After launching an ambitious three-year partnership with the seven-country region of South Asia, the South Carolina Baptist Convention is planning to build on the foundation laid throughout 2005.
Debbie McDowell, director of the missions mobilization group, says the first year had many successes, but there is much more work to be accomplished.
“Some of the successes – were an increased awareness of the needs of that part of the world. The largest concentration of lostness is in South Asia, and part of the success has just been an education awareness kind.”
McDowell says other notable achievements of the first year are the partnerships formed between churches and associations with various parts of South Asia. These partnerships are fulfilling one goal to move missions volunteers from short-term mission trips to truly investing in an area of the world.
The South Asian tsunami occurred as the first partnership team was ready to enter the region even as the extent of the damage was unfolding through news reports coming in to this country.
“When we started planning for 2005, we did not have any teams planned for Sri Lanka because of the doors that had closed there, but the tsunami has opened new areas of ministry for the partnership,” she said.
Of the 18 partnership trips planned for next year, five teams will work rebuilding the tsunami damaged areas.
New teams are planned to minister to the many devotees attending religious festivals. A team to train nurses and educators is also new for next year. More than 200 missions volunteers worked in South Asia through the partnership this year, and McDowell says many types of volunteers are needed for a second year.
“We need people who are willing to go wherever God leads, beyond what is comfortable and convenient. We need people who are flexible and prayerful. – Most of the ministries are not specific ministries, but whatever gifts God has given you can be used in whatever setting God calls you to.”
When asked what lessons were learned in the first year, McDowell smiles and says there is still so much more to know about South Asia.
“I’ve learned how diverse the region is – the diversity of language, culture and religion. I’ve learned about the challenges of reaching the different people groups.
“I think South Carolina Baptists have learned a lot about church-planting movements, about house churches and about the importance of long-term relationships not just to go for two weeks, but to come back and encourage others to go again and invest long-term there.”
The 2005 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering emphasis focused on South Asia for a second year. For more information, contact the International Mission Board at (800) 999-3113 or www.imb.org.
The 2005 International Mission emphasis is on India. For more information about this country and how your church can be involved, contact the Woman’s Missionary Union at (800) 723-7242.