This weekend will be a wonderful time in the life of our church.  This past year, we have seen unprecedented involvement in hands-on missions locally and internationally through our church.  It is absolutely amazing to see how God has used Front Street Baptist Church to reach and disciple people around the world.  This weekend we will celebrate what has happened in this past year, and we will look forward to some amazing opportunities in this next year. 

 

We also have the privilege of having several missionaries with us that are involved in Front Street's Global Missions Strategy for the upcoming year.Our Asian Missionary resides in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  He has Have served   the International Mission Board  for 13 years in Malaysia - coordinating volunteers as well as serving as the head of the student team which is attempting to reach as many of Malaysia's 650,000 students as possible.  Our worship team began a relationship with that part of the world in 2002, and we have worked with him each time we have been involved there. 

 

Norman and Debbie Cannada are no strangers to Front Street.  They have been serving as North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionaries in Charleston, WV since June 1997, when they started West Charleston Baptist Church.  Norman remains pastor of West Charleston Baptist, which is a church which seeks to reach its inner city community on the west side of Charleston, sharing Jesus and meeting practical needs.  Since 1999, Norman has served the Pioneer Baptist Association and NAMB as a church planter strategist and is currently working in a supervisory and mentor role with six church plants and ministries in the two county association and also leads missions efforts.  Debbie serves as community ministries director at West Charleston, coordinating a variety of programs including feeding ministries, after school, and the dance minstry.  She is also a fifth grade teacher at Glenwood Elementary School which is the school that serves most of their neighborhood. The Cannadas served at Front Street from 1994-96 when Norman was Minister to Students (youth, children and single adults).  Front Street is their sending church to the mission field.

 

Rodney and Beth Love are with Hearts of Love International Ministry.  Their work is multifaceted.  Here is some of the work with which they are involved:

 

• Providing world-wide spiritual support and training for churches; 
• Preparing programs for food distribution and farm operations.  Our program includes both on-site training and purchase of farm equipment, seed, fertilizers, and tools;
• Operating encouragement centers in support of pastors and their families; 
• Managing programs for assisting orphans, coordinating adoption, and child sponsorship;
• Manufacture and distribution of children's clothing such as baby diapers, toddler clothing, and emergency relief;
• Providing direct medical assistance both on-site and triage for major medical problems requiring pro-longed care.
  

Friday night, after dinner, we will hear briefly from all of these missionaries about their work and ways we can be involved.  Saturday afternoon,  after lunch, we will have a couple of missions reports, then a missions fair where you can talk one-on-one with our missionaries and see displays about various ways you can be on missions in our community and the world.  Sunday morning, the children will meet in the fellowship hall with the Cannadas, the youth and college classes will all meet in the youth room with Rodney Duncan, and the adults will all meet in the sanctuary with Rodney and Beth Love (unless your class has decided to not participate in this part of the weekend).  Rodney Duncan will be speaking in the Sunday morning service and we will have a celebration of all God has done this past year in Front Street missions-it will be a great time of worship and celebration. 

 

Saturday morning, we have many people participating in the Walk for Life.  We will also have a number of opportunities for missions involvement for others-more details will be sent out this week in the daily email.  Saturday night will be a wonderful time with our Asia team as they present a worship concert similar to one of the many events they held in Asia this summer.  This would be a great event to invite your friends to join you.  Our Asia team will also be presenting an exciting report from their trip.

 

All weekend you will be learning about the new opportunities for you to be involved in missions this year.  There is something for EVERYBODY!

 

Make plans to be a part of all the events this weekend.  The schedule is printed below.

We hope to provide a nursery for all events, however, we are still having a hard time finding volunteers.  If you are willing to serve, please contact Kenny Lamm or Karen Shea.  Thanks!

September 19  Kathleen Evans, Jill McLelland, Carl Harkey, Drew Harris

 

September 20  Phillip Morrison, Christie Hill, Joshua Benfield

 

September 21  Cindy Kress, Wilma Gooden, Stephanie Roseman, David Rankin