Before one shot was fired in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Venezuela faced its own political crisis, an economy-crippling nationwide strike that claimed the lives of several protesters.
Although the strikes have now ended, many Alabama Baptists were determined to continue the state’s partnership with the country throughout the crisis, according to Reggie Quimby, director of the global partnerships and volunteers in missions office at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM).
Only a few months after Venezuela’s political troubles began, the SBOM reluctantly canceled last year’s missions trip to Valencia when volunteer response narrowly exceeded half the number required to make the trip.
“We decided that it would be in the best interest of the individuals and the convention to cancel the trip because of the uncertainty,” said Quimby. “The political problems were all over the country. We didn’t want to attract a lot of attention with a large team coming through the airports.”
Quimby said the war with Iraq also caused two construction teams to reschedule their trip scheduled for this March.
“They were going to Valencia at the same time [as the war was beginning], and the teams felt uncomfortable being outside the country then,” Quimby said. They have since rescheduled for trips in May and June.
Despite this postponement and the rising tension between Venezuelan officials and citizens, more than 30 of the original volunteers still felt a strong calling to do missions work in the South American country. So, the SBOM helped them organize an evangelism trip to Maracaibo.
Blessed perseverance
During the missions trip, God blessed their perseverance through the results that they observed in the city, according to Quimby. Before leaving the country, the group witnessed to approximately 300 families with more than 450 people making decisions to follow Christ.
Many other Alabama Baptists have felt a similar desire to reach the people of Venezuela and the partnership between Alabama and Venezuela is still going strong.
Understanding the country’s great need for construction, medical and church planting missions work, numerous Alabama Baptist churches have sponsored ministry trips to Venezuela over the past year.
From the beginning to the end of the country’s strikes, approximately 250 volunteers traveled to the country, according to Quimby.
He reports that the SBOM itself sent more than 10 employees to the country for partnership evaluation, pastor and lay leader training, computer and foundation consultation and Sunday School assessment.
Since the situation in Venezuela seems to be stabilized, Quimby expects no difference in the outreach to Venezuela this year.
In June, First Baptist Church, Montgomery, will take a team of about 15 people to the country to conduct Vacation Bible School for missionaries’ kids while their parents attend Venezuela’s annual missions meeting.
Also, the SBOM is planning to take three groups of Great Commission volunteers to Caracas and Valencia in late August for a weeklong outreach and discipleship missions trip.
Although Quimby realizes the risks associated with any international missions trip, he also understands the great need for ministry in foreign countries.
He encourages those interested in Venezuelan missions not to let the risks dissuade them from participating in the partnership.
“I don’t want to paint a picture that is not there,” Quimby said. “But, there is still the lostness of the world and there are people who need to hear the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we take every precaution as we encourage volunteers to go to Venezuela to share the gospel.”
He added that volunteers are alerted to potential risks and taught to avoid them during orientation sessions.
He expects the strong relationship between Alabama Baptists and Venezuela to continue in the future.
“It’s a reciprocal relationship,” he said. “We are not giving up on the partnership in Venezuela. We have continued to promote projects with churches and associations.”
Although Alabama Baptists continued some projects during the unrest, there were several projects that went unassigned.
“We have ongoing projects of various degrees, such as construction, Vacation Bible School, music worship and teaching,” Quimby said.
Over the next few months, several missionary trips are scheduled to the country. Numerous Venezuelan pastors and Woman’s Missionary Union staff are also scheduled to come preach and work in Alabama Baptist churches. (See story, this page.)
For information about how Venezuelan Baptists can assist Alabama Baptists or about volunteering in Venezuela, call Quimby at 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 239.
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