fellowship!
CBF
Cooperative baptist fellowship | www.thefellowship.info
February/March 2007
Evangelism at heart of Fellowship’s vision of her in-laws, who both have disabilities, three small children and husband, a manual
laborer who tries to support his family on $20 a month. It has been an especially tough year for the family — Razmire’s father was tragically killed by a bus and the family was informed that the state would no longer provide medicine for their youngest daughter, who has leukemia. Arville and Shelia Earl of seeing people survive have not only paid for the insurmountable obstacles life-saving medicine Razmire’s — like drought, lack of daughter needs, but they have education, ethnic conflict and also helped to create a esus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their school for synagogues and proclaiming the good news her children of the kingdom and curing every disease and and offered every sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23 her their love and friendship. The Earls, who unemployment — I’m still work among the poor in amazed at the indomitable Macedonia as Cooperative spirit of people like Razmire Baptist Fellowship field to survive and make a better personnel, call their ministry life for her family,” Shelia Earl “relationship evangelism.” said. “I am so grateful to be “Even after 26 years of here as a witness that God living and working overseas, loves her.”
J
CBF Global Missions field of CBF field personnel. and highlights evangelism personnel around the world Fellowship Baptists — resources. True to the Baptist are bearing witness to God’s chaplains, pastoral counselors, principle of the priesthood of love. As they help to meet ministers, churches and laity all believers, the Fellowship spiritual, emotional affirms and empowers and physical needs, each individual’s field personnel are personal ministry of building relationships evangelism. and transforming lives. “From the earliest “Jesus brought the days of evangelism, whole gospel to the Jesus called us to whole world, and it proclaim his love,” was a gospel of word said Bo Prosser, the and deed that did Fellowship’s coordinator not value one kind of congregational life. of witness over the “So the responsibility other,” said Rob Nash, is on me to tell — not coordinator for CBF on me to convict. The Global Missions. “For parable of the sower this reason, our field is a good model for personnel minister us as modern day out of the conviction evangelists. We are to that meaningful sow seeds. And that evangelism is might happen through relationship social interaction, Shelia Earl works with children at a Skopje kinderevangelism that is ministry activities or garten, which was started by CBF Global Missions built upon love and soul winning — but the field personnel (see story on page 10). commitment to the challenge is to sow.” people that God brings into — are being the presence of GIVE – To give to the Offering our lives.” Christ every day through a for Global Missions go to www. Evangelism is at the heart variety of words and works. thefellowship.info/involved/give/ of the Fellowship’s vision — This issue of fellowship! ogm.icm or call (800) 352-8741. “being the presence of Christ provides snapshots of the in the world.” But evangelism many ways Fellowship Baptists By Patricia Heys, CBF is not limited to the ministries are involved in evangelism Communications Photo courtesy of the Earls
I
n Skopje, Macedonia, Razmire takes care
Baptist volunteers needed to build houses for Katrina victims
inside
this issue...
subsidized the cost of the homes, with several Baptist organizations contributing the remainder. The Fellowship has given $105,000 to the effort, which included an initial threehouse build in October. Both skilled and unskilled volunteers are needed to work in a variety of areas, including construction, hospitality, landscaping and painting. Volunteers are invited to stay for the entire two-week build or for just a few days. “Just because Katrina is fading from the headlines does not mean the hurt and
• Page 3 — Church Spotlight:
Churchland Baptist
should register and receive additional information through CBF’s Volunteer Office, which is coordinating the Fellowship’s volunteer efforts on this project. There is a $100 per week fee, which covers three meals a day and lodging. If other lodging facilities are used, the fee is $50.
Carla Wynn photo
C
ooperative Baptist Fellowship volunteers are needed to build houses and build hope for Hurricane Katrina victims April 23-May 5 in Baton Rouge, La. More than 325 volunteers a day are needed for the two-week Habitat for Humanity build. “We need CBF churches to respond to this opportunity with love and hammers,” said Timothy Wood, the Fellowship’s volunteer program manager. Twelve families who lost their homes during Katrina will be chosen for the new homes. Habitat for Humanity
SERVE – To volunteer or for more information, contact More than 325 volunteers are needed each day in order to build 12 houses in two weeks.
the devastation are gone. If anything, time has made things worse for many hurricane survivors since Katrina’s landfall,” Wood
• Page 8 — Pastor starts a
traveling church
said. “These folks are still our neighbors; they are still in need; and we still need to help.” Fellowship volunteers
• Page 10 — Smiths create
school in Macedonia
Wood at (800) 782-2451 or twood@thefellowship.info. For more on the Fellowship’s disaster response, visit www. thefellowship.info/disaster.
By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications
• Page 11 — General Assembly
information