Alabama, Venezuelan Baptists celebrate partnership

Shouts of “gloria” and “alleluia” filled the air as Alabama Baptist partnership director Reggie Quimby announced Alabama Baptists’ final act of the six-year partnership with Venezuelan Baptists — a check for $100,000.
   
Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Convention, unrolled the oversized check and presented it to a group of leaders from the National Baptist Convention of Venezuela. The announcement came as a surprise to Venezuelan leaders who had anticipated that the last service of the partnership would simply be a time to celebrate what God had done in Venezuela and Alabama during the six years. 
   
“It was important that Alabama Baptists provide a gift of encouragement since our work has been so closely connected for the past six years,” Lance explained. “This will assure the Baptists of Venezuela of our ongoing concern and prayers for them.” 
   
The largest allocation ($40,000) goes toward the construction of a training center for transcultural missions. Venezuelan Baptists have been sending international missionaries for more than 20 years. They only recently, however, began a program to train overseas missionaries from their convention and other evangelical groups in South America. 
   
The International Mission Board (IMB) provided initial funds for a building for the training center located on the property of Camp Carabobo, the national camp of Baptists in Venezuela. 
   
IMB missionary Hugh Redmond, who is overseeing construction of the facility, said the Alabama gift will provide a roof for the building and allow the completion of all the concrete-block walls. 
   
Twenty thousand dollars was earmarked for transportation needs for the director of the department of evangelism and missions. His extensive travel is seen as a key to evangelism efforts, new church starts and new missions efforts. 
   
A new boat for river transportation to reach indigenous tribes was allocated $10,000. 
   
Four ministries received $5,000 each. They were the Baptist Theological Seminary of Venezuela, Carabobo, Baptist Convention of Venezuela offices and evangelism and discipleship materials for use by the department of evangelism and missions. 
   
Two ministries that provide training for Venezuelan missions efforts each received $2,500. The Volunteer Mission Training Center at Anaco provides training for local missionaries. Marchistas Training provides training for young people who volunteer their summers to go across Venezuela with evangelism and missions programs. 
   
Also receiving $2,500 were the Woman’s Missionary Union of Venezuela and the annual pastors retreat, which Alabama Baptists have staffed during the partnership.
   
Venezuelan Baptists applauded each allocation announcement. After the service, they mobbed the Alabama Baptist representatives attending the meeting with expressions of appreciation for the unexpected gift.