Seven hundred and sixty-six Venezuelans made professions of faith this summer during a
missions trip by a group of Alabama Baptists.
During the ongoing partnership with the National Baptist Convention of Venezuela and the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), more than 100 churches have been formed.
“While in Valencia, Venezuela, Aug. 11–18, 2003, the missions team participated in church services, house, school and university visits, and direct gospel presentations and ministry opportunities at family gatherings,” said Reggie Quimby, director of the office of global partnerships and volunteers in missions for the SBOM.
Known as the Salem Team, so named for Valencia-Salem Baptist Church in Valencia, Venezuela, the group included 19 Alabamians and eight Texans. Many first-time volunteers took part in these ministry teams. The volunteers responded through promotion of this project from Quimby’s office, the International Mission Board and the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Salem Team actually worked at a mission of the Valencia-Salem Baptist Church in the town of Miranda, which lies about an hour outside of Valencia.
“There were no security problems since our Venezuelan brothers and sisters really helped keep our volunteers safe,” Quimby said.
“In planning a trip with volunteers we do ask our missionaries and national leadership to exercise extreme caution in every moment. We will continue to provide sound leadership in our orientations here at home and on the field with our missionaries and national leadership,” Quimby said.
Karen Burke, a volunteer from Willow Brook Baptist Church in Huntsville, said the trip was like going home for her.
“I grew up in Venezuela as a missionary kid. I was born and raised there until I was 12 when my dad, Bob Tucker, was sent to another country,” Burke said. “I have always dreamed of going back. It has been my heart’s desire.”
Burke served as an interpreter on the Salem Team. He said the Venezuela people were warm and friendly and welcomed them into their homes. She even saw many people who knew her dad and knew her as a child.
For her, recalling the past was met with interest, but technology she brought along created a new interest among the people there.
“My digital camera actually served as an evangelistic tool. The people were fascinated by it since they’d never seen one before. They loved my taking photos of them and being able to show them instantly what they looked like,” she said.
“I didn’t enjoy the door-to-door evangelism in the beginning, I didn’t feel that was my gift, but as the week progressed, God showed me that practice makes perfect,” Burke said.
Even traveling home held evangelistic opportunities for Burke. “I was able to lead my seatmate to the Lord on the plane ride home.”
John Freeman, associate pastor of Ino Baptist Church in Coffee Association, explains this trip — his first missions trip — as a ‘life-changing experience.’
“There are many things in life that are so insignificant, what matters most is helping others know Christ. God has spoken to me about missions, and I am now educating our church,” Freeman said.
Tim Presley is an off-shore worker by trade, and teaches an adult Sunday School class at Ino. This was his first missions trip also.
He said, “It was a great harvest. The Venezuelan people have a desire to hear and learn the gospel of Christ.
“We were partnered with a church very similar to our own. They sing praise music and play instruments,” he said. “While they sang in Spanish, we sang in English.”
Presley described the trip as “the best spiritual experience ever, other than getting saved.
“Some areas in Valencia are so impoverished,” he noted.
“God has really dealt with me since coming home and our church now has a real heart for missions.”
Presley indicated that Ino Church would be taking another missions trip in October to set up a partnership with Amor, Paz and Verdad churches and Love, Peace and Truth Church to distribute more than $10,000 in donations they have received.
“My favorite moment was on Saturday when we climbed a mountain in the nearby town,” Presley said. “We prayed for the city of 2 million people, worshiped and sang songs.”
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