Editor’s note: In 2005, the South Carolina Baptist Convention entered into a partnership with International Mission Board’s South Asia Region – India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives. That partnership officially ends Dec. 31. Here the missionaries who serve among South Asian peoples express their gratitude for the 934 South Carolina volunteers who have come to serve in South Asia through prayer, encouragement, education, evangelism, discipleship, medical, disaster relief, human needs and other ministries.
“I just wanted to quickly mention a few of the ways that South Carolina volunteers have helped me. I was able to attend one of the ladies’ retreats and was very encouraged by the time away and the lessons learned from the ladies who shared with us. Our AGM (annual general meeting) this year was great, and it is so nice to worship American-style with talented leaders. Our kids always love their time with the childcare workers. One volunteer did a reading assessment for us with Alisa,* and it was very encouraging about what we have accomplished and helpful to let me know how we should focus our time in the upcoming year. Those are a few ways that we have been blessed by South Asia volunteers! Be blessed.”
– Emily McFarland*
“There is an old saying, ‘Beware of strangers bearing gifts.’ This might well hold true most of the time, but when we met a group of strangers at the airport bearing gifts of coffee and chocolate among other things, we quickly embraced them. I speak of a group of volunteer chaplains who came to minister to us, the patients and the hospital staff. The South Carolina Baptist Convention sponsored this group, which included four from South Carolina, one from North Carolina, and one from Texas. They hit the ground running and did not stop for 12 days. They taught students, chaplains, hospital staff, visited patients, did palliative care, led a retreat for staff, met officials, and worked in a little sightseeing on the side. They did such a good job. We had a great time with them, and they worked so hard at every task they were given to do. They left dog tired, happy, and blessed beyond measure.”
– Tate and Audrey Bassett*
“In February 2008, I was serving as strategy coordinator for a large people group. We hosted two volunteers from Lancaster. They came to train pastors, but what they did was change lives. One of the lives they changed was mine. I had not told them, but I had given up. I had sent in my resignation and was planning to leave the field in May 2008. Bennett* asked a group of national pastors, ‘What is preventing you from doing what God has called you to do?’ That hit me, and tears just flowed down my face. I realized that I was preventing myself from doing what I was called to do. I thought the task I was assigned was too huge for me; it is, but it’s not too huge for God. I was blaming my age (62) and an illness my mother was experiencing as the reasons for quitting. I realized that I was not allowing God to use me the way He wanted. I was giving up and preventing God from allowing Him to do with me what He called me to do. Last month, we saw 10 Muslim-background people get baptized. God will continue to use me, for I will always remember Bennett and the words he shared that day. Thank you, South Carolina, for sending me a personal reminder of the task I was called to do.”
– Holden Ohler*
“South Carolina volunteers have been a great blessing to our work in northern India. They have selflessly provided free medicine and medical care to poor villagers. They exhibit compassion and the love of Christ in everything they do. They have assisted us with numerous trainings, and they always come prepared and exhibit a heart of love for the national brothers and sisters, and a willingness to serve with humility and grace. We are enriched through our partnership with Buncombe Road Baptist Church in Greenville.”
– Nelson Radford*
“Our family has been blessed in different ways by South Carolina volunteers over the years. We have had teams from South Carolina come partner with us in reaching the lost for Christ. We have had university students spend six weeks with us and minister in amazing ways. We have had the opportunity to stay in one of the mission houses of a South Carolina church. We are still blessed by friendships that have formed over the years with volunteers who came to help with childcare at our AGMs and who we and our children fell in love with.
“We have received excellent teaching at AGMs from Mike Hamlet, senior pastor of First Baptist North Spartanburg in Spartanburg, and Buster Brown, senior pastor of East Cooper Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant. We also had the chance to meet Frank Page, the then Southern Baptist Convention president, at an AGM. We have also been able to partner with Debbie McDowell, director of the missions mobilization group at the South Carolina Baptist Convention, in a variety of ways to advance his kingdom. Just recently, a group of lady volunteers came and did a retreat for the women of our country that was refreshing and encouraging.
“As the old song goes, ‘Count your blessings, name them one by one.’ With South Carolina volunteers, that would be a long list to complete. Thank you all for what you do, and we look forward to your help in reaching the South Asian people and to see Matthew 24:14 fulfilled through your obedience to go to the ends of the earth. Thank you.”
– Mickey, Geri, Jesse, Samuel, Keenan, and Adah Hennerman*
“During the ladies’ retreat in September in northern India, we had a blast. Several ladies who worked the retreat reply frequently to my prayer letters – even a year later. They really care about me and my ministry.”
– Mary Phelps*
“One of the great blessings in our lives is volunteers. We love to have people come out and share in the work here, and enrich our lives at the same time. We had a group of four join us from South Carolina. These four were committed to prayer and finding a way to share Jesus with all those with whom they came into contact. And they were fun for our family! We thank God for sending them our way. Please pray that the seeds that were planted during their visit will grow and bear fruit. And we had three volunteers here with us to celebrate the kite festival. The volunteers spent several days wandering the city, praying for people, and meeting people. We are praying that through some of their prayers, or some of the contacts they made, God will touch a heart and cause a person to seek him. Please join us in praying that God will work through the efforts of these volunteers to draw people to him.”
– Roberta Kinder*
“Our first year on the field was like most everyone else’s – transition, culture shock, etc. We got on the field in August 2006, and there was a particular team from South Carolina that came in June 2007. This team had two ladies who made a point to pull me to the side and encourage me as a mother. They pointed out specific things that I did with my children that they admired. I didn’t even realize that encouragement was something that I hadn’t heard in over a year. As a mom and a missionary, it seems that we’re always encouraging others, and at this moment, their praise and encouragement filled a void in me that I didn’t even know I had. Their words gave me the strength to keep going for the rest of the year. In fact, they made such an impact on me that I made a point to e-mail them at Christmas to let them know.
“Another way that South Carolina volunteers have ministered to me is by loving on my children. I remember one man who listened to every one of my sweet Melody’s* stories, and trust me, the child is long-winded. He was so sweet to her and just kept asking for more stories – and this was all during the breaks he had between teaching national leaders. It ministered to her in such a special way. We always ‘encourage’ her to ‘get to the point,’ but he patiently listened to every detail. I wish I had a picture of her beaming face from that day to attach, but I’ll tell you that it’s forever etched in my mind.”
– Rochelle Hullett*
“I just praise the Lord that God is expressing his love for the lost in South Asia through believers and local churches in South Carolina. They’re coming in response to God’s love for the people, and it’s encouraging to have them join us in the trenches and share God’s love with the people. We’ve had a great time.”
– Greg Cargill*
*Names changed for security reasons. Compiled by Goldie Frances,* a Southern Baptist missionary serving as a writer among South Asian people groups.