Mission Complete?

Mission Complete?

by Dean Miller

Sometime in early 2011, John Upton met with the Mission Development staff (then called Glocal Missions) and asked if we could identify a particular project or partnership that Virginia Baptists could really get behind, something that we could all rally around and make a strategic difference in a specific community. We readily accepted this challenge. The staff began researching, calling friends and partners, and really listening for where God might be leading. Over the course of several months, one particular name and location was mentioned to three of the staff members—at three different times and in three different settings. I recall sitting in the staff meeting when each of these connections were made known, and it was pretty clear where we needed to go and with whom we needed to meet.

In December 2011, I was one of three staff persons from the BGAV to travel to Ghana to meet with Reverend Emmanuel Mustapha (affectionately known as Muss—pronounced ‘moose’), a missionary with the Ghana Baptist Convention. He was a church planter working in the northern region of the country. Once we arrived, he immediately wanted to share with us all that he was doing—planting churches, digging wells, tilling ground for crops, starting a school, pastoring a church—the list went on and on. And it was all being done well. Muss spoke passionately about each project, especially church planting, which is his heartbeat. In fact, he had already planted over 500 churches all across the region and had a vision and strategy for 1,000 more. But then he paused, looked at us deeply, and said, “If you want to make a difference in our community, then save our lives.” Malaria had killed thousands of people across the region over the years. Muss and his wife, Felicia, suffered the loss of a child due to malaria. Muss told us that if we could provide chemically treated mosquito nets to the region, then we could save people’s lives—and then he would make sure their souls were saved as well. We learned quite a bit about malaria, mosquitoes, prevention, treatments, root causes, and other possible solutions. We came back to Virginia refreshed and renewed about this opportunity to make a difference in this one small place called Yendi.

After several discussions and other meetings, we determined that Virginia Baptists would indeed take on this challenge. The project was launched at the BGAV annual meeting in November 2012. I traveled back to Ghana in March 2013 to officially launch the project in Yendi and to meet with local chiefs and officials to determine the best way to move forward. We developed and implemented a plan which included the purchase of 100,000 chemically treated nets, costs for transportation and delivery of nets, education in how to properly use the nets, and funds to plant churches in each of the villages where nets would be distributed. Muss asked the obvious question about how Virginia Baptists would distribute these nets. I told him that almost the entirety of this plan was going to be carried out by the team that he put together.

Wyatt Shelton Miles and Kent Brown baptize two villagers in the local river

I told him Virginia Baptists would raise the necessary funds and that they might come and assist, but we trusted him and his team to take care of the rest. He had to sit back and absorb what had just been said. In all his previous years of working with other groups, each one had insisted that they take the lead. This was the first time that someone had shown complete trust in him to take the lead. He was somewhat astonished, and I said, “Welcome to the world of Virginia Baptists.” And the More Than Nets Project was born.

Fast forward to February 2020. Over the past seven years, Virginia Baptists have raised over $600,000 towards the More Than Nets Project. We have met our goal and purchased 100,000 chemically treated mosquito nets. In fact, the last allotment of these nets is being distributed by Virginia Baptist volunteers as I am writing this article. Documentation from local clinics and the regional medical center have demonstrated a 43% drop in malaria cases in the region that has been netted. An additional 700 churches have been planted, and tens of thousands of Ghanaians have found new life in Christ. A host of other projects have supported the main work of church planting and net distribution, such as a new school, vocational training, new wells, pastor training, women’s empowerment, and ongoing church support.

Members of the February 2020 mission trip pose with a group of Ghanaian families after a worship service at a local church plant created through the More Than Nets initiative

The tremendous success of the More Than Nets project found its way into neighboring countries and other parts of Ghana, and we have been asked if we can continue the project.

So, welcome to More Than Nets: Phase Two!

I’m not sure what God has in store for us yet, but if it is anything like the past seven years, we are in for a great ride together.

Last year when I came to Yendi for the first time, I didn’t know what to expect. I wondered if i could do anything worthwhile here, or if it would be better to send the money for the trip to Muss. I had this deep ambivalence until one night I was speaking to one of the pastors here, and he said, “When you send money, we know you care; but when you come here, we know you love us.” In that moment all doubt passed away. Visiting made my love for these people and this work real.

- Wyatt Shelton Miles, Monte Vista Baptist Church, Hurt, VA

A more gracious people I have never met. A more giving people I have never met. They share from the little that they have and they give of themselves. They teach me how to live when I return home. And what an overwhelming joy to see their response to the Gospel message and then the invitation. You can almost hear the angels in heaven rejoicing.

- Thomasine Baynard, Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, VA

Riding, Remembering, Reflecting; Coming, Going, Teaching; Guinea hens clucking— coffee dripping; Feet moving across kitchen and dining areas; Gentle breeze of a new day; Colleagues in early morning meditations; Happy humming of Felicia’s preparations for a new day; Yendi Awakens. Thanksgiving!

Kathryn Burnes, Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, VA

This is my third trip to Ghana, and I hate to say goodbye. Each trip when we drive into the edge of town, we say, “Welcome home.” In many ways, Yendi is home. I fell in love with the people of Ghana immediately on the first trip and look forward to returning every year. The people are gracious, loving, kind, open, and welcoming with beautiful songs and dance. The best way I can think to describe this feeling is “free.” Your spirit feels free without constraint. Each year I mourn when I have to brush the Ghana dirt from my feet. I want to keep a part of Ghana with me always.

- Sharon McCauley, Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, VA

I will never forget the first time I was part of a church planting team in Ghana. After we were greeted warmly and given chairs, the people started singing so others would hear and come. We watched people come streaming in, including mothers walking down the path with babies on their backs and benches on their heads. Members of our team gave a testimony and a sermon, and then a local church leader talked with the people and asked who would like to accept Jesus. Every person there raised both hands.

- Ann Brown, First Baptist Church, Gretna, VA

A local villager leads worship under the shade of a large tree in Yendi, Ghana. Because of More Than Nets, over 700 churches have been planted in Ghana since 2013.