Bell Association and Wisconsin Baptists see partnership as reciprocal

BELL COUNTY—A partnership between Bell Baptist Association of Texas and Southern Wisconsin Baptist Association forged four years ago created something "unbelievably unique" said Pastor John Schmidt of Waterbrook Community Bible Church in Tomah, Wis.

Team members from First Baptist Church in Holland give away refreshments during a backyard Bible club sponsored by Hope In Christ Assembly in Madison, Wis. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Truitt and Sherry Eason)

"I've been a pastor for 18 years and never seen anything like it. It's different churches, different people, coming together for one common goal," Schmidt said.

Tom Henderson, director of missions for Bell Baptist Association, said his goal is "to help churches connect, get engaged in a broader community and start really having Acts 1:8 churches." Wisconsin isn't a foreign country, but it's beyond the normal scope of most churches, he added.

"A major word to describe this partnership is reciprocal," said Mark Millman, director of missions for the Southern Wisconsin Baptist Association.

Churches from the Bell Baptist Association have assisted with church plants in the Southern Wisconsin Baptist Association, where there is a large international community.

Members from Miller Heights Baptist Church in Belton help with a Vacation Bible School held by Hope In Christ Assembly of Madison, Wis. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Truitt and Sherry Eason)

In June, First Baptist Church Holland sent a nine-person team—six youth and three sponsors—to Madison, Wis., to work with two churches.

In the mornings, the volunteers assisted First Baptist Church in Madison with a basketball camp. In the evenings, they helped Hope In Christ Assembly Church, a West African church plant, organize a backyard Bible club in a park and assisted with inner-city apartment ministry.

A year ago, Gary Anthony, minister of music at First Baptist Temple, took 24 students on a mission trip to Muscoda, Wis. The team worked with two churches, Heartland Church and Blue River Valley Church, both led by Pastor Paul Fries.

The team served the community by passing out fliers for Vacation Bible School, performing a concert in the park, sponsoring a block party, prayerwalking the town and pulling weeds on four city blocks down Main Street.

Team from First Baptist Church in Holland assist Hope In Christ Assembly with a backyard Bible club. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Truitt and Sherry Eason)

Jeff Burns, student minister at Miller Heights Baptist Church in Belton, took a group of high school students to Wisconsin for the third year. In June the 13-person team worked with Midvale Baptist Church and Hope In Christ Assembly, an international church, both in Madison, Wis.

At Midvale, the group assisted in a children's day camp that runs all summer, Monday through Friday. The group spent evenings helping with Vacation Bible School at Hope In Christ Assembly.

Miller Heights also financially supports three churches in the Southern Wisconsin Baptist Association.

"It's neat to see what has transpired with these three summers and with Wisconsin," Burns said.

River of Life Church in Portage, Wis., and Disciples Church in Harker Heights created a church-to-church partnership.

Students from Miller Heights Baptist Church in Belton serve at a Vacation Bible School sponsored by Hope In Christ Assembly of Madison, Wis. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Truitt and Sherry Eason)

Tim Worden was serving as missions pastor for Vista Community Church in Temple when he met Bob Turner, pastor at River of Life Church, and began a close friendship and partnership.

Vista Community Church sponsored River of Life Church in its early years by providing financial support for a ministry assistant to help Turner with secretarial tasks.

In January 2011, Worden was commissioned to plant a new church, Disciples Church, where he serves as pastor. River of Life and Red Village Church financially support Disciples Church.

"It's been a huge blessing, not just about finances but the partnership," Worden said.

Texas Baptist Men have joined in the partnership as well, holding Experiencing God Weekends to provide an overview of the seven principles discussed in Henry Blackaby's book.

Students from Miller Heights Baptist Church in Belton help with a Vacation Bible School sponsored by Hope In Christ Assembly of Madison, Wis. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Jeff Burns)

Waterbrook Community Bible Church experienced revival and awakening as a result of an Experiencing God Weekend, Millman said. People who struggled with addictions confessed them and those who caused dissension repented.

Pastor John Schmidt was affected by the weekend as well.

"I'm a pastor, but I'm not perfect. I need to be held accountable, because I do have blind spots. It's OK to make myself vulnerable," Schmidt said.

In the two years since, the church has continued to grow spiritually and continually learns what it means to be a church versus just "playing church," says Schmidt.

For Trey Turner, the partnership included relocation. He was serving as pastor at Canyon Creek Baptist Church in Temple when a trip to Wisconsin as part of the partnership became available.

He went in March 2009 to volunteer at a church in Madison, and by July, he and his family had relocated to Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. He is serving in the Mission Service Corps through the North American Missions Board.

"I had been feeling a pull to missions. We were doing a good job of taking care of ourselves, but I still has a sense of seeing more people coming to know the Lord," Turner said.

Turner desires to see a church planting movement and wants to see people being discipled to disciple others. He has started a house church, Church at Wazeecha in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., coaches other church planters and is involved in a prison ministry.

"The partnership between Bell Baptist Association and Southern Wisconsin Baptist Association was visionary to be able to see the need in other areas," he said.