Missions Trips

Aberdeen Construction Team Now Organizing

Thank you Union Baptist churches for the great response we got with our construction teams at Duncan Girl’s Camp in Aberdeen on March 6 (35 participants) and March 20 (30 participants). Camp Duncan is being built on a 700 acre forest with a large lake which was given to North Carolina Baptists by the Duncan family. This will be a camp that all Baptists in North Carolina will be proud of.

If you can swing a hammer, use a shovel, lay tile, help with electrical and plumbing, or just assist in the construction process, we need you on April 17 at Camp Duncan. Two or more members of your church could meet at your church and leave at 7am and arrive in Aberdeen around 8:30. It would help if you would let me know in advance if you have persons coming, but you don’t have to do that. If you have an individual who would like to go he can join my team at Shiloh. We will leave at 7am sharp. We should all be home by dark and I know from experience that everyone who goes will feel blessed.

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West Virginia Mission Opportunity

Big Spring Baptist in Mallory, WV is seeking partners to help in the renovation of a vacant school building that will serve as a future outreach center. Big Spring’s pastor, John Cain, is a native of North Carolina, a graduate of Fruitland Bible Institute and attended Southeastern Seminary. Pastor John has a vision that his church and their local Coalfields Baptist Association can work with North Carolina Baptists to reach the lost and bring hope and encouragement to people in need.

Pastor John is also interested in having teams come to his area to provide evangelistic outreach efforts through VBS, Prayer Walks, youth rallies, or other efforts. This partnership can be an on-going effort and a great ministry opportunity for churches and individuals. In recent years several churches and individuals from our area have worked in these rural areas of southern West Virginia and are familiar with the stark poverty and sense of hopelessness that often prevails in the more remote areas.

A small group of local Baptists recently visited Big Spring Baptist but no commitments or definite plans have been made so this is an excellent time to step up and be a part of the initial planning and decision stages. If you feel that God may be leading you or your church to participate in this outreach ministry, please contact Dennis Souther at Pleasant Grove Baptist in Oakboro, NC. Email or call at dsouther@carolina.rr.com or (704) 322-8298.

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Haiti Construction Teams Now Organizing

I have just gotten word that construction mission trips are being organized by North Carolina Baptists on Mission. A team from Union Baptist Association will be going to Haiti on Sunday, May 9 and returning on Saturday, May 15. Early teams will be working on concrete and block construction, focusing primarily on churches and schools. There will be a maximum of eight persons on our team. Once our first team is filled we will be setting up additional teams. The cost of the trip will be $1,100. A person must have a valid U. S. passport which must be valid for at least six months after the beginning of the trip.

To go on this trip one must join Baptists on Mission and be approved by the state office of Baptists on Mission. The process is relatively simple. To get details or to sign up please call Bessie at the UBA office (704) 283-8383 as soon as possible.

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Haiti Mission Trips

North Carolina Baptists are already on the ground in Haiti. So far the teams have been for rescue and recovery and for assessment. Soon we will be able to send construction teams. The UBA is preparing to send teams as soon as we are authorized to do so. In the mean time we are preparing lists of persons who can go on a construction team.

Passports.   If your church or any members are interested in going on a team please make sure that they have a valid passport. A first time passport must be obtained in person and will cost around $100. A passport booklet is recommended because there are some places where a passport card cannot be used.   The Matthews and Mint Hill post offices are the passport locations closet to Union County. Full information on getting a passport may be obtained from the US State Department at the following link http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html .

Vaccinations.    All travelers to Haiti should be aware of the recommendations of the U. S. Center for Disease Control. A special web page for Haiti trips may be found at the following link, http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/news-announcements/relief-workers-haiti.aspx . A list of recommended vaccinations is given as well as some general health tips. Although it may be possible to get these

vaccinations from your own physician, the health clinic at JAARS already has most of the vaccines in stock and is economical and convenient. Appointments may be made by calling 704-843-6000 and asking for the clinic.

Insurance. Since insurance coverage varies from company to company and may be difficult in a foreign country it is recommended that each traveler have a special policy for the trip. Such insurance is made

available through the Baptist State Convention.   For Union Baptist Association trips the association handles all arrangements for trip insurance.

Travel and Lodging. This is the item that is holding us up. We will most likely be flying into Santa Domingo, in the Dominican Republic or possibly Port-Au-Prince in Haiti. At the present time these airports are being used heavily for rescue and recovery as well as for food and water. Arrangements for lodging for mission teams are being worked on. Then there is the issue of availability of construction materials. Once these logistics are worked out we will be forming teams.

Joining a Team. Please do not wait to make your desires known. We would like to have the name and email address of each person who may be interested in going. We will be announcing the dates of our trips and forwarding information to each potential participant and we will be having organizational meetings at the UBA Mission Resource Center. Please reply to this email or call the UBA at 704-283-8383. If your church is planning to send its own team please let us know and tell us if you would like for us to help you place additional members on your team.

In Him,

Henry Funderburk

Henry Funderburk, Mission Trip Coordinator
Union Baptist Association

To view UBA Mission Trips and for more information, visit www.ubatrips.com.

Mission Messenger     Winter 2009

For Information on any of these mission trips please call the Union Baptist Association Office at (704) 283-8383. For updated information see our mission web site at www.ubatrips.com.

The last words Jesus spoke on Earth were known as The Great Commission.   As we boldly step forward and share God’s love with a lost world he will bless our efforts, bring the lost to himself, enrich our lives, and grow our churches.
                                                                            Henry Funderburk,

Mission Trip Coordinator