ATLIXCO, Puebla, Mexico— It’s not a mission trip. It’s a partnership.
“We’re not randomly going into different parts of the world on a fly-by mission,” said Fred Broome, pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Washington (FBC), a growing church located 50 miles west of St. Louis. “Our goal is to be a resource and a partner and help them in any way we can.”
Broome and a team of seven from FBC recently returned from their third visit to Atlixco, Mexico, a city in the Mexican state of Puebla. FBC has been in partnership with Rios de Agua Viva (Rivers of Living Water) Church here with Pastor Mario Rimirez for the last year and a half.
“Every time we come our relationships get stronger and, with the help of social media, we are able to keep in touch with everyone in between trips,” Broome said.
He said it has been great to be able to witness the spiritual growth of Rios de Agua Viva church members. For example, during their trip here in September 2013, they encouraged a new believer, Marciano, to become more involved in the church.
“Now, just a year and a half later, Marciano insisted on having us over for breakfast, and we even got to listen while his daughter quoted an entire chapter of the New Testament,” Broome said.
Ranging in age from their middle 70s to Broome’s 9-year-old son, 14 different FBC church members have gone to Atlixco since the partnership started.
During their most recent trip, two individuals on their team persisted through health difficulties. One of the men on the team has muscular dystrophy and another had knee replacement surgery just four weeks prior to leaving.
“By God’s strength these men were able to fully participate on the trip and (each) had life-changing experiences,” Broome said. “While many might think they are unable to go and that health or age is a limiting factor, Faith Baptist has proven otherwise. No matter how young or old the person, there is room for them on the mission field of Mexico.”
And as the team journeyed from house to house sharing the gospel, they saw 16 people saved. Because of the lives changed both in Mexico and inside his church, Broome encourages every church in Missouri to partner internationally.
“No matter the size of your church, you can go,” he said. “The church plants that are working down there can’t really facilitate more than eight people or so or it becomes overwhelming. You don’t have to navigate the partnership or even worry about the nuts and bolts. Rick Hedger is the man to connect you. Give him a call.”
For more information about how to partner with Puebla, Mexico, contact Rick Hedger, Missouri Baptist Convention Partnership Missions Strategist at 573-636-0400 ext. 316 or 800-736-6227 ext. 316 or rhedger@mobaptist.org.