By Annie Bird
The Hantsport Women’s Missionary Society hosted Association Mission Day on Oct. 27 for the Eastern Valley United Baptist Association (EVUBA). Meetings are now “all inclusive” - both men and women - thus the new name.
Led by Karen Wile of Kempt Association, the theme was “Missions: Right Here! Right Now!
Guest speaker was Rev. Cheryl Ann Beals, director of Spiritual Formation and Clergy Care, Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches.
Scriptures from John 17 verses 13, 14:Philippians 2 and Psalm 139 were references as she expressed the importance of individual spiritual growth. “The world needs to see God shining through us. A prerequisite for missions is to be aware of God in everything we do. Mission is not what we do, but what we are,” Beals said.
She noted that mission started when God sent Jesus into the world as a servant. Mission is all about relationship as Jesus is to the Father. Mission is individual commitment, collective commitment. She concluded with the challenge: “Baptists of this Association I want to see you fired up and willing.”
Four workshops provided insight into some local missions. Past-president EVWMS Betty Parker noted the fall project is helping Acadia Divinity students by giving gift certificates. Kingswood Camp is an important outreach mission: last year, the various WMS groups raised over $17,000 with a penny drive toassist sending children to Kingswood. Personal items for Open Arms,a street ministry, were provided.
Baby items were sent to the pregnancy center. Previously, over 1,000 homemade and new blankets were donated to Cape Breton, where Dianne Friesen is a missionary. This was to, in a small way, make amends for when settlers came over there and gave the natives blankets which, unknown to them, were infested with small pox germs.
The 2011 Census shows Baptists make up 38 per cent of denominations in Kings County.
Beals emphasized, “Life has to be handled with God.”
