The Guatemalan Partnership—A Gift to the Baptists of Missouri
by James L. Hill, Churchnet Executive Director
Nine years ago we launched our mission partnership with the Convention of Baptist Churches in Guatemala. The following year in January of 2007, Gary Snowden and I helped lead the first in a series of regional Training Events. That year at our Missions Banquet, our members and guests helped to raised funds for the partnership including computers, internet access, and classroom equipment for the Guatemalan Seminary, and bicycles for pastors.
As we developed our partnership, we sought to build our relationships with Guatemalan Baptists based upon their felt needs. The convention leadership invited us to partner with a group of churches in the western part of the country. The area centered in the city of Quetzaltenango. Because the area was more isolated, the churches had not experienced the benefit of some earlier partnership groups. They indicated the need for training opportunities for pastors and church leaders.
For nine years, Churchnet leaders and volunteers have been traveling to Guatemala to help lead regional training events in Quetzaltenango. The events have continued to grow and expand to more than 90 participants. Sometimes there has been a separate event for women. The topics for the training sessions have been jointly developed as we have sought to address the real needs of the churches.
In addition to these regional training events, several Missouri congregations have sent groups to partner with local congregations for evangelism and ministry efforts. It has been incredibly exciting to hear the reports and see how God has used the partnership to meet needs in Guatemala and to impact congregations across our state. Several times during our partnership we have been able to host Guatemalan leaders at our Annual Missions Banquet or our Annual Gathering so Churchnet leaders and members could receive first-hand reports on the work.
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