By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent
Jim Brown of the Global Response Network in Nashville, Tenn., spoke at the BCM/D Partnership Dinner.
DOVER, Del.—Through the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, church members throughout the multi-state convention have many mission opportunities. Freddy Parker, BCM/D’s Acts 1:8 missionary, presented many of these opportunities at a Partnership Dinner during the BCM/D annual meeting.
Guests for the dinner included Jim Brown of the Global Response Network in Nashville, Tenn.; Lincoln Bingham, cooperative ministries consultant of the Kentucky Baptist Convention; and Maria Sigmon, Brandy Caffey and Lily Blanco of Embrace Baltimore.
Brown shared about the development of Baptist Global Response (BGR) as a stand-alone entity of the Southern Baptist Convention, focused entirely on relief and development with a heart for seeing the poor and suffering have the opportunity to experience a full and meaningful life.
The organization has already responded and coordinated Baptist efforts in international relief and development in areas of natural disasters and responds to people with critical needs in the areas of food security, health crises and threats to their quality of life.
In addition to BGR headquarters in Singapore and the USA liaison office in Nashville, BGR has five global “areas” – AsiaRim, Central and South Asia, Europe and Middle East, Africa and the Americas.
Those interested in learning more can visit online at www.baptistglobalresponse.com.
Bingham shared about the partnership between the BCM/D and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Plans are underway to recruit Baptists from Maryland and Delaware to serve at the June 2009 Crossover Louisville, which will precede the SBC’s 150th annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.
Parker reported that the BCM/D continues its partnership with Embrace Baltimore, the strategic city initiative of the North American Mission Board, as well as multiple international opportunities.
Several churches and associations have extended their partnerships in Moldova. In addition, there are upcoming opportunities in East Asia, West Africa, Scotland, the Middle East and most recently, South Asia.
Multiple trips were made to East Asia, Scotland and West Africa this past year with several churches making repeat trips this year.
In addition, a team will travel to a restrictive access country in the Middle East on Mar. 27-April 5, 2009. The cost is approx. $4,300.
In mid-May, there will be a vision tour to a restrictive access country in Southeast Asia where participants will prayerwalk and seek opportunities for a continued partnership. More specific information is forthcoming.
Parker shared that the BCM/D is able to offer assistance in finding opportunities to serve; communicating with the mission field; providing training for mission trips; and securing passports, visas, insurance, airline tickets, local transportation, lodging, food, interpreters, foreign language literature and many other things.
“God is at work in this world, and we have the great privilege of partnering with Him to reach lives—starting at our front door all the way to the other side of the world,” he said. “I just pray that we would have the courage to follow Him.”
To discover more about upcoming trips or to learn about missions, contact Parker at (800) 290-5290, ext. 215, fparker@bcmd.org; or Donna Shiflett, at ext. 226, dshiflett@bcmd.org.