By Rhonda Arnold (New Day Baptist Church - Alexandria, IN) -
On Saturday, August 17th, 147 registered participants, including 30 children from 26 churches around the state, gathered for “Let the Nations Be Glad” (Psalm 67:4), a Missions Lifeline event at Calvary Baptist Church in Greenwood, Indiana. Indiana WMU representatives, in collaboration with the International Mission Board, planned a day of learning about local international churches, missional work, and serving other countries and cultures from around the world.
The event began with prayer in Korean by Jung OK Kwan from New Hope Korean Baptist Church (Carmel, IN). Worship was led by Pastor Daniel Rodas from Iglesia Bautista Gracia y Verdad, a Hispanic church plant in Indianapolis. Under Pastor Rodas’ direction, the sanctuary soon filled with praise and worship in both English and Spanish. Attendees were then graced by Dr. Reginald Fletcher from Living Word Baptist Church (Indianapolis), who shared how his church serves its community in three ways: first, by building community; second, by supporting mental and physical wellness through their programs and community partnerships; and third, by housing the homeless. His insights prompted those present to consider ways they could help their local communities, resulting in an interactive Q&A session. The morning ended with a prayer over lunch given by Haitian Pastor John Pierre from Warren Baptist Church (Warren, IN).

Fun and education certainly went hand in hand during the Serving of the Nations prior to lunch. Tables representing Hispanic, Indian, Korean, African American, Chinese, and Cuban cultures, along with the IMB, Disaster Relief, and Campers for Christ, showcased how these churches and ministries serve different cultures, either locally or through mission work in other countries. Samples of food from various countries were provided, allowing attendees to experience the wonderful tastes of the world! Those manning the tables were informative, friendly, and eager to share.

The day closed with Mr. Mark Thrall sharing the multitude of IMB educational resources available to help prepare for missions. He encouraged everyone to support missions and emphasized why it is so important for Christians to share the Gospel of Christ with others worldwide. Worship was led once again in English and Spanish by Pastor Daniel Rodas and concluded with a choir singing the song “Majesty” in Korean from New Hope Korean Baptist Church! The event ended with a Spanish prayer of blessing from Pastor Gustavo Vasquez of Calvary Baptist Church (Seymour, IN).

Overall, the day was fun, educational, and inspiring for all. Experiencing worship in other cultures was uplifting and eye-opening, revealing how God is moving all over the world. It was just a glimpse of how glorious Heaven will be when we look across the rejoicing multitude from all over the world! (Revelation 7:9-10)

Thank you to the Missions Lifeline planning team, consisting of Indiana WMU President Chris Conrades, Vice President Tami Hubler, Recording Secretary Leah Pratt, and Associational Directors Elizabeth Morris, Nancy Bennett, and Mark Thrall (IMB), for all their hard work in planning and arranging this event. The team is also grateful to the SCBI for their financial support. Last but not least, this event could not have taken place without the generosity of Calvary Baptist Church Greenwood, which hosted the event. Of course, the event would not have been heard without Calvary’s Pastor, David Cook, running the sound system.