September 19, 2024
DALTON, Ga. — One of the most meaningful and impactful experiences a Christian can have is volunteering for a mission project, whether overseas or in the United States. Thankfully hundreds of Georgia Baptist churches plan, organize and often even provide the funds for their members to have a hands-on mission experience.
In July, Salem Baptist Church in Dalton commissioned 36 members to be on mission in Elkhorn City, Kentucky. They were privileged to serve alongside Pastor Michael Richey at Marrowbone Baptist Church in Pike County near the Kentucky/Virginia border.
Tony Boswell, the missions pastor at Salem, explained how he discovered the needs of the church and the community that were the focus of their mission endeavors. “Our association had conducted an annual backpack drive to take to the Fredda Harris Outreach Center, an entity of the local Baptist association and Kentucky Baptist Convention, in Elkhorn City,” he said.
“As Salem’s new missions pastor,” Boswell continued, “I wanted to reach out to all our partners to see how we could continue and/or strengthen our partnerships. I asked the interim director, Pastor Richey, what we could do to further serve the community. As a result of that conversation and much prayer, our mission trip began to materialize.”
Boswell discovered that Elkhorn City was experiencing an economic decline due to the local coal mining industry almost being completely shut down resulting in poverty, depression, and even substance abuse.
Boswell divided the work up into three specialized mission projects: a construction team, a Vacation Bible School team, and an evangelism team.
The construction team had a multiplicity of jobs to do including:
“The Vacation Bible School was amazing,” explained Boswell. “This was the first VBS held at the Marrowbone church in seven years. We had an average of 40 children. Five people were saved that week, two of them were teenagers who were in the Vacation Bible School.”
The evangelism team working with the VBS team knocked on 160 doors in one apartment complex. The purpose was to invite children to Vacation Bible School and share the Gospel with anyone who would listen.
Boswell testified, “One visit with a gentleman by the name of Scotty was particularly memorable. He was standing outside one of the apartments as we were walking up to the front door. We struck up a conversation that quickly turned into a witnessing opportunity.
“As we shared the Gospel,” Boswell added, “he began to weep as he told us about his life journey. When we asked him at the end of his story if he would like to receive Christ, through his tears, he said, ‘Yes, I really would’. It was a divine appointment.”
Mission trips for church groups generally accomplish at least three things. First, it has an impact on the church and community that is visited. Second, it also affects the mission volunteers and draws them closer to the Lord. Third, it brings a sense of fulfillment to the staff or lay organizer and ultimately touches the whole body of the sending church.
Boswell confirmed that truth, declaring, “That was true for us. We saw Pastor Richey and his wife greatly encouraged, the church strengthened, and the community engaged with the gospel.”
Not losing sight of the purpose of the trip, he added, “Certainly, the salvation of five souls was the most significant outcome.”
Boswell explained how the mission impacted the team itself as well. “It resulted in our mission team being drawn closer together,” he said. “I saw timid teenagers grow into evangelists before my very eyes. It was the first mission trip for many of our team members and gave them a new perspective on being an ‘on mission’ Christian. I believe it breathed a new wind into their lungs for service and missions both at home and abroad.”
Though he has “ had the honor of being a witness for King Jesus for over 20 years,” and participated in many mission trips, Boswell said he was “particularly blessed to see this team from Salem experience what it means to obey the Great Commission. “
“Obeying the command to go and make disciples is my passion,” Boswell concluded, “and seeing others do that brings me even greater satisfaction.”
