UBC Mission & Mercy Ministry Update - 2023, Issue 6
Prayer Focus: Sub-Saharan Africa
This month we will focus our prayers on sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the area of the continent of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. UBC financially and prayerfully supports three full-time missionaries in three different countries in this area. (Their names will not be used for security reasons during our corporate prayers but will be referred to by initials only: B&N; B&J; E.)
SSA has been and continues to be predominantly Christian. Despite this, approximately 20% is still considered unreached by the Joshua Project. Islam is the next largest religion in this area at 30% and is growing.
Some countries in this area have been infiltrated by Jihadists. This, in addition to ongoing tribal unrest in many of these countries leads to conflicts, violence, and persecution. Opendoors.org reports that these situations in SSA are unprecedented, and that out of every 10 Christians murdered for their faith worldwide, 9 are from SSA. The combination of tribal unrest, violence and persecution has led many to flee their countries of origin to seek refuge in another SSA country hoping to find safety and freedom. The past decade has seen a significant increase in refugees in this region from ~2.2 million in 2012 to an estimated 7 million in 2021. Uganda is the country with the most refugees.
Reading this may lead to feeling hopeless, but we, as the Church, are not without hope. In Christ, we have access to the Throne Room of grace and mercy. Let us all be diligent in prayer during June for this region of GOD’s world and HIS people.
Pray:
For the survival of the church in SSA. Pray urgently that Christians will hold on to Jesus, knowing the global church has not forgotten them.
That God will heal and comfort believers suffering from trauma because of violent persecution.
For wisdom and faith as Christians boldly seek to live lives that honor God.
For the Lord to intervene to stop deadly attacks and work in the hearts of the militants and turn them from hatred to love in Christ
For wisdom and grace for pastors leading churches in increasingly dangerous places; that the churches will remain strong, influential, and resilient even as Christians flee the most volatile regions.
For our UBC missionaries serving in this area.
*Some of the above were adapted from Opendoors.org
For additional information check out:
Open Doors: Arise Africa Prayer Guide
Missionary Spotlight: The Bahuns
Buddy and Julia Bahun and their four children, are serving as missionaries in Namibia, a country in Southern Africa. Buddy pastors a local church there (Grace Reformed Baptist Church) and through that, they are involved in various ministries in and around the capital city of Windhoek. As part of the Core Mission Team’s effort to provide support and encouragement to UBC’s missionaries, the Perry Growth Group adopted the Bahun family. This entails regular communication through Slack, prayer support, periodic “visits” through Google Meet, sending care packages, etc. The impact on the Growth Group members and the Bahun family has been incredible.
Growth Group members were asked how the interaction has helped them in regard to knowing how to pray for missionaries, increasing their awareness of the Bahun’s ministry in Namibia and the effect it’s had on their personal involvement in missions. Following are some of their responses:
“Having a face and name to pray for and knowing their specific needs and situations bring the Bahun family to mind more often.”
“Staying in continual contact with them (through Slack and virtual meetings) helps to keep them on my mind, makes me aware of what to pray for, and allows me to get to know them personally.”
“I feel more connected to the ministry in Namibia because of knowing the Bahun family on a personal level.”
“I have been more likely to participate in more missionary outreach and activities since our support of them. This has been great to get to know them better. It convicts me that I should really do more for the Lord in this area.”
The Bahuns were asked if they feel more connected to UBC because of being adopted by a Growth Group:
“We definitely feel closer to the church, as well as it has increased our desire to get to know the church because of the Growth Group. It gives us a relationship with members of the church and allows us to ask how the church is doing through those relationships.”
The prayer connection has also been key. When Buddy was on a mission trip, a few urgent prayer requests came up. Julia was able to send the Growth Group a message on Slack and the group was able to pray right away. She was able to update the group with changes and answers to prayers.
“We absolutely feel like we can reach out to our Growth Group. We have felt so encouraged and humbled by their care!”
The relationship has not only been a support to the Bahun’s ministry but it has had a personal impact on their children. “The Growth Group has been so good to our kids! It has been great to see how they have enjoyed the gifts of books and Christmas gifts. The kids see this care as an amazing thing and are excited to see the group members in person.”
“We have seen such great care and communication with the Growth Group. I can’t emphasize this enough, the work of the Growth Group in the encouragement of missionaries is absolutely essential! Being a “rope holder” is no small task! We are thankful for all the support and encouragement we have received.”
Buddy and Julia also shared the following ministry updates:
Buddy and Pastor Russ from Clearcreek Chapel in Springboro will be conducting a Biblical Counseling and Expositional Workshop in July and August.
Buddy was invited to preach at a youth church called “Agape Youth'' on July 9th. This is a great opportunity to reach out to youth in the Havanah informal settlement.
The Bahuns ask for prayer for:
The union of Grace Reformed Baptist Church and Westside Baptist Church. The two churches recently merged together.
The upcoming Workshop mentioned above.
The Bahuns’ upcoming trip to the US sometime this fall. They will spend time at UBC, but also in Maine, Texas, and Missouri. (They still need to secure a van (at least a seven seater) for their time in the US.)
Continued growth in their Young Adult and Campus ministries.
Mission Opportunity: “Rope-Holders” Needed
Buddy Bahun (above) described their Growth Group as “rope-holders”. This metaphor comes from the famous missionary William Carey. John Ryland, one of Carey’s friends and fellow member of the Baptist Missionary Society along with Andrew Fuller, recorded the story:
“Our undertaking to India really appeared to me, on its commencement, to be somewhat like a few men, who were deliberating about the importance of penetrating into a deep mine, which had never before been explored, we had no one to guide us; and while we were thus deliberating, Carey, as it were, said “Well, I will go down, if you will hold the rope.” But before he went down he, as it seemed to me, took an oath from each of us, at the mouth of the pit, to this effect—that “while we lived, we should never let go of the rope.”*
A few of our missionary families still need Growth Groups who are willing to be rope-holders for them. If your Growth Group has not adopted a missionary/missionary family and you would like more information on what this means or how your group can get connected, please reach out to the Mission Core Team. You can stop by the Mission and Mercy Ministry table on a Sunday morning or you can email them at missions@ubcbeavercreek.org.
Mercy Ministry Opportunity:
Called to Care Volunteers Needed
UBC’s Called to Care Ministry supports foster families by providing a caring team that wraps around the family as foster children come to live in their home. The team gives emotional, spiritual and relational support, as well as provides tangible help through meals, needed supplies and respite care. Most importantly, the care team prays for the foster family and the foster children so that lives will be changed and God will be glorified.
Over the past few months, the Called to Care Ministry has launched two new care teams to support foster care families as they welcome foster children into their homes.
A third care team is now being formed to support a third family in the Xenia area. Volunteers are needed to join this team. Please pray for this need and if you are interested in learning more or getting involved, please contact Melissa Clemens at melissajoclemens@gmail.com or Tiffany Sloffman at Tippny213@gmail.com.
Interested in going on a mission trip this year? The following UBC-sponsored trips are open to UBC members and regular attenders.
Contact Jim Corbin jim.corbin@ubcbeavercreek.com or Aldin Falfulovic aldin.fafulovic@ubcbeavercreek.com for more information.
To read past Mission Updates or to get more information about UBC on Mission, visit www.ubcbeavercreek.com/mission.