More than 100 people gathered this past weekend at Camp Cowen and were challenged to “put your yes on the table and let God place it on the map.”
On Friday evening, Trent Eastman (New Baptist Church, Huntington) unpacked what it means to be “called by God.” Missionaries Dan Chetti, Debbie Mulneix, and Rhonda Reed then shared about their own experiences in being called.
Saturday was full of activities for both adults and children, centered on the theme of “Immigration, Emigration, and the Gospel.” Adults had the option of choosing to attend different workshops, some of which provided updates on our missionary partnerships and others which focused on equipping people to better minister to internationals they meet in their own communities. Children participated in a global adventure and learned about several of our partnerships.
On Facebook, Mike Stephens (former WVBC staff) wrote of the weekend:
“Todd McClure took us on a Biblical journey showing God’s mandate for emigration (going out) and immigration (coming in) for the spreading of God’s good news throughout the whole earth.
We were encouraged with ways to naturally connect with Muslims and others with the gospel by Daniel Chetti, missionary to the Middle East headquartered in Lebanon, summer missionary intern Abigail Harmon, and a former would be Islamic radical who now follows Jesus (name not mentioned for safety reasons).
We heard from Keith and Deb Myers’ Puebla summer intern Cortney Belcher and MPT leader Karla Carr regarding God’s work with Council of Indigenous Evangelical Churches (CICEM) in Mexico and prayed for the health and ministry of Juan Aragon and family in Chiapas.
We heard updates from long time Missionary Debbie Mulneix regarding future reconnections with her India family. Then, 20 year Northeast India mission trip veteran Rob Ely introduced and we heard a powerful message from four ladies representing their people groups (tribes) regarding how 200 years ago, American Baptist Missionaries led them from being head hunters to Jesus, now sharing the gospel with their Hindu neighbors and even sending missionaries throughout Southeast Asia.
The summary of all of this is that God is faithful to take His message of redemption and grace into the hearts of those willing to receive it, AND He will use us as we keep our focus on Him and His purpose and use our natural gift for showing God’s love to those who are suffering. The fastest growing church in Lebanon is made up of former Muslims who have found Christ, because that church received them as refugees from Syria. One of the ladies and her husband in NE India invited their Hindu neighbors to tea and shared the good news with them. Who are our neighbors to whom we might extend hospitality and good news that God loves them and has an eternal plan for their lives? See 2 Peter 3:9 and John 3:16-17.”
Overall, it was an excellent weekend and everyone was challenged to examine how God might want to use them in His global plan of redemption. We celebrated the fact that we have commissioned out more than 150 short-term missionaries this year to more than a dozen countries on five different continents. But we also recognized that nearly 41% of the world has yet to even hear of Christ and so the commission remains urgent.
We hope you can join us next year for Camp Global. Stay tuned for dates and details to be released. We also hope you join us in putting your yes on the table and letting God put it on the map!
To see more pictures from the weekend, click here.
