By Sharon Mager
OCEAN CITY, Md. — Jaclyn Phillips could hardly contain her excitement at the 2018 Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) Annual Meeting, as Executive Director Kevin Smith shared about a new BCM/D partnership with the Gucha Central Baptist Convention, in Kenya.
Jaclyn, the wife of Josh Phillips, who serves as the associate pastor of Pleasant View Baptist Church in Port Deposit, Maryland, said the opportunity was an answer to prayer. “We always wanted to go to Africa. We had two other places in mind, but God completely shut the door,” Jaclyn said. When she heard Smith’s presentation, she turned to look at Josh. They both knew — this was how God was leading. They signed up immediately and, along with others from their church, were part of the first team that went in June. “We wanted to be the first ones on the ground to see how we can be effective,” Jaclyn said.
Her enthusiasm is contagious. She will share about the trip and show artifacts from Kenya at a dinner breakout session, “Missions to Kenya and the Nations,” on Nov. 11, in conjunction with the BCM/D Annual Meeting on Nov. 10-11 in Ocean City.
Attendees will hear about the Kenya team’s preparation, how the mission helped them bond, and how God manifested Himself time and again during the adventure. For several of the team members, this was their first mission trip.
Jaclyn will also challenge attendees to obey the Great Commission and to be involved in missions in whatever way God leads – at home or afar.
She was a teenager when she went on her first mission trip with First Baptist Church of Havre de Grace, in Havre de Grace, Maryland, to Puebla, Mexico. “It was a life-changer,” she says. Later, she traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia.
Jaclyn is quick to remind folks they can do missions where they are. “You don’t have to go far. You don’t have to fly around the world.” The world, she says, is coming to us and the opportunities are endless.
Pleasant View Baptist Church has a variety of missions partnerships in various countries and they minister to refugees through the Salaam Center in Baltimore. (Read more about the Salaam Center here.)
As Christians, we must also commit to personal missions, Jaclyn emphasizes, and share with our immediate families, friends, and co-workers. “When was the last time you shared your faith or your testimony?” she asks.
Jaclyn believes that wives have a special mission, which she will also discuss at the breakout.
Part of the session will includes a personal assessment, which will allow attendees to evaluate where they are regarding missions. There will also be time for questions and answers.
Register for this session and many more breakout opportunities at bcmd.org.