I wanted to take a few minutes to give you a quick update highlighting what has gone on through FBCL missions so far in 2012, and what is on the horizon:
1. Thanks to the vision of our church leadership who recognize our need to have a more significant Kingdom impact across the globe, 2012 started off with a 52 percent increase in our foreign missions budget over what we had available in 2011! So before Ronnie and our leadership even began speaking publicly about our desire to rescue those in need (spiritually and physically), they had already taken action!
2. Even though the Ramsey family is fully supported as IMB missionaries in South Asia, we wanted to set up an account for them out of our annual budget where they could quickly pull funds for ministry opportunities presented to them. We were able to set aside $100 a month for them to have access to for various needs that arise in their community. Here is a message they sent me this morning: “We were able to use $100 from FBCL funds to help our (Muslim) driver replace his family’s roof in the village before rainy season. He is very appreciative! Thanks bunches!!!” It’s exciting to hear what God can do with just a small amount, and we’re hopeful that God will open many doors to Himself through gestures like this one!
3. We have been praying for God to open up an opportunity for FBCL to have a strong partnership somewhere in the 10/40 Window (North Africa, Middle East, South Asia – where most of the unreached exist). For years, our partners in Brazil – whose names we cannot post online – have felt called to Turkey, an overwhelmingly Muslim nation. Through a partnership with their home church, we are excited to be sending this couple to Turkey to begin their ministry there in only a few weeks time! They will be learning the language there for the first year and also establishing themselves as photographers in the area (they are in need of a good tripod – typically about $200-250 for one – so if anyone would like to help them out with that, let me know!). Most of their monthly support is taken care of, but they could still use a few more supporters in the $25-50/month range. If you’re interested in finding out more about that, please let me know.
4. FBCL folks have already covered about half of Drew Dickerson’s (long-time FBCL member and UGA student) financial need for a mid-term trip (3 months) to a 10/40 nation this summer through the organization Cafe’ 1040. If you would like to help Drew get closer to his goal, please contact me!
5. Our first short-term trip in 2012 saw a team of 15 travel to south India. Hundreds of pastors and thousands of national believers there were taught and encouraged, and many nonbelievers heard the Gospel through village home visits and Gospel meetings. It was a great “first trip” as we seek God’s plan for FBCL in this overwhelmingly lost nation.
6. Around the same time that the team was in India, another team that included two men from our church (Braxton Roberts and Steven Davis) left for the Amazon in Brazil. The team of seven spent a week building a church for a remote village on the Amazon! (Please see the attached photos by Steven – the church was made from a local wood there on site and it is beautiful!)
7. In March 10 of our students went on a short-term trip to Haiti as part of a larger group of about 36 from Loganville Christian Academy. This team conducted a VBS and some sports camps for Haitian children.
8. On June 23rd and June 30th we have two teams going to Romania for some short-term work with the Bruski’s and Belief In Motion. We have 13 on the first team and 23 on the second team, both of which will be doing construction, VBS and other various local ministries.
9. Also on June 23rd and June 30th we have two more teams of nearly 40 people heading to Honduras to do ministry through Joan Tyson’s organization, Good Samaritan. These teams will be doing a lot of work with kids and will be traveling to several villages during this time. The vast majority of these team members are students, for many of whom it will be their first foreign mission trip!
10. In late July we have at least one team going to Alaska where they will be doing some construction and repair work on a Christian summer camp in an isolated village – This camp offers most of the children who attend their only chance at hearing the Gospel, so this is important work!
11. Finally, we are hoping to take another short-term trip in November to do ministry alongside the Ramsey family in South Asia. The details are coming together, so please let me know if you would like more information about this trip (this will be a very small team of 4-6 people).
Thank you all for your support and prayers! It’s so exciting and fulfilling to be a part of a church who is going and sending!
In Christ,
David Cannon
Missions Pastor
770 466 4250 x235
