Partnerships: Giving and Taking

Partnerships: Giving and Taking
We are all about partnerships here in the Baptist Convention of New York. We are currently aware of partnerships with Mississippi Baptists, Appalachian Regional Ministry, Conservatives of Texas, Georgia Baptists, Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands and many others. These partnerships are often misunderstood as being only receiving. Some critics have even suggested that this is spiritual welfare, since we are always receiving but never giving away our own time, talents, and treasures to see others come to Christ. It has been my experience that when you welcome teams into your church’s ministry, you should encourage your people to work alongside them. Later during the days as they work together, they will undoubtedly express to their guests their amazement that these folk took vacation, paid their own way, in many cases bought materials, and came to help someone they did not even know before. But the desired outcome is that your people catch a vision and see that they too can do this. Today I wish to highlight one of our church planters on Long Island who gets this principle completely. Here is the email I recently received:

We just finished off a fantastic week at our Kidz Camp. We really had the chance to get to know some children and their families throughout this week. There were 52 children who participated in the week, and over 100 people came to our Family Night last night.
I had several parents stop and talk to me, letting me know that this past week was really important to them. They were grateful and appreciative for all that took place throughout the week.
We are grateful as well. We had a great group of students from First Baptist Church of The Woodlands, Texas who came to Long Island to help us with all aspects of our Kidz Camp. There were 28 of them altogether and they served with great hearts and attitudes.
We are also appreciative for those at Crossroads who gave of their time and efforts this week to make this happen. We had a great team of adults from Crossroads to make certain everything ran smoothly. From registration to Family Night, the Kidz Camp was terrific and a whole lot of fun.
Yet, we are completely aware that God blessed us with this amazing week. It was God who provided everything that was needed. It was God that was honored by the efforts that were given this week. I truly felt His presence throughout the week at our Kidz Camp.
Now that this week has past, we are taking our Kidz Camp on the road! I have a friend who is a pastor (some of you may remember Pastor Alan Braun) in Vancouver, British Columbia. I spoke to him a few months ago, and he let me know that they had cancelled their Vacation Bible School because they did not have enough leaders at their church to make it happen.
I told him that I thought that we could bring a team to help lead their Vacation Bible School. They "uncancelled" their Vacation Bible School, and, as of yesterday, there were 93 children sign up to participate in the week!
So, today, there are 11 of us flying to Seattle. Tomorrow, we will be driving into Vancouver. Our team includes me, Jenna, Madison, Emma, Avery, Luis and Jessica Rivera, Fred and his daughter Hannah Zwikelmaier, Jana Jenkins, and Lonnie McLaughlin.
I would appreciate your prayers for us as we travel and lead this week. I really believe that God has provided us with an opportunity to make His name known and to serve this church and community in Vancouver.
At Crossroads, we have been the recipients of close to 20 mission teams over the last two years. God has blessed us by sending each and every group to help with some facet of our ministry here at Crossroads. We know that every contribution has led us to be able to try and accomplish our mission to reach out to people in our community.
Now, God has given us this opportunity to serve this community in Vancouver, where it is estimated that less than 3% of population would consider themselves to be an evangelical Christian.
Pray for us. I will be updating my blog each day that we are gone, starting tomorrow. I would like to keep you posted on things so that you can pray specifically for what is taking place.

Your prayers and support mean so much.

Sterling Edwards
Lead Pastor
Crossroads Church of Long Island
610 Carmans Road
Farmingdale, New York 11735
(516) 249-0110
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