Idaho partnership nearing end, relationships will last forever

J. Gerald HarrisIndex

Lasting relationships – John McClung, left, director of missions for the Gideon and Utah associations, walks down the main street of Beaver, Utah, with brothers Jim, center, and Richard Ballard. Richard Ballard is pastor of First Church of Cedar City, Utah and is planting a church in Beaver.

The Mission partnership between the Georgia and Utah/Idaho Conventions is quickly moving toward its conclusion. A few more months and the official partnership will end, but wonderful relationships have been established between individuals and churches across the broad expanse between the two conventions.

One such relationship that seems destined to last is the one between New Life Baptist Church in Adel and Fillmore Baptist Church in Fillmore, Utah. In 2001 members at New Life learned about the needs in Utah at a Valdosta Baptist Associational meeting and decided to work on the Fillmore project. In June of the same year 14 people from the Adel church traveled across the country to build a new church sanctuary to replace the mobile home the Fillmore church was using.

Responding to the call

This spring a team of 20 mission volunteers returned to Fillmore to respond to the plaintive appeal of Color Country Associational Missionary Jim Ballard, who issued a call for help in building Sunday School space. The team that responded to Ballard’s plea consisted of 16 people from the New Life church, two from McDonald Baptist Church in Sylvania and two from Morrison Baptist Church in Morrison, Fla.

Sherri Brown

Outreach with children and teens – Bryan Janney, left, from First Church, Sylvania, and Kevin Wade, youth minister from Pauline Church, Morven, help children make origami frames at Heber Valley Church in Utah. For most of their mission trip the Georgia team worked with teenagers.

The people in Fillmore prepared well for the arrival of the Georgia mission team by pouring the foundation for the proposed building. The team started the construction process on Monday, May 9 and by three o’clock on Saturday afternoon the exterior of the building was finished including all the electrical wiring and plumbing. Furthermore, the team from Adel finished hanging all the sheetrock in the 800-square-foot building during the same time period.

Each night after a long day of arduous toil the workers from Georgia and members of the Fillmore church would gather for worship. Members of the mission team would tell about their walk with Christ and Ballard preached twice. All agreed it was a wonderful time of worship and praise.

Fillmore is a town of 2,500 comprised mostly of Hispanics, American Indians and Caucasians, many of whom are devoted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The need for an evangelical witness in Fillmore is great and the potential for the church is excellent.

Continuing to help

There are hundreds of towns in Utah without an evangelical church and there is a constant need for pastors and church starters. Every Sunday Jim Ballard preaches in Fillmore at 11 a.m. and drives almost 150 miles in order to preach in the 4:00 worship service in Milford.

Kay Meeler

Building a partnership – Volunteers from New Life Church in Adel and McDonald Church in Sylvania work together in adding on space for Sunday School rooms and a fellowship area in Fillmore, Utah.

Larry Corbett, a mission volunteer from New Life Church, says, “Right now there are 45 small towns in Jim Ballard’s association that do not have one evangelical church. Some of these towns are twice the size of Fillmore. Brother Jim is truly called of God, and I believe in his dream and agree that strong churches should assist the churches in Utah and Idaho.”

Corbett also applauds his pastor, Stanley Hendricks, saying, “Our church has backed this missions project 100 percent in time, talents and money. Our pastor has greatly encouraged us to be on mission for Christ.”

The New Life church is going back this summer to lead in Vacation Bible School for both children and adults in Fillmore. Corbett adds, “I hope we will be going back whenever we are needed to do whatever is needed in the future. We have so much here in the Bible Belt and take so much for granted. The fields are so white unto harvest in Utah and the laborers and resources so few.”

BP

Reflecting the Savior – An illuminated cross in southwestern Utah reflects the light sent forth by Red Hills Southern Baptist Church locally and, through CP Missions, across the globe.

Ryan Adolfson

Youthful energy put into action – Eight-year-old Mitchell Adolphson from Beech Haven Baptist Church in Athens joins in on gathering firewood in Utah. The wood was eventually be used to heat the parsonage and church of First Baptist Cedar City, Utah. The trip was the second for Adolphson, who also went to Utah when he was six.

Ryan Adolfson

All ages pitching in – Marion Ivey, Jr., a private contractor and member of Beech Haven Church in Athens, rebuilds stairs to the parsonage of Cedar City First Baptist Church in Utah. Ivey is a deacon for Beech Haven Baptist Church, where he also teaches Sunday School.

Ryan Adolfson

Backyard Bible Club – Members of Beech Haven Baptist Church in Athens serve refreshments at a Backyard Bible Club at Cedar City Park Discovery in Cedar City, Utah.

J. Gerald HarrisIndex