ZAMBIA – (A team of women from Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri and Virginia worked with ongoing ministries and caught a vision of how their own Southern Baptist churches can develop a closer partnership with the IMB. Sabrina Patterson, wife to Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) Exec-Dir Tim Patterson, was part of this mission trip. Here are some of her posts from Facebook and her thoughts since returning.)
“To be honest, I wasn't real sure what to expect. We knew we were going to be ministering to various groups of people, but we kept hearing...be flexible and be ready for anything, including singing. I am a planner and I can be flexible to some extent as long as I have an idea of what might be expected of me.”
“Our first day in Zambia was ministering to the area pastor’s wives. We were there to encourage them in the walk where God had called them, but as usual, they were just as encouraging to us. Once again, we saw the Holy Spirit at work with who He paired us up with. One of the pastor's wives had recently had a miscarriage and the one so divinely put with her had had a miscarriage herself.
God was able to minister to that sweet Pastor Wife through another Pastor Wife that lived halfway across the World. The Pastor Wife that was divinely appointed for me to pray with was a wife struggling with retirement coming up and all that goes with that. I was able to walk with her through her fears as I had those very fears and God had shown himself faithful over and over in my life. We not only cried and prayed with these pastor wives, but we also laughed with them which can mean just as much as crying with someone. I always say, "laughter is medicine for the soul."
“One of the joys and highlights of this trip for me was seeing the Holy Spirit work in each and every woman that went on this trip. He knit us all together for a showing of His power instead of anything we could have planned for. I know for me, as I am sure everyone else will testify to the same, when I opened my mouth to speak about Jesus' love for each of them and how He loved them so much He made a way for them to spend eternity with Him, it wasn't me speaking and I felt His presence every time.”
“We did much more than these few things I touched on. We ate fantastic foods, met remarkable people from every walk of life, saw wild African animals and I even rode in an Airlight aircraft, which was basically a Motorcycle with wings and a small engine on the back, but my take away from this IMB Vision Trip is how well our missionaries are doing ministry all over the world because of everyday people like You cooperating together in our giving to Missions. I know you hear this all the time, but We are better together and that definitely includes our supporting missions through the IMB and NAMB.”
Aug 14 Facebook
“I want to convey to you the great sacrifice that each family gives when they choose to share the gospel in another country. I want to encourage each of you to continue supporting these families through your prayers and through your support to the Cooperative Program. Every time you give, you are allowing a family to live among other people groups without financial worries, you are also giving to have Bibles placed in the hands of many who would never have a Bible, and you are supporting Bible training for the pastors. Most of all, what you're giving is bringing people to know Christ because someone is living among them telling them about His wonderful saving Grace. Thank You Michigan Baptists for all you do to further the Kingdom.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sabrina is the wife of Tim Patterson, Executive Director of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. My greatest accomplishment is being the mother of my two sons, Micah and Aaron, and the mother in law to my two daughters in law and the proud Grammie/GeeGee to my five grandgirls. My heart’s desire in ministry is to see women of all ages fall in love with spending time with God and His Word.
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