Southern Baptists have sometimes been known for having a pugilistic spirit. The truth is that Baptist churches are made up of unique individuals with varying ideas and opinions and it is certainly true that no two Baptists are alike.

Someone reportedly asked Ruth Graham if she and her world renown husband, evangelist Billy Graham, were always in agreement. She replied, "Absolutely not! If two people always agree about everything, then one of them is unnecessary."

Even when the denomination has had differing views, there has been a common mission and a Cooperative Program binding Southern Baptists together.

 

Partnership building

Many Baptist state conventions and associations have developed partnerships which are paragons of cooperation and mutual helpfulness. Such is the case between Georgia's Mallary Baptist Association, Golden Spike Association in the Utah/Idaho Convention and Hudson Association in New York.

The Mallary Association has been involved in building shower trailers for the North American Mission Board since 1995 as a result of the need that arose during the 1994 flood in Albany.

Mike Gravette, Missions Volunteer specialist with the Georgia Baptist Convention, contacted Charles Freeman, Mission Service Corps volunteer with NAMB in Adult Mobilization (includes Disaster Relief) and indicated that the Golden Spike Association in Utah was in need of a shower trailer for their disaster relief work. Freeman, in consultation with Tom Hocutt, DOM for the Mallary Association and David Blackwell, the Associational Men's Ministry leader, decided to raise the funds, build the shower trailer and give it to the Golden Spike Association.

Hocutt explained that the GBC joined with the Mallary Association to provide the $17,000 necessary to purchase the trailer shell, equip it with six shower stalls, a washer and dryer and an instant hot water heater. The money also provided the means for a four-man team to transport the shower trailer to the Salt Lake City area and provide training for its operation and repair.

A dedication was held Aug. 4 at Mountain View Baptist Church in Layton, Utah. Mayors, law enforcement officers, emergency management personnel and firefighters were invited to attend. Hocutt presented the keys to the shower trailer to Gary McKean, Disaster Relief director of the Golden Spike Association and Mickey Porter, director of the association. The shower trailer became Unit #28 in the North American Mission Board's fleet of trailers.

Mickey Porter, director of Golden Spike Association, had received more than $6,000 from the sale of some land and wanted to apply that to the cost of the shower unit and offered to give that money to the Mallary Association to help defray the cost. Gravette told Porter to keep the money so that he would have some funds in hand for the operation of the trailer.

 

More needs, more giving

Meanwhile, Hocutt had also led his association into a partnership with an association in eastern New York and discovered their need for a shower unit.

Freeman had traveled to New York earlier with World Changers and had a shower unit with his team of workers at that time. Arrant saw the benefit of having such a unit available in time of need and mentioned that it would be a blessing if they could secure one for their own ministry in New York.

Freeman told Porter about Arrant's desire to have a shower unit and asked the Utah DOM, "Would you consider partnering with the Hudson Association in New York to help them get a shower trailer?"

Porter jumped at the chance to help another association in need and gave the $6,000 to the Mallary Association so they could have a shower trailer built for the folks in Albany, New York. When the trailer is ready for use he also wants to send a team of volunteers to help train the people in Albany in disaster relief work.

Gravette remarked, "Now we have the Mallary Association and the Golden Spike Association joined together to help the Hudson Association. That is a picture of what partnership missions is all about - not just doing projects, but building relationships and people helping people."