Providing transportation for Southern Baptist heroes

On furlough from Peru, Mike and Kathy Weaver stand with their granddaughter as they are picked up at the Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. MCG/Special

MCDONOUGH — The Macedonian Call of Georgia is dedicated to assisting Southern Baptist heroes – our missionaries – with transportation needs when they return home.         

Missionaries generally sell, dispose of, or store their worldly possessions when they go to the mission field. So, when they return on furlough they need transportation so they can drive to Walmart to purchase needed items, run errands, and travel to churches where they tell the story of God’s work on some international mission field.

Macedonian Call of Georgia, which was founded in 1989, operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to serving fellow believers who are carrying the Gospel of Christ to a lost world.

Curtis Scott, a lay leader at Salem Baptist Church in McDonough who is also devoted to the ministry of Macedonian Call of Georgia, recently explained, “The ministry began with a dream of former Westinghouse executive Ed Price, who had a vision of providing every furloughing Southern Baptist missionary with an automobile to utilize while stateside.

“Price’s dream became a reality when Dr. Eugene Dailey, who was the state Brotherhood director at the time, brought several businessmen together to discuss how they could become involved in missions. Ed Price, Bill Beshears, and Bill Rhodes spearheaded this ‘dream.’

“Rev. Harvey Kneisel, the founder of Macedonian Call of Texas, provided valuable assistance for the formation of the organization. Under Dr. Dailey and Dr. James Griffin, who was the executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention at that time, much oversight and support was given and the ‘dream’ began to take on substance.”

Wendell, Elizabeth, Josha, and Carrie Webb, currently on medical leave, are assigned to serve in Germany for 16 years. Carrie is the daughter of author and speaker Henry Blackaby. MCG/Special

Since its founding Macedonian Call has provided approximately 3,000 missionaries and their families with stateside transportation. For the most part Macedonian Call provides vehicles for missionaries furloughed in eight southeastern states. “Missionary medical emergencies always receive preferential treatment,” Scott specified.

One missionary couple testified, "We have been so blessed to utilize one of the MCG vehicles over the past 15 years whenever we return stateside on furlough. Every time we are preparing to head stateside, we know we can count on MCG to provide a nice vehicle for our family. We love the friendly and  helpful volunteers that go above and beyond to meet us at the airport, assist with our many pieces of luggage, and ensure we have everything we need in a great van for our large family of five."

Another testimony came from a missionary couple serving in North Africa and the Middle East. They remarked, "Thank you MCG for the generous ministry of providing vehicles to those who serve the Lord overseas. We certainly enjoyed the vehicle you provided for us while stateside. Also, we appreciated the most accommodating volunteer who picked us up at the airport and took us to get something to eat as we arrived very late at night. God bless MCG!"

A third couple commented, "We have been using one of MCG's vehicles for several months. It's a 2008 Hyundai – very nice and roomy for family of five! We are most appreciative! As you know, reliable and accessible transportation that's affordable is a huge concern for furloughing missionaries returning to the states. Thank God and you, MCG, for making this possible for our family!"

Scott explained, “Vehicles are assigned based on the application process on the MCG website. Dates needed and vehicle availability are taken into consideration with each request. Another consideration is the length of the missionaries’ furlough, because some vehicles may need to be available for a longer period of time.

“Currently, we have a fleet of 41 vehicles, all of which are assigned during Thanksgiving and Christmas and at the beginning of the summer as missionaries come stateside on furlough. At other times we may have several vehicles available for assignment.”

As you read this, you need to know that all kinds of vehicles qualify for donations. Those that are not considered ‘roadworthy,' as determined by the ministries’ volunteer Fleet Service Manager, are sold to help defray vehicle maintenance costs and insurance expenses.

Macedonian Call of Georgia could not exist without the continued support of so many faithful believers who donate vehicles and/or give financial support. Many churches include MCG as a part of their church budget. To make a donation go to www.macedoniancallga.net and contact the listed volunteers.