Events connecting churches and missionaries for more ministry

Andy Perryman didn't get to dye his hair pink, but he's not complaining.

Perryman is associational missionary for Mt. Vernon Association, where all but one church participated in the first ever Better Bridges Celebration held in Wrightsville. Perryman had promised to dye his hair pink if 300 people showed up at the missions fair, held as a part of the Better Bridges Celebration. The association missed the mark by only a few dozen.

"I'm pleased," Perryman said. "I'm hoping this weekend will be a catalyst to pull folks together."

Better Bridges Celebrations are held across the state to introduce state missionaries to local congregations.

Sherri Brown

Sue Rother, left, GBC consultant for Sunday School/Open Group ministries, talks with a participant at the Mt. Vernon association missions fair. Rother was one of about a dozen GBC ministry representatives at the fair, held along with a Better Bridges Celebration.

"This is one of the most important ways we can tell the local church the Cooperative Program story," said Allen Hill, GBC specialist for Cooperative Program, stewardship and state missions development.

At an associational Better Bridges Celebration, state missionaries speak in every church that requests a missionary.

"It's an emphasis on state missions and how the Coooperative Program works. Many times it's the first time a church has had a state missionary speak," Hill said.

Some associations, like Mt. Vernon, choose to coordinate a missions fair along with the celebration. The Mt. Vernon event was held on a warm March Saturday at the local high school. It included a children's activity room, youth rally, a free lunch prepared and served by disaster relief volunteers, and a "fair" that included more than a dozen GBC missionaries.

"This has been great. It's such a blessing. We're so proud to have everyone here and it's great to have our questions answered," said Mike Jones, pastor of Jackson Church in Davisboro.

Jones' wife, Rusti, found ministry opportunities as well. "We're getting involved," she said.

The event was a first for the association. A steering committee of 13 planned the event for about a year.

"This kind of event strengthens the local association," Hill said. "It can be one of the few times an association comes together for an event. This was a great job mobilizing the people (in Mt. Vernon association)."

Sherri Brown

A doll display represented several countries where Southern Baptist missionaries serve. The display was in the children’s activity area during the missions fair.