August 12, 2003
JEFFERSON CITY – The soldiers of Christ that Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Director David Clippard needs to establish Gospel beachheads in Iraq are – so far — coming from the east side of the state.
"The networking system is just going like a spider web here," said Steve Smith, a layman at First Baptist Church, Arnold, who is helping to fuel the Missouri Baptist/Iraq Partnership through Focus on Missions. "People that I’ve never, ever heard of are ready to go."
The MBC’s immediate goal is to send 50 workers to Iraq. As God raises up and solidifies this network both in and around St. Louis, half of the goal will be met, according to Roy Spannagel, MBC associate executive director.
"Steve’s team will be the first to go," Spannagel said.
That initial group of five is scheduled to leave Aug. 28, Smith said. Their mission will be to distribute food and to make it easier for future teams to minister in our Missouri Baptist target city of Mosul.
Smith said he is praying for a contact in Mosul who is either a new believer or inquisitive about Christianity.
"When I walk out of Iraq, I’m going to have a personal friend in Iraq, and it’s going to be an Iraqi, an indigenous person," he said.
Jim Nicolls, mission coordinator at First Baptist, Arnold, is scheduled to lead the second team, which will be ready to go in mid-September, Smith said. The heartbeat of First, Arnold, is on vivid display.
"I’m excited that we have people who are willing to go in there," said Gerald Davidson, pastor of First, Arnold, and a past president of the MBC. "We’re right in the middle of it (as a church). We’re endeavoring always to be steadfast with the gospel. We’re just trying to use the Acts 1:8 model."
Between now and Nov. 1, the immediate goal is to penetrate Iraq with five teams of five workers each. All indications are that this will take place.
"I think we’re good for five teams," Smith told Spannagel.
Five additional teams would mean that the MBC would achieve its overall goal of sending 50 short-term missionaries. Clippard established that number after he, Spannagel and Missouri Baptist pastors Ralph Sawyer and Jay Scribner got back from their June trip to Iraq.
The goal is to help distribute 46,000 boxes of food in Iraq along with sharing Christ, according to Spannagel and MBC President Monte Shinkle. Burdened to build on what the June delegation accomplished, Shinkle has called for the church he pastors, Concord Baptist in Jefferson City, to send a five-person team as well.
"I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to demonstrate our love of Christ to the Iraqi people," said Benny King, director of missions, St. Louis Metro Baptist Association. "We have such a small window. We really need to take advantage of that opportunity when we have it, and that it would spread."
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