November 24, 1999
Partnership volunteers' aid called essential
___By Orville Scott
___Texas Baptist Communications
___EL PASO--The Texas Partnerships volunteer team that had the greatest success in reaching people for Christ in Germany this year had fantastic prayer support from their home church, the volunteer coordinator for partnerships in Germany told about 500 people at a breakfast meeting Nov 9.
___Steve Brubaker, pastor of a German Baptist church, urged volunteers to share their faith through partnerships in Germany, where he said Christianity once flourished but now is "a hollow shell."
___In Germany, where there are about 900 Baptist churches with a total of 80,000 members, Baptists are generally considered a cult, he said.
___Despite most Germans' apparent lack of interest in Jesus Christ, friendship and love will soften their hearts to receive the gospel, Brubaker said. Therefore, partnership volunteers are vital, he added.
___Ken Lyle, executive director of the New England Baptist Convention, urged volunteers to participate in "Impact Northeast," in which Texas Baptists and volunteers from several other states will join hands to share the gospel.
___Besides their partnership with German Baptists, Texas Baptists have a partnership with Australia Baptists, who say Texas Baptists helped them turn the tide when they were losing ground, said Joe Bruce, associate in the Texas Partnerships office. Volunteers are needed July 12-25 to serve in 25 Australian Baptist churches, he added.
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