One of the latest efforts in Alabama Baptists’ missions partnership with Guatemala Baptists — which began in 2006 and runs through 2011 — took students from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) extension center in Birmingham to Guatemala.
“This missions project was a great example of Alabama Baptists working together to fulfill the Great Commission,” said Teman Knight, director of the office of leadership and church health for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and adjunct professor at the Birmingham center.
Led by Knight and Bob Hall, director of the extension center, eight students participated in the door-to-door evangelism project in May.
“We have had a very good experience in partnering with Guatemala Baptists, Alabama Baptists and NOBTS,” Hall said.
He noted that not only did students receive class credit for the trip but it also provided them with opportunities to share their faith.
“I believe this hands-on experience has taught the students a lot about missions and evangelism,” Hall said.
During her experience, Christine Greiner, an NOBTS student and a member of Golden Springs Baptist Church, Anniston, in Calhoun Baptist Association, was reminded about waiting on the Lord.
“As we were visiting door to door, my group arrived at this one home and stayed there a long time. It felt like forever,” she said. “However, through our perseverance, the mother and daughter of the house accepted Christ as their Savior.”
And those were just two of the 51 decisions made as a result of the team’s outreach.
Jon Wiggins, an NOBTS student and student minister at Skyland Boulevard Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, in Tuscaloosa Baptist Association, was encouraged by the relationships formed in Guatemala.
Wiggins told of working with a pastor who said he had been really discouraged and was ready to throw in the towel.
“He then said that the work we did in his community encouraged him and had given him a heart for the people of his community again. I believe that’s what this partnership is about.”
But Guatemalans weren’t the only ones students were building relationships with, Hall noted.
“Serving together on missions has allowed these students to build relationships with each other that they may not have otherwise.”
Keith and Glenna Bartley, Southern Baptist representatives serving as Operation GO (Gospel Outreach) strategists in Guatemala, worked with the team and expressed their gratitude for Alabama Baptists.
“Thank you, Alabama Baptists, for the work you do here in giving through the Cooperative Program. People like you give us the opportunity to help reach Guatemala for Christ. Please join us in this effort,” Keith Bartley said.
For more information about the Guatemala partnership or other missions partnerships, contact Reggie Quimby at 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 239, or rquimby@alsbom.org.
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