Category Archives: International Missions

Transitions - Time at Home
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July 12, 2018

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International Missions, Niger

Transitions – Part 2 (Time at ‘Home’)

by Nicole Yeomans, General Baptist Missionary to the Philippines and Niger

Transitions - Time at HomeThe girls and I are “home”. Saying the word “home” feels a bit different now, but regardless, we are happy to be back among friends and family that we’ve missed over the last 18 months. Our trip home was not without stress and adventure. I will spare you all the details of our packing episode, but you can fill in the gaps by knowing these few details: I was still trying to reduce the number of bags we had just minutes before leaving for the airport, we were late and I did not have all my logistical ducks in a row, which was glaringly obvious when I found out we had put the extra baggage allowance on Kris’s ticket rather than ours, and rather than the expected 6 bags I thought we would be bringing, we ended up with 2. I had no idea what was in the 2 bags. They were the first on the belts. Thankfully we made it home with several pieces of clothing. Kris, however, was left with a mess of going thru the extra 4 bags, plus his 2, and reducing down to the 80 lbs he was allowed to carry, in addition to everything else he had to wrap up. To keep the adventure going, he hurt his back in the process of trying to weigh one of the bags. We are thankful he is feeling better and look forward to reuniting with him in just a few days.

After being lovingly greeted by friends at the airport, we made our way to Greenville, KY. This first week has been spent trying to catch up on many things: rest, eating strawberries, much-missed family time with grandparents and cousins for the girls, and doctors visits. I am thankful for the ease of good medical care with quick resolution and doctors that love my girls. We also had the privilege of visiting and speaking at Mt. Zion GB church in IN. It was so good to be among friends who have prayed for us throughout our journey and to be able to reconnect with the Weatherfords.

We look forward to seeing many of you at the Summit and as we travel around to some of our churches. It really is a joy and provides a sense of comfort to hear from our partners in ministry and be able to reconnect.

In the meantime…

I have a room that looks like a tornado has hit it. I open the door and peek in when I walk by, knowing that at some point in the very near future, I have to go in and pack the bare essentials into 4 bags weighing no more than 70 lbs each. Bare essentials take on a new meaning when moving to Niger. We are told by other missionaries to bring toiletries, sheets, a good set of knives, clothes and tennis shoes at the very least. That statement sounds doable…but then I remember that there are no uniforms at the girls’ new school, so I need to bring clothes (and shoes) for now, and the next size (or sizes) up. With both girls growing like weeds, this is a scary guessing game for me. No missionaries that we have talked to recommend having things shipped over from the states, so that option is off the table.

I just have to keep moving forward; one day at a time, one task at a time. We are in the middle of this transition time. The end, or maybe better stated, the goal, is within sight. Even as I write this, I’m reminded that our life in Christ is constantly in transition. We are to be always moving forward, always progressing, always striving to become more like Christ. May we be ever willing to be continually molded by our Creator. May I not be so busy to miss the things that He wants to show me along the way.

Until next time…

Transition - Part one
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July 6, 2018

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International Missions, Niger, Philippines

Transitions – Part 1

by Nicole Yeomans, General Baptist Missionary to the Philippines and Niger

Transition is never easy. Whether it’s moving to a new place, changing schools or jobs, or even finding a new grocery store, there are always adjustments that have to be made. Adjustments are not easy. There are times of frustration. Sometimes the frustration is accompanied by tears. It stretches us in ways we don’t ask to be stretched….and it’s painful.  While we are in midst of the transition (and transformation), we sometimes forget that He is still in control and has a plan for our lives. Later on, we can look back and see how God stretched us and molded us for His glory. This certainly gives us comfort as we push thru the challenging times of transitions.

For the sake of being humorous, let’s journey to that new grocery store together.  You are grilling hamburgers and realize you are out of ketchup. Everyone in the family likes ketchup on their hamburgers. So you jump in your car and race to the grocery store. Your regular grocery store has just closed down, so you have to drive farther to the new one in town. You are in a hurry. All of the close parking spots are full so you whip your car into the closest parking spot you can find, which has to be a good half of a mile away, or so it seems. You run in. You are used to the ketchup being on aisle 9. As you enter the new store, you immediately go to aisle 9; only to find that it’s not there. After reading signs and going up and down the aisles, you finally find the much sought after ketchup on aisle 3. But now you realize that this new store doesn’t carry the specific brand of ketchup you are used to buying and you are faced with another unfamiliar situation… Is anyone frustrated yet?

After some time has passed, you fall into a routine. You now know where to find all your favorite, and even those hard to find items. You can speak the local lingo. You know the workers by name and converse with them, asking about their family and the latest happenings in life when you see them. What once was new and overwhelming is now the norm. You wonder how you ever lived without all the benefits this new store has to offer. But then, you find out that this store, too, will be closing. Continue reading →

Church Planting Honduras - Moving Forward
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April 19, 2018

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Honduras, International Missions, Mission One Teams

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Church Planting Honduras – Moving Forward

by Rodney Walls, Missionary to Honduras

General Baptists are blessed with a good group of pastors here in Honduras who are faithful and hardworking, and it is a joy to serve Christ alongside of them! They have seen a lot of missionaries come and go over the years, and building a strong relationship with them continues to be a top priority. Relationship building takes time and the last year and a half have been fruitful in many ways.

The vision to start new works has been in place. The challenge to our pastors has been for us as a group to prayerfully identify areas where we can start a new church. Once God has given the location, the design is to have a pastor, along with a trained new leader, begin the work in that community. That way the new pastor can observe and learn from the experienced pastor. During the next six months, the lead pastor will gradually give more and more ministry responsibility to the new pastor. We (the mission and the pastors’ association) want to provide a bit of a safety net to our new pastors and leaders. The desire is to then bring Mission One teams alongside the new works to provide a short-term ministry boost.

The church is the hope of the world because the church has been commissioned by Jesus to tell others about Him and to make disciples! The ability to reach people with the gospel, to start more churches in areas without churches and to see our existing churches thrive, depends on leadership development. However, as in many areas in the States, there is a leadership vacuum here. The question became, “How can we best train up leaders in our churches as well as identify and equip future pastors?” Without development of potential pastors within our existing works, the potential for growth is extremely curbed, and the mission becomes dependent on people outside General Baptist ranks. Though there are many good people who can and hopefully will join our ranks. Growing leaders from within is paramount to the mission. Simply put, we need more pastors, because we need more churches!

In September 2017, we took a giant step forward. Miguel Ramirez a long-term employee of the mission was brought on board. He and his wife have served as house parents for Faith Home for years. Miguel has always had a heart for our churches and has served as president of the pastors’ association. He is a powerful preacher and a gifted teacher. Miguel also graduated with a bible degree in Theology in 2013. Miguel and Eduarda continue to work some for Faith Home, but Miguel’s primary responsibility is to work with and train up prospective leaders in our churches, preparing them to better serve alongside their pastor and/or preparing them to be pastors in the future. This is exciting news!

For several years, Miguel has in his own time been working with some churches and leadership groups. In fact, Ezequiel the new pastor at Emanuel church, came out of Miguel’s classes. We believe Ezequiel is the first of many. We are putting together an effort to intentionally train young men and women to be servants in the church. On top of that, Miguel will also be teaching classes to our pastors, better equipping them to be instruments in God’s hands. I told you this was exciting news.

The training will be localized not centralized. That will mean a lot of traveling for Miguel and myself. The Honduras Bible Institute has reformed, and we are working with Pastor Rene Rodriguez who leads the effort to train pastors and leaders in California and Mexico. Pastor Rene has provided materials and support to our efforts here. Thank you, Pastor Rene! Moving forward we want a unified effort among all our General Baptist Hispanic ministries! This is powerful stuff!

Miguel began his first class in October. He travels to a different church Monday through Friday, and 102 men and women from seven of our churches have signed up and are attending a class in homiletics. Yes, you read that correctly (102). I will admit it. That number is significantly higher than I had thought or hoped. And, (and this is exciting), 12 teenagers are taking the class as well (ranging from 14 years of age to 17). Tell me that is not exciting?

We have a basic curriculum in place and believe that God is going to use the Honduras Bible Institute to prepare pastors and leaders for our existing churches and to start new ones too. Soon the leadership vacuum will be no more, and there will be many new General Baptist churches here reaching people with the Good News that Christ tasted death for us all! If just 5% of this group are God called to be a pastor, then we can begin five new churches.

Moving forward… We need your prayers and your support as we move forward following Jesus! The Church Planting ministry here is dormant no more. Things are busy and getting even more so! Thanks to a couple of churches that are already helping to fund this effort by helping to underwrite Miguel’s salary. Your support is making an impact. I will also need support to purchase books and supplies as I have already used my resource for buying books. Don’t wait, join in what God is doing here. I will keep you posted as we move forward.