Hunter Street members zealous about missions

It’s been a busy summer missions season at Hunter Street Baptist Church. Just try tracking down Minister of Missions Frank Blackwell. Good luck catching him between trips.
   
A 28-member medical/dental team traveled to Honduras June 15 for a 10-day stay. Led by physician Darrel Weaver, a six-time veteran of Honduras missions, the team resumed its work with Pastor Eduardo Garcia.
   
Hunter Street began a relationship with Garcia when they participated in the Alabama Baptist State Convention’s disaster relief following Hurricane Mitch’s devastation of the island. They discovered Garcia working alone in an area on the southern tip of the island that had no International Mission Board presence. The lone Baptist preacher was busily establishing house churches in the very rural area.
   
The long-term relationship has allowed Weaver and Hunter Street teams to enjoy seeing progress made. There are now at least two churches, one built by a Hunter Street team, with 50–75 worshipers each. They have also carried the Honduras missions vision to other churches. Southcrest Baptist Church, Bessemer, took a team there in January, and Liberty Park Baptist Church, Birmingham, is also planning a trip.
   
The two doctors, six nurses and one dentist saw more than 1,000 patients. The patients’ complaints ranged from back pain to headaches to stomach ulcers, many problems that Americans treat with easily obtained medications. “We don’t usually see many critical patients. We try to load them up with basic over-the-counter medications and vitamins they don’t have access to for everyday ailments,” noted Weaver.
   
A medical team working with Garcia allows him to get a foot in the door in new areas. It generates interest among the villagers and enhances his church-planting efforts.
   
“We traveled to two villages offering medical and dental care to people who normally only go to town once a year. Many have never seen a dentist at all,” explained Weaver.
   
The latest Honduras trip was not only about medical missions. Ten team members were construction volunteers. A few days later, another Hunter Street team was leading VBS closer to home. Bobbie Van Atta led a team of 20 to the Pritchard community of Mobile. They conducted three days and two nights of VBS at Trinity Land Day Care for 50-plus children from 3 years old to grade 6. Like the Honduras trip, this was a return visit for Hunter Street, and they too were gratified to see progress. “One of our goals is to provide a Bible for every home represented by the children,” Van Atta said.