Institutions impacted by Alabamians

Spanish Baptist institutions said they received help from Alabama Baptists throughout their partnership.

One institution that was helped is the Baptist theological seminary in Madrid, which had guest professors from Alabama.

The children’s home, Hogar Infantil “Monte Sion,” which means Mount of Zion, was helped financially and through furniture donations.

Another area where Alabama Baptist were able to help was in the retirement center — located in Vilafranca , which is about two hours from Barcelona.

Billy Austin, president of the Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers, visited the retirement center in Spain. He also showed the Alabama centers to Blandina Ronsano, former president of the Union Femenina Misionera Bautista (similar to Woman’s Missionary Union).

“Those from Alabama participated greatly in the retirement center,” Ronsano said. “They sent volunteers to paint and a gardener to repair the garden. They also sent robes to all the folk in the center and various things like that,” she said. “It really was appreciated by the directors of the retirement center.”

The seminary, where Southern Baptist missionary David Dixon serves as interim director, currently has nine students.

Along with Dixon, who teaches New Testament, theology and Greek, his wife, Susie teaches religious education.
Missionaries Sam and Margaret Drummond also work with the seminary, and there are several Spanish instructors who help teach.

“Almost every group that came visited our seminary and prayed for our students,” said Dixon.

“This made a positive impact and we hope they will continue to pray,”

Ronsano said Alabama Baptists gifts to Monte Sion, which is located in Tobarra in the province of Albacete, “provided for the personal needs of the children.”

“They gave a lot of furniture to the home,” she said. “First, they provided beds for the children. Then, they sent an offering to buy freestanding closets and other items needed.”

There are currently nine children — two 2-year-olds, one 3-year-old, one 6-year-old, two 8-year-olds, one 9-year-old and one 15-year-old.