May 2020
- MISSION MOMENT
- I have been concerned about our missionaries throughout the world, especially how they are handling the Covid-19 Pandemic.
- Here are excerpts from some of their newsletters:.
Katherine Niles serves with her husband, Wayne Niles, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. One of her responsibilities is coordinating "White Cross" and support for the Network of Baptist Hospitals and Health Centers in the Congo. When the Covid-19 virus came, the health centers needed more masks. Katherine writes, “Thanks to White Cross we have an ample supply of masks. So this week I prepared parcels of additional masks to send to other Baptist hospitals. Handmade cloth masks connect Congolese medical providers with women living thousands of miles away who took their time to make them.”
Bill Clemmer is a medical missionary serving with his wife, Ann, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bill has been involved in eradicating the Ebola virus and thought it was eradicated, until the virus took the life of a patient on Good Friday. Ann writes, “With the expansion of Covid-19 into eastern Congo, we had already made up our minds to stay and battle Covid-19. But now it looks like we will be facing both viruses at the same time, and with so much uncertainty about both of them. But we, as do our colleagues here, know that "God is in control.”
Glen and Rita Chapman serve in Kikongo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their letter says, "An ordination service for nine pastors serving in various village churches that had been planned for March 22 was canceled. The pastors had been Glen's students at the seminary in Kikongo. Three days before the scheduled ordination service, the government closed all church services and prohibited gatherings of more than 20 people due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The pastors to be ordained were told they needed to gather for prayer early Sunday morning. At 5:45 A.M., the nine pastors and their wives met at the chapel but did not go in. Instead, they held a meaningful ordination ceremony that was necessarily abbreviated and secretive."
Corenne and Philip Smith serve in Brazil in a residential program that rescues homeless boys from ages 8 to 18. Many of the boys have been addicted to drugs. In March, Corenne had returned to Brazil, but Philip and their two children were in Indiana, unable to return to Brazil. Then, beginning on March 19, Correne was in "lockdown" with the front gates literally locked. Fortunately, there was a month’s supply of food. And with most of the staff confined at home, the remaining staff members are doing double-duty or even triple-duty cooking, cleaning, and other necessary tasks.
Jon and Amanda Good serve in Debrecen, Hungary. Because of the Covid-19 Virus, they have been asked to stay at home, except to get food or medicine. They write, “Life and mission creatively continue. Ministry has moved online. Our first Facebook Live Bible study event reached over 100 people."
Anita and Rick Gutierrez are family doctors serving in South Africa. They train and equip “Health Builders” to combat lifestyle-related diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, high blood pressure, heart and artery disease, diabetes, and malaria. Currently, the Gutierrez’ are preparing for conferences and producing videos for use in their ministry.