Is Blacknall a “sending church” for International Ministries? You might have doubts if you look for a formalized program of training and sending out workers to the spiritual harvest fields around the world. Yet, even though the “cultivation” efforts have been modest, humanly speaking, Blacknall has been blessed to have a “crop” of its members go out into all the world, witnessing to the good news of Jesus as they serve others. Of the 18 units supported by Blacknall on a long-term basis through prayer and, in some cases, financial support, many are or have been Blacknall members. Plus, there are those who go out from among us for short terms ranging from a week to a few years. These are not the only Blacknall “alumni” in international service, but these are the ones we keep most connected to. As those among us leave, they do not go out alone. Supported by our prayers and other support, they go out as an extension of our congregation. We send them out and go with them.

Bible Translation

Ed and Aretta Loving: Directing the Language and Translation Department of Wycliffe in Waxhaw, N.C.

Judy and Ken Hollingsworth: Bible translation for the Mofu people of Cameroon

Woody and Mary McLendon: serving Wycliffe translators by providing computer services in Waxhaw, N.C.

Dick and Nancy Baggé: serving as a counselor among Wycliffe missionaries in Kenya

Evangelism and Church Planting

Mya (Smith) Clarke: discipling and training missionary apprentices in Ireland

David and Erin Pervis: church planting and teaching English in Bulgaria

Jonathan and Rocio Mikes: church planting and enabling short term mission trips, Mexico City

Education

Kevin and JD Bartkovich: Headmaster of Christ School, a secondary school for the people of Bundibugyo District, Uganda

Annette George: teaching music and music therapy at Payap University, Thailand

Tom and Judy Harvey: teaching at Trinity Theological College, Singapore

Fraser and Liz Bennett: developing training programs for Wycliffe Bible Translator recruits

Rollin and Wendy Grams: teaching at Prague International Baptist Seminary and Oxford Center for Mission Studies and preparing SIM missionaries for life and service, Charlotte, NC

Rich and Barb Leary: Director of a program to teach Christian values to high school students, Ukraine

Medicine and Community Development

Bev and Chuck Truxton: providing medical services and counseling HIV AIDS patients in Evangel Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

Lynn Vander Woude Aho: providing primary health care and discipleship training in Tonga

Karen Mülle: teaching Bible and counseling students in a Christian School in Lebanon

Remember these persons in your personal prayers as they serve in Jesus’ name through their various vocations. If you would like to become less private and more corporate in your participation, consider joining the International Ministries Team. This group meets monthly to deal with an assortment of business issues and to pray regularly for international ministries. Joining the Team is not the only way you can participate. There are many opportunities from attending missions conferences to going on a short-term trip to Haiti or elsewhere. Even without going abroad, spending time with Internationals living in the Triangle shows us that at our own doorsteps are the “fields” of the world.