January 20, 2003

LAURA GARNER (left) shows a New Testament to an orphan in Moldova. A volunteer (right) places new boots and socks on a child. They were part of a group from First Baptist Church of Kingwood in cooperation with Baptist Child & Family Services of San Antonio. The project focused on orphanages in the nation described as Europe's poorest. In addition to receiving new socks and shoes, each orphan also was given a New Testament. Baptist Child & Family Services is an agency of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and receives funding through the BGCT Cooperative Program.

FEET OF FAITH:
Kingwood church delivers aid to Moldova
___Members of First Baptist Church of Kingwood put feet to their faith last month.
___Working with Baptist Child & Family Services, a team from the Southeast Texas church traveled to Moldova. There, they helped place new socks and winter boots on the feet of 4,500 orphan children and institutionalized adults in 24 orphanages and two adult facilities.
___The Texans joined volunteers from Alabama, North Carolina and Pennsylvania in working through Children's Emergency Relief International, a division of Baptist Child & Family Services.
___Based in San Antonio, Baptist Child & Family Services is an agency of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and receives major funding through the BGCT Cooperative Program.
___Throughout the year, Children's Emergency Re lief International seeks to provide financial sponsorship for children in Moldova.
___"We wanted our mission trip to reflect a model that would magnify the ongoing ministries of the local churches rather than our own efforts," said Dearing Garner, pastor of First Baptist Church of Kingwood and coordinator of the mission team. "Our mission was conducted in partnership with Moldovan churches so that they would receive all the credit for relieving some of the nation's suffering. Such alliances create goodwill for local churches as well as open the door for ongoing ministry and mentoring by their congregations."
___The winter boots were purchased entirely from two factories in Moldova as a means of providing economic stimulation to the desperately poor country, Garner added. "By putting the bulk of our resources directly into the local economy, we feel we are helping families keep their jobs and stay intact."
___This was the fourth local mission to deliver boots and socks to Moldova since 1999. Several groups of Houston-area doctors, dentists, carpenters and Bible teachers have visited the tiny Eastern European nation through Children's Emergency Relief International.
___"We keep going back to help the children meet their physical needs," Garner said, "but our real goals are to glorify Christ, teach the gospel and experience the joy of Christian service."
___Moldova is considered the poorest country in all of Europe. Orphans there often lack both physical and emotional warmth, electricity, food and clothing, Garner said.
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