Karen Gonzalez learned about missions at an early age. Her mother, Emma Thompson, served as her role model, showing Christlike compassion for people by helping others in need, teaching and opening her home to the church youth and other groups.
Karen Gonzalez, center, with a group of Chinese children at the International Baptist Mission of First Baptist Church, Kingstree. Standing behind her is her son Manny, and Charm, an African-American woman who visited the mission.“She was a GA leader at First Baptist Church of Kings-tree and was always doing mission projects, helping people inside and outside the church,” Karen recalls. In 1988, Karen traveled to China on a Lottie Moon tour. After the trip, Karen thought God was telling her to return to China to teach English, but realized later that God was closing one door and opening another.
Karen learned about a Korean lady nearby who needed tutoring. Shortly after working with her, Karen tutored a Chinese man who, with his family, opened a Chinese restaurant. Karen realized God was bringing the world to her hometown.
In 1989, she attended a migrant ministry conference led by Santee Baptist Association. The ministry had been reaching out to farm workers from Mexico, some of whom experienced dramatic conversions. The group shared about how the ministry reached out to them in simple ways, such as bringing homemade treats.
“To hear stories of conditions they experienced would make you cry,” Karen said of the dilapidated houses without locks on their doors where workers lived and slept on beds with no sheets.
In 1989, Ted Mears, then pastor of Kingstree First Baptist, went with Karen, Diane Graham, Judy Ard and Vicky Kennedy to visit some nearby Hispanics and tell them of English classes they organized. Initially, few responded, but the following year, a church member started bringing Hispanics working at his lumber yard to English classes.
Karen remembers that first group especially well, for she met Manuel Gonzalez, whom she later married. Now the whole family is involved in the mission. Their son Manny spends time helping with children’s classes. Several other members of Kingstree First Baptist became involved with transportation, teaching, Bible study and other activities for the ministry.
“When we have a need, I go to them and they graciously respond,” said Karen.
A church member donated a building in Kingstree during the mid 1990s, which had ample space for classrooms as well as a sanctuary and kitchen. Church members Robert Welch and Luke Manning drove church vans, taught and cooked. Robert’s wife Virginia, who is Vietnamese, assists Chinese women who need to go to the doctor’s office. Members Vivian Catoe and Helen Adams assisted with classes also. Many more members share their time and talents in this outreach. Karen added that “practically every church in town” has helped since the mission began. For example, Kingstree Second Baptist Church provided funds used to purchase Bibles and other materials.
From a primarily Hispanic ministry, the mission has developed into an outreach for Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans, and some residents from India and Pakistan. Many came to operate restaurants, stores and other businesses in the Kingstree area. In addition to Kingstree and Williamsburg County, the mission reaches nearby Lake City, New Zion and Turbeville. Marcos Elizond, a Hispanic pastor, conducts services on Sunday and sometimes conducts Bible studies at his home.
“Since Kingstree First Baptist helped Manuel, he wants to help his people,” says Karen. Manuel invites them to Bible study and English classes, and will even help a worker find a job. He has also served as a translator in many types of situations. He delivers health kits and takes them to buy groceries, go to Wal-Mart and wash clothes. Karen visited schools with Hispanic children to teach them to read and learn the sounds of the alphabet or deliver supplies to them. The Gonzalez family has opened their own home when necessary, even for a family without heat who had a baby.
One Hispanic family stands out in Karen’s memory. Their children were so excited about the English Bibles they received, one of them couldn’t wait to tell them she had read the whole Bible and wanted to be baptized. A cousin looked forward to coming to church, eagerly waiting for Manuel to pick him up in the church van.
“Our ministry has been to tell these people about Jesus and to teach them English,” said Karen.