Here’s a testimony from a Texas church that has committed to a LEVEL FOUR type project as described in a previous blog, “LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT“
First Baptist Church, Universal City, Texas, and pastor David Lindow have committed to a valley in Peru for the next 4-5 years. For years they had gone on mission trips to different places. Lindow said that they would begin to build relationships, but “just about the time we would get started, it would be time to leave.” When they first committed to this area of Peru, they asked the people there, “What can we do?”
“Come back!” was their reply, and they assured them that they would. “That’s what everyone says, but no one does it,” they answered. After several trips back, Lindow again assured them that they would return and even told them when. Still, the people were amazed and overjoyed when the team actually did return to the valley. Lindow says, “Every trip is more exciting!” They are hoping to return to “their valley” four more times in 2009.
Through the IMB’s Rapid Entry Advance Plan (REAP), Baptist associations and U.S. churches can adopt people groups in South America, filling in the gap where there is little access to the Gospel or no ongoing Christian witness. Lindow said, “I just encourage you, if you’ve got a heart for missions and you want to make a significant impact in one particular area of the world, to consider adopting a particular area and become a strategic coordinator of ministry in that area. You’ll not regret the investment that you’ve made.”
For more information about REAP and how your church can get involved, contact the KBC Partnership Missions Office.
(from Impact Your World Update, March/April, 2009)
