They came from Cottondale and Clanton, Chickasaw and Center Point, and places in between.
They used tactics ranging from door-to-door visitation and block parties to baseball clinics and Christian illusion.
And in a week’s time, they presented the gospel and demonstrated the love of Christ to more than 5,600 Venezuelans.
As part of a massive evangelistic campaign July 24–31, 112 volunteers on mission traversed three Venezuelan states, in response to requests for assistance made by Venezuelan Baptist churches.
The effort was a part of Alabama Baptists’ ongoing partnership with the National Baptist Convention of Venezuela.
In and around Barquisimeto, Venezuela’s fifth largest city, 29 evangelistic teams were partners with 27 churches, making visits, sharing the gospel and participating in revival services. In streets and alleys, on mountaintops and in marketplaces, Alabama Baptists worked alongside Venezuelan pastors and church members to witness to the lost.
Meanwhile, a block party team and a medical team were hard at work one state away in Valera and the surrounding area. By the week’s end, the block party team, using music, drama, puppets and gospel presentations, had made contact with almost 1,000 people, resulting in several hundred professions of faith. The medical team, which included a physician, a dentist and several nurses, traveled to three churches, setting up one-day clinics. In some areas, residents had waited four years for such a team to arrive. In four days, the team provided medical care for more than 700 patients and shared the gospel with those who came.
The combined efforts of the volunteers led to more than 3,000 professions of faith, along with many other decisions. The campaign was coordinated by Reggie Quimby, director of the State Board of Missions’ office of global partnerships. “As a result of this week,” said Quimby, “the lives of new believers in Venezuela and the lives of the Alabama Baptist volunteers have been changed forever.”
Quimby worked closely with International Mission Board missionaries Joe and Norma Powell, Hugh and Debbie Redmond, Sam and Lisa Paris, Paul and Lisa Runion, and mother and daughter Allison and April Blackwood, as well as International Mission Service Corps missionaries Gary and Donna Clayton, in planning and carrying out the week of missions and ministry.
Gary Clayton said, “Donna and I consider it a blessing to work with volunteer teams from Alabama. Our greatest joy is the opportunity to go out with teams that come down to minister.”
Although the effort was easily the largest project of the year, it hasn’t been the only one. To date this year, there have been 53 projects requested, 30 of which have already been fulfilled. Now in its fifth year, the partnership will conclude in 2005, and more volunteers will be needed to help reach Venezuelans in other parts of the country next year. Projects for 2005 are already scheduled for July 2–11 in Puerto La Cruz and Barcelona, July 15–23 in Merida and September 2–12 in Ciudad Bolivar. For more information or to volunteer, contact the office of global partnerships, 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 238.
Share with others: