making the most of your General Assembly experience

the General assembly resource fair will include more than 100 vendors, with resources, ideas, services and products.

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bo prosser, the fellowship’s coordinator of congregational life, is involved in the planning of General assembly.

prosser coordinates the more than 70 workshops and works with other General assembly steering committee members

to plan the General Sessions. Contact him at (800) 352-8741 or [email protected].


Because benefits are an important part

of employee compensation, David

Burroughs wanted to offer the best

available for his employees.

As executive director of Passport Inc., an international student missions minis-try headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Burroughs had many options. In addition to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Passport also lists The Episcopal Church USA, National Council of Churches USA, Presbyterian Church USA and The United Methodist Church youth Worker Move-ment as partners on its Web site.

Near the end of 2007, the Church Ben-efits Board became autonomous, working directly with partners such as StanCorp Fi-nancial Inc. and World Insurance Associa-tion Inc. to provide retirement benefits, life insurance, disability and medical insurance for church employees. The changes were implemented to provide more choices and more flexibility for participating members.

Burroughs involved all of his employees in the decision-making process. “We had a big meeting, and our board of directors

decided to allow the employees to decide which plan we’d choose,” he said.

Burroughs asked an inde-pendent financial planner to look at all the benefit plans available and help them de-cide which offered the best opportunity for Passport employees. Burroughs also offered the financial planner a carrot.

“I told him that if he could put together his own collection of plans, we’d choose his plan,” Burroughs said. “The interesting thing is he searched and he searched, and he couldn’t come close to the death benefit and some other benefits. And this person was trying hard to get our business.”

Burroughs said the choices offered by the Church Benefits Board really set it apart from other plans they considered.

“The plan Gary (Skeen) presented allows for much more flexibility,” he said. “It allows for control over which funds you can invest in and how much risk you’re willing to take.”

Burroughs said the staff at Passport voted unanimously to choose Church

Benefits Board over all other plans.“Another major factor was the ability

to go online and make it all happen,” Burroughs said. “This was important to many of our people. When we put it all together, it was obvious that CBB was the best choice for us.”

Skeen, who is president of Church Benefits Board, said the process Passport went through was gratifying.

“We are confident that we put together benefits plans this year that are better than anything we had ever offered before,” Skeen said. “We think we have the best plans available to Baptists anywhere in the country and competitive with any faith-based benefit plans out there.”

By Bob Perkins Jr. of Atlanta, Ga.

CBB attracts members with competitive plans

Hal Bass, a professor at ouachita Baptist university, has been nominated for the position of moderator-elect for the

Fellowship. the cBF coordinating council’s nominating committee offered Joanne carr of georgia for the position of recorder.

Bass, who currently serves as the Fellowship’s recorder, is a native of corpus christi, texas. a graduate of Baylor

university and vanderbilt university, Bass works as a professor of political science and dean of the school of social sciences

at ouachita Baptist university in arkadelphia, ark. He is a member of First Baptist church of arkadelphia and has served on

both the cBF national and cBF of arkansas coordinating councils.

Bass and carr will be presented to the cBF general assembly in June for election during its annual business session June

20. nominations for moderator-elect can be made from the floor of the assembly.

carr retired as associate medical center director for the augusta veterans administration Medical center in 2005 and now

serves as a consultant with resource services incorporated, a christian organization based in dallas, texas. a member of

First Baptist church of augusta, ga., carr currently serves as a member of the cBF coordinating council.

Professor nominated moderator-elect

hal bass

For questions or a free consultation, contact cBB at

[email protected] or call (800) 352-8741.

additional information and enrollment forms are available at

www.churchbenefits.org.


At Bridgewater Church in Madi-sonville, La., members collect Beanie Babies to send overseas.

The small stuffed animals are part of care packages the church sends to U.S. soldiers from Louisiana who are serving in Af-ghanistan and Iraq.

“When we began shipping the care packages, we were a bit surprised to receive specific requests for Beanie Babies,” said pastor Reid Doster. “But we learned that the toys could be carried easily by soldiers and given to Iraqi and Afghani children, who in turn often warned the soldiers of land mines and other explosive devices.”

One local resident heard about Bridge-water’s care package ministry and donated 440 Beanie Babies to the church. The do-nor said, “I had been asking the Lord what I should do with these Beanie Babies. I just knew someone could use them, but didn’t know where to look.”

Bridgewater Church is one of the most recent recipients of a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship missional ministry grant. The grants resource local congregations as they

complete the “It’s Time” study and seek to determine how God is calling them to ministry. Since 2006, the Fellowship has awarded $621,747 in grants to part-ner churches.

Beginning two years ago with four friends, Bridge-water has grown to 69 members who, along with a host of visitors, worship in The Maritime Museum.

“We put money into ministry, not bricks and mortar,” said Doster, a profes-sional counselor.

Before receiving the grant, members were actively engaged in food distribu-tion, home repair and yard work for senior citizens and financial assistance for utility and medical bills. They have also provided furniture to katrina survivors, hygiene kits, uniforms and supplies to school children, grief counseling, transportation and other services.

The missional ministry grant will help the church continue its current ministries

and develop ad-ditional means to meet its com-munity’s practical needs. The grant also has helped current church members, only eight of which have a Baptist background, grasp the Fellowship’s broader purpose and ministry.

“This grant did more to solidify the relationship

between the church and CBF,” Doster said. “I could have distributed CDs and brochures [about the Fellowship] every Sunday, but it wouldn’t have done as much as [CBF coordinator] Bo Prosser’s coming and preaching and handing the church that check …. It was like saying, ‘God bless you for your vision.’”

By Vicki K. Brown, contributing writer, Jefferson City, Mo.

bridgewater church members have reached out to the community in many ways, including doing yard work and home repairs for local senior citizens.

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learn | For more information on the Fellowship’s missional ministry grant, go to

www.thefellowship.info/Resources/ItsTime/Grant or call (800) 352-8741.

Bridgewater ChurchSpotlightChurch

Churches awarded grants in 2007:acd Ministries in smyrna, ga.

emmaus Baptist church in Quinton, va.

First Baptist church in Blue grass, iowa

grandin court Baptist church in roanoke, va.

Highland Hills Baptist church in Macon, ga.

Holmeswood Baptist church in Kansas city, Mo.

log cabin community church in smyrna, ga.

north Brunswick Fellowship church in leland, n.c.

peachtree Baptist church in atlanta, ga.

pelham road Baptist church in greenville, s.c.

rosalind Hills Baptist church in roanoke, va.

the chapel door in Fairview, n.c.

third Baptist church in st. louis, Mo.

temple Baptist church in durham, n.c.

trinity Baptist church in Moultrie, ga.

university Baptist church in Montevallo, ala.

Zion Hill Baptist church in camden, ark.

bridgewater Church and pastor reid Doster, left, have collected beanie babies to send to troops overseas.

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In the villages of the Muang people in Southeast Asia, houses are built on stilts and neighbors greet each other by shouting from the

bottom of the stairs. So when kirk began translating

Revelation 3:20 — “Behold, I stand at the door and knock” — into the Muang language, a woman told him, “If I heard someone knocking on my door, I’d think

it was a thief trying to see if anyone was home so he could rob the place.”

kirk and his wife, Suzie, are Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel who serve in Southeast Asia, facilitating the first translations of the Bible into the Muang and other native languages. They face cultural challenges, such as the one from Revelation. The verse was eventually translated in Muang as “Behold, I stand at

the heart’s door and call out.” But there are even greater translation

challenges — the language of one hilltribe people in Southeast Asia, exists only as verbal language. kirk and Suzie first had to develop a written language before they could begin translating the Bible.

“People think about Bible translation as an endeavor you do by yourself or with one other person,” Suzie said. “But it’s really all

An answer to prayersCBF field personnel develop Bible translations in Asian languages

early in the morning, many villagers gather their lunches at the market and head to the rice fields or gardens to work.


about people and being involved with the people, and so we really prayed and God opened the doors for us to live right among the people in a family compound.”

kirk and Suzie have lived among the hilltribe people, a persecuted minority in Southeast Asia, and helped create not only an alphabet but also literacy materials. They have worked with villagers to translate legends, oral history and stories of daily life. And they’ve trained villagers to teach the language, so that the work will continue even after kirk and Suzie have left.

“When we first started working among this group of people, we only knew a few individuals in one country,” kirk said. “Since then, several thousands have been discovered in neighboring countries, including a group of Christians who have been praying for the past 30 years for a translation in their language. We’re amazed by their dedication and their persistence in prayer all those years. Now, we see their enthusiasm that they’re getting the word and that they’re a part of it.”

kirk and Suzie spent several years as English teachers in Southeast Asia and during that time recognized the need for translations of the Bible in hundreds of languages. They were commissioned by the Fellowship in 1995.

“One of the things that drew us to CBF in the beginning was a commitment to partnering with local Christians, indigenous Christians and national believers in these various areas,” kirk said. “There is a tendency as North Americans to unintentionally dominate these types of relationships. We’ve seen from the beginning that CBF has been very committed to working on the same level as

the people and seeing how and what they bring to the table.”

kirk, Suzie and a team of local translators recently completed the book of Mark. Several other books are in the final stages.

“It’s been great, as we’ve been visiting churches in the U.S., to hold up the gospel of Mark and tell our friends and supporters that they were a part of this process through their prayer and through their giving to the Offering for Global Missions,” kirk said. “These partners, our CBF supporting churches, are very much a part of the answer

to 30 years of prayer for the scripture in this language.”


Editor’s note: Due to global security concerns the names and specific locations of some of CBF Global Missions field personnel will not be publicized.

online — go to www.thefellowship.info/give. For questions regarding online giving, contact [email protected].

Mail — use the contribution envelope included in this issue and make your check payable to cBF.

phone — call cBF toll-free at (800) 352-8741.

Known as “Granny,” aphji is one of the village’s best storytellers.

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Cooperative Baptist Fellowshipp.o. box 450329 • atlanta, Georgia 31145-0329www.thefellowship.info(800) 352-8741

Nancy and Steve James

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel Nancy and Steve James serve in Haiti, providing medical

care and training.Background: The Jameses were both

born to missionary families who served in Burma, and they attended school together in South India. Later, Steve earned a degree from Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, W. va., and attended medical school in Mexi-co at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadala-jara in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Nancy graduated as a registered nurse from Mounds-Midway School of Nursing in St. Paul, Minn. The Jameses began working in Haiti in 1983. They served at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Limbe, Haiti, until 1999.

Ministry: In Haiti, skilled medical profes-sionals are often overworked and poorly paid and hospitals lack the proper infrastructure. According to the Jameses, 80 percent of Hai-tians are too poor to pay for medical care,

and doctors, who receive no income subsidies from the government, lo-cal churches or foreign sources, are forced to focus on wealthier patients to earn an income.

Partnering with the Haitian Bap-tist Convention, the Jameses travel regularly to small church-related medical clinics. They provide medi-cal training and encouragement to the staff, help find medicines and supplies, and consult with patients.

“We try to bring spiritual encour-agement to the staff and patients, often stopping to pray for them,” the Jameses said. “One of the clinics we work at is within walking distance, but the other clinics are hard to get to on bumpy, pot-holed roads or no roads at all, with the truck going through rivers or streams to get to them. It often takes hours to arrive at the clinics, when actually by distance they are not that far away. We pray that Jesus would be our hands and feet as we minister to the most needy here in Haiti through our medical skills.”

The needs at the clinics are many — financial resources to keep the clinics open, running water, medical supplies

and staff training. The Jameses encourage Fellowship Baptists to pray for and participate in the ministry.

“Pray for us and the staff of these clinics, that we would have God’s vision for health care in these villages,” they said. “For those who feel led to come to Haiti, we welcome you to serve alongside our partners in Haiti. Both medical and non-medical skills can often be put to good use. But the main thing is to accompany our brothers and sis-ters in Christ in our discipleship journeys.”


Understanding healingthis June Ignite, the Fellowship’s missions education resource for youth, encourages teenagers to see healing as more than

meeting physical needs. through their study of nancy and steve James, cBF field personnel in Haiti, youth will learn about

healing and reconciliation as the Jameses work holistically to meet physical, spiritual and emotional needs. the teenagers will

understand fullness of healing through Bible study and worship as well as action projects in their communities. learn more

about cBF’s missions education resources at www.missionseducation.org. to order, call (800) 801-4223.

Spotlightfield personnel

nancy and Steve James

cBF

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may/june 2008 fellowship! magazine

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