July 17, 2000
Family missions called hope for the future
___By Mark Wingfield
___Managing Editor
___GLORIETA, N.M.--Involving families in volunteer missions may be the secret to ensuring a strong Baptist missionary force in the future, according to Sonny and Cindy Spurger.
___Not only will good ministry result, but children will learn about missions through first-hand experience and will grow into more missions-minded adults, they suggested.
___Already, 1,200 Texans are serving as volunteer missionaries through a structured program called Mission Service Corps, the Spurgers reported. About 125 of those serve outside Texas, while the remainder serve inside Texas.
___Nationwide, Mission Service Corps volunteers who have completed two years or more of service account for one-third of the missionaries counted by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. And about half those volunteer missionaries are Texans.
___Contrary to popular conceptions, Texans involved in volunteer missions aren't just retirees, the Spurgers said. Only 33 percent of Texas Mission Service Corps volunteers are 65 or older, while 48 percent are between the ages of 35 and 64. Another 19 percent are younger than 35.
___Mission Service Corps is just one of many ways Texans may get involved in volunteer missions, the Spurgers said. While this program is designed for volunteers willing to commit from four months to two years to specific projects, other opportunities exist for one-time projects, neighborhood ministries and vacation-time service.
___Many of the shortest-term opportunities are routed through Texas Partnerships, which sends volunteer teams year-round on mission trips. These opportunities exist both within the United States and abroad.
___Likewise, there are many opportunities for Texas families to participate in the BGCT's River Ministry along the Rio Grande. A complete list of needs and opportunities may be found online at www.bgct.org/river-ministry.
___Missions service is defined as "finding and filling a need with God's love," the Spurgers said.
___"The best way to teach missions to your child is to get them involved, to help them learn it as a lifestyle," Spurger said.
___Missions involvement provides families with quality time together, productive time, a teaching time, a loving time, a memory time and a fun time, the Spurgers said in their presentation.
___One way to get started is to take a family inventory, they suggested. Determine what are the family's gifts, priorities and goals. Then find ways to match those gifts and goals with missions opportunities.
___For additional resources for family involvement in volunteer missions, contact the BGCT at (214) 828-5290.
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