who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
Author:
Scott Purser
Date Given:
December 10, 2007 Dear Foreign Missions Committee,
“Blessed is the one who considers the poor (Psalm 41:1)!” We greet you as those who have been encouraged as we consider the poor and seek ways Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC) can respond to the poor in the name of Jesus. This past year we divided our task force into five teams to work in the areas of missionary requests, AIDS, anti-human trafficking, disaster response and communications.
The focus in 2007 led to a significant amount of partnership with our Bethlehem missionaries including:
- Two projects presented by SIM missionary Dave Decker: The first is with Community Health Evangelism (CHE) in Senegal among the Wolof people and the second is for construction of a building to be used for health outreach and evangelism.
- A community development center and micro-finance program among women in Pakistan with J and C D.
- Initiatives with Luke Lundstedt from Food for the Hungry International in Peru to build a safe kindergarten complex in a slum area near Lima and to help children and youth return to school after the August 15th earthquake.
Our Anti-Human Trafficking team met for prayer on a monthly basis and cooperated with other churches interested in responding to the prevention of human trafficking and the care of victims including Christian after-care programs. They hosted a Concert of Prayer at BBC on November 10th. A team of BBC and Park Avenue Methodist members traveled in August to work with rescued victims in India under the care of Anti-trafficking agencies Oasis, India and Freedom Firm, India. One research trip was also conducted to explore the potential for involvement in Thailand and Mynmar. Funds were approved for:
- The creation of a biblically based curriculum for Christians working among human trafficking victims.
- The aftercare work of Garden of Hope in border area of Myanmar and Thailand. (Pending)
The Disaster Response team has met extensively with World Relief and Frontiers (International Crisis and Relief Network – ICRN) about collaboration with churches, Non Government Organizations, and working among relief efforts in the Muslim world. The team has also:
- Started plans for how we can create disaster response teams that are prepared and trained for quick response.
- Sent funds for relief of victims suffering from Hurricane Noel in the Dominican Republic, working with Iglesia Bautista de la Gracia in Santiago. Provided funds for flooding in Pakistan working with Partner Aid International.
The AIDS team hosted a Concert of Prayer at BBC on March 9th in cooperation with World Relief. They also met with other Twin Cities BGC Churches to research potential ministry opportunities in this area. They were significantly encouraged by:
- Working with World Relief’s Mobilizing for Life program in Malawi. (Pending)
- Exploring and investigating the opportunity for involvement and short-term teams from BBC to be involved in AIDS programs in 2008 in areas such as India, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
This past year’s activites in the area of communications especially included the creation of a new Global Diaconate brochure and spreading the message of the GD through:
- Displaying and sharing about the work of the Global Diaconate at ministry fairs, Church Business meetings, TCT meetings and Sunday School classes.
- Hosting open houses for the church to hear reports from GD supported projects.
In 2007 our task force included the following members: Keith Burnes, Tom and Damaris Field, Paul Haas, Holly Leslie, Paul Marino, Charity Mantan, Trudy Norman, Scott and Cindy Purser, Jeff Sartwell, and Bill and Cindi Walsh.
We are especially thankful for Damaris Field, Trudy Norman, Charity Mantan, Jeff Sartwell, and Paul Marino who have finished their service on the Global Diaconate. New members in 2008 will include Brad and Cindy Nelson and Todd and Tamara Rasmuson.
Pray for us that in 2008 we would continue to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).”
Remembering the poor with you in the name of Jesus,
Scott Purser
Global Diaconate Coordinator
(On behalf of the Global Diaconate Task Force)