UBC Mission Update - 2022, Issue 3
Prayer Focus:
UBC-Supported Missionaries in the Middle East
“B” and “N” have been serving in the Middle East since July 2021. Their goal is to provide student interns serving within the Muslim, Arab-speaking world with the knowledge, skills, and capacity to move quickly and effectively into competent ministry that results in the on-going multiplication of churches and Kingdom expansion for the glory of God.
Upon arriving on the field, B and N had to rapidly adapt to the language and culture of the host country. They praise the Lord that their training and experience helped them to quickly fit into the local scene. They made new friends among local vendors and the expat community.
Once the interns arrived, they began language learning, and after a month started attending classes on Spiritual Formation, Ministry Formation, Cross Cultural Adaptation, Language Adaptation, and Team Development. B and N help the interns to practically apply what they are learning, demonstrating how to bridge cultural divides and form relationships with local people. Eventually, they began to develop relationships with students at a local university and through participation in a martial arts class.
Additionally, the Lord opened a door for B and N to befriend a highly educated neighbor who works as a translator in one of the foreign embassies. Recently, he started talking about religion in a friendly way about things common to all faiths. He says it’s more important to practice the faith instead of claiming to believe in one. Amazingly, his name is Eesa (Arabic for Jesus).
Pray for B and N as they continue this work, for the interns, and for these new friendships to continue to grow and lead to spiritual conversations that bear fruit.
Recent Highlight:
International Friendships, Inc. Valentine’s Banquet
Once again, many in the UBC family stepped up to serve the international students at local universities by providing food, drinks, and supplies for the IFI Valentine’s Banquet on February 11th. Organizer Martha Conkel Nghiem sent in this note:
“I wanted to thank you all for your help on Friday. The food was amazing! After dinner we had a relationship panel with people from all walks of life: single, engaged, long-distance, interrracial, new parents, newly married, and married for almost 40 years. Afterwards we enjoyed introducing the students to gaga ball and 9-square. It was a wonderful banquet and we couldn’t have done it without you! Blessings.”
Spotlight:
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering & Week of Prayer
The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering supports the work of thousands of missionaries sent by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Every dollar given supports missionaries and their families engaged in church planting and compassion ministries across the U.S. and Canada.
The “Home Missions Offering” was started in 1895 but was renamed in 1934 in recognition of Annie Armstrong’s pioneering efforts to raise support for missionaries as well as her lifelong passion for God’s work in America.
Annie was born in 1850 in Baltimore, MD and became a Christian at the age of 19. Through the influence of her mother, she developed a heart for missions, serving children, the urban poor, Native Americans, African Americans, and immigrants. She helped found the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) in 1882 to involve women in the work of the Home Mission Board. She traveled around the country visiting missionaries and mobilizing churches.
To give online, visit https://www.anniearmstrong.com/checkout/
Checks can be mailed to:
North American Mission Board, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368
(note in the memo line: Annie Armstrong Easter Offering)
The annual Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® is March 6-13. Join with other SBC churches to pray for missionaries, their ministries, and their families.
“What a glorious thing it is to be a co-worker with God in winning the world for Christ.”
– Annie Armstrong
Opportunity:
Interest Meeting for Foster/Adoption Support Ministry
Last November on Orphan Sunday, Pastor Phil Wing preached about our adoption as sons and daughters and exhorted us to care for orphans and vulnerable children. A ministry idea was born from that sermon to support couples and families involved in foster care and/or adoption. If you want to know more about how to get involved in this exciting ministry launch, plan to attend an interest meeting after the third service on Sunday, March 27 in the sanctuary at Main. If you have questions, contact Lillie Kromer at (810) 922-0715 or lilliekromer@gmail.com.
Opportunity for Foster/Adoptive Families:
Parents Night Out
The Ortiz College-Age Growth Group and the Patterson Young Adult Growth Group will provide *FREE* childcare so UBC’s fostering/adoptive parents can have some time to themselves!
Saturday, April 2nd from 3:30pm-7:30pm at UBC Main
If interested, contact Josh Ortiz at amazedbygrace86@gmail.com or 262-995-4366.
To read past Mission Updates or to get more information about UBC on Mission, visit www.ubcbeavercreek.com/mission.