Boston trip helps participants embrace mission opportunities

ARLINGTON—Joyce Ridings never had spoken to a Hindu or Muslim. And the prospect of sharing her faith with them made her apprehensive.

She overcame that fear on a recent mission trip to Boston. First, she was trained in how to share her faith with people of Muslim and Hindu backgrounds. Then she participated in a multicultural dinner arranged by a Baptist reaching out to the diverse Boston population.

During the dinner, people took turns sharing their life stories, including some about their families and faith. Ridings visited with the people sitting around her and learned about their lives.

"I sat there listening for two hours," said Ridings, Woman's Missionary Union director at Woods Chapel Baptist Church in Arlington. "I could have sat another two hours. The multicultural event was the highlight of the trip."

The multicultural gathering helped Ridings gain insight into the lives of Hindus and Muslims, she said. Her apprehension was allayed as she started visiting with people, learning about their families and hearing stories about their children.

"To be part of it was really enlightening," she said. "It opened your eyes so you can pray better."

The Baptist General Convention of Texas is involved in a partnership with the Baptist Convention of New England and helped facilitate the trip through the Texas Partnerships office.

Susan Wood, a career missionary who helped lead the trip, was excited by seeing people's perspectives change and come to realizations that they can easily share their lives and their faith with people who follow other religions.

"As a missionary, it was like a dream come true," she said.

Sandra Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer of Texas WMU, praised the WMU team for its commitment to carry out the Acts 1:8 missions mandate.

"The Boston mission team provided a great opportunity for WMU members to minister in their Samaria," she said.