Local Churches Sending Missionaries
By Rachel
Posted in: Go
I asked my host how many parents and children she thought would show up to the Sunday afternoon gathering in Collique, one of the poorest sections of Lima, Peru, before the medical clinic, led by Operation San Andres (OSA), was to begin the next day. She said, “Maybe 20, but don’t be discouraged if only 10 or so show up”. After we sang a few songs, I spoke to over 170 people who had been eagerly awaiting us and who were not satisfied, because even with music our meeting lasted only 30 minutes! The leaders were amazed at the number of those that were interested in hearing the message of Christ.
Earlier in the year, a young couple in our church who have been called to missions, Chris and Jessica Rose, spent a few days in this amazing place. Dr. Luiz Campos and his wife Ruth started going to Collique, Lima, Peru to minister to the medical needs in that area. Soon OSA and our sister church, South Main Baptist, Houston, were feeding over 100 children everyday. Chris and Jessica saw the problems: fathers without jobs, wives and children being abused, a great hunger for the gospel, an area that needs a church and so much more. Chris and Jess already have cross cultural experience and currently teach at a bilingual school in Katy, Texas. Both of them love the Lord and continue to disciple others, are willing to go, and Tallowood Baptist Church, in partnership with South Main Baptist, is eager to send them.
Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston has been, for years, a church deeply committed to and greatly involved in missions. We support several missionaries directly and also through the Cooperative Program. God has blessed Tallowood for giving freely to reach the world for Christ. As a result of giving to ministries locally, statewide and globally, it is inevitable that young people see what is happening and become actively involved in the process. We go on mission trips, and on these trips, a vision is born and the heart opens to serving the Lord and touching people that have not had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Silas Bishop* grew up at Tallowood and God called him into missions as a young man. After graduating from Baylor and Truett Seminary, he and his wife also spent time overseas. Now they are ready to serve long term and Tallowood desires the privilege of sending them as well.
Despite the “struggle” in our denomination in the last many years, one thing remains and has not changed: Baptists love missions, and Baptists will do missions regardless of any apparent or perceived barrier. A marvelous phase of the current generation is that they are very committed to the Lord and to the local church of which they are a part. They like the idea of going under the auspices, prayer, and spiritual covering of their church. Many are not aware of the past and just want to do good works in the Lord’s name. So the day has come when a new generation and mature churches are now wanting to have a much closer relationship with those whom they support overseas, and they find that sending them directly increases the potential of accountability and closeness. Churches are willing to sacrifice more in order to send their own, as well as finding that they can connect with other churches to have a joint ministry that keeps their people informed, in prayer for, and in touch with those who go.
The Gomez family from Tallowood is already in Mexico. The Roses will go to Peru and the Bishops to Southwest Asia. It is inevitable for good things to happen to a church when its mission heart is prone to fall into the hands of Almighty God.
*Pseudonyms have been used for security reasons.
by Eddy Hallock
Minister of Missions & Evangelism
Tallowood Baptist Church, Houston, TX