If it is true that “home is where the heart is,” then Jesse and Nancy Fairfax have homes all across the globe, including in Helena.
Since accepting the call to do missions work 25 years ago, the Fairfaxs have been able to call their Georgia residence home for only six months out of the year. Since their first missions travels to Bermuda in 1983, Jesse and Nancy have made at least one trip per year since, serving in 17 countries and 13 U.S. states.
“We learned about lay people going to the missions field to work with our missionaries in 1982 at Ridgecrest, N.C. This was a new concept to us,” Nancy explained. “The testimonies we heard made us excited about becoming volunteers. We sent our application in to the International Mission Board in Richmond, Va., and received our first assignment to Bermuda. This whet our appetites to do more, which we have done for the past 25 years.”
Jesse and Nancy both accepted Christ as Savior at young ages, opening doors for the beginning of their ministries.
“I was 14 years old when I accepted Christ as my Savior,” said Jesse, now almost 80 years old, as he recalled the two-week revival at his “country Baptist church near Sedalia, Mo.”
Nancy also began her relationship with Christ at the age of 14 at a church camp in Pennsylvania.
“I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and dedicated my life to serve the Lord,” Nancy said. “The Lord led me into nursing, brought a Christian man into my life, led us to a Southern Baptist church in Virginia and called us to serve him together the past 25 years working with the missionaries.”
After the couple retired in 1989, Nancy said they were anxious to have more time for “serving the Lord” and being “involved in his work.”
Jesse and Nancy have been able to do just that with various ministries including construction, speaking engagements, well drilling, teaching English and health, electrical work and serving at Baptist conference centers.
In addition, for four weeks in March and April, the Fairfaxs traveled to CrossBridge Community Church, Helena, in Bessemer Baptist Association to become a part of their construction team for the building of the church’s first permanent building.
“We recruited and coordinated volunteers from five states,” Nancy said. “We encouraged them, worked with them and motivated them to want to be involved in missions and helping other churches. They were a small church body, and we helped to fulfill their vision for reaching people for Christ.
“We enlisted volunteers from other states, and (church members) enlisted volunteers from Alabama. We encouraged them to pray and enlist their friends from other areas. All the church members became involved in the building by working with us, providing homes for us to stay, providing meals and praying for the volunteers.”
Morrell Aldridge, founding pastor of CrossBridge, said he appreciates the Fairfaxs’ role of encouragement and servanthood.
“Their example has touched the heart of the CrossBridge family and many others across the community. People have been amazed and shocked that strangers would come and commit to such a task without the motive of making money.
“In their giving, they know they are honoring God and helping their brothers and sisters in Christ to honor God as well.”
Nancy said their favorite part of contributing to work such as that at CrossBridge is “being able to help fulfill a vision to reach people for Christ.”
The Fairfaxs are members of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga.
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