Brian Ford shares with us how to keep connected during this time. Please note the title and theme of their main news: Engaging the Future with Hope
Continuing Mission Work During COVID-19 |
You are probably wondering how the global pandemic has impacted the work of missionaries around the world, especially our partners in Guatemala and Cuba. If you had a chance to watch our virtual Spring Gathering on “Hope Overflowing,” you heard the update from Gary Snowden, leader of our Mission Team. Though we debuted the gathering several weeks ago on April 24, you can still see it here. Gary’s part starts at 2:12 and is just over 13 minutes long, but I think you’ll also enjoy the inspiring sermon from Baptist World Alliance president Paul Msiza that follows. I can assure you that our mission partners in both countries have remained in place, serving people in need and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the local people there. In times of uncertainty like these, our Christian faith is such an important source of hope and comfort in our own lives and also in the lives of others. Churchnet remains in good contact with our mission partners, seeking ways of being of help during this time. We are hearing that food shortages are a great concern among our Cuban family. We know that our Guatemalan brothers and sisters are doing as much virtual church as possible given the unstable infrastructure in the Western part of the country. We are grateful that the mission offering from our Spring Gathering and other recent donations are providing resources that we can send on to these partners experiencing such great challenges in their ministries. The mission work of Baptists continues through these trying times and Churchnet remains a connector between this work and our Missouri Baptist churches. Thank you for being a part of the Churchnet family and this important work. |
Resources & Ideas for Virtual Children’s Ministry:How Churches Bring Sunday School Home (Word&Way)Church at Home (Saddleback Kids)Online Church Resources for Children (Children’s Ministries)Five Virtual Children’s Ministry Ideas (Ministry Architects) |
MAY SPOTLIGHT CONGREGATIONFee Fee Baptist Church of Bridgeton was founded in 1807 and is the oldest Protestant church west of the Mississippi. It has an incredible history of being focused on missions. “Our people have a heart for reaching our neighborhoods and the nations,” says Senior Pastor Zach Crook. With more than 800 members and an average Sunday attendance of about 350, their reach is wide. In 2019, they had 61 different members go on mission trips. Last September, they gave 455 hours of volunteer service during their first-ever Impact Week, surpassing their 300-hour goal! In response to the pandemic, the church has been serving the community with an every-other-week Mobile Food Pantry. They also have a daily prayer time on Facebook live weekdays at 7:00 p.m., giving members a powerful way to stay connected during this time. Crook says Fee Fee Baptist chooses to be a part of Churchnet because they love seeing Baptists cooperate together to reach the world for Christ. “We know we can do more together than we can alone, so we love partnering to see God’s Kingdom expand and lives changed by the gospel,” he said. You can find out more about this creative congregation on their website and their Facebook page. Fee Fee Baptist Church’s commitment to living and sharing the Word of God is deeply appreciated. |
Members of Fee Fee Baptist Church in Bridgeton prepare to serve for their Mobile Food Pantry, a partnership with the St. Louis County Food Bank. They recently served nearly 800 people in 200 cars. |