Missions Ministries
“And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” – Romans 10:15

Anacortes Baptist Church’s Missions ministry team is comprised of individuals who have a heart for missions.  No member is appointed; rather, team members serve as God has called them.  A major responsibility of the Missions team is to oversee monies allocated by the church and designated for missions.  Beyond the church’s allocations, the team reviews potential ministries represented by individuals who request monies for their ongoing needs.  Each year the Missions team organizes a missions trip wherein participants work on specific projects (e.g., building a school, refurbishing a community center).  In 2009 several members of the church’s Missions team and individuals from FBC and other churches traveled to Nicaragua for two weeks for the purpose of clearing land that would later serve as a foundation for a medical clinic.

The Missions team continually evaluates the needs of our church’s missionaries and advises the congregation of opportunities as to how they can assist our missionaries.  FBC currently supports the missionaries and missions listed below.  Please contact the church office if you would like to send these missionaries a monetary gift or a word of encouragement.

ABC Missions (ABC Northwest Region)
AMOS Ministries 
Nicaragua, David & Laura Parajon
Nicaragua, Vital and Ketley Pierre
Campus Crusade for Christ International
Svetljana Brezo (Sarajevo)
Carolyn Culbertson 
Dan and Rachel Culbertson
Gary and Carol Culbertson
Petr Eding (Bosnia)
Dave Stalsbroten
Fresh Paint Ministries
The Gideons
Kairos Prison Ministry
New Tribes Missions
North American Indian Ministries
North Islands Young Life
Youth Dynamics
Benevolence Fund

♦ ABC Northwest Region Missions
The mission of American Baptist International Ministries is to glorify God in all the earth by crossing cultural boundaries to make followers of Jesus Christ.  This is God’s world, but the world has been terribly twisted by human sin.  The world is full of problems and challenges that feel overwhelming.  But God is working to save and renew the world.  Through Jesus Christ, God offers life to every person and promises the renewal of the whole created order.  Jesus calls all his followers to let the Holy Spirit transform them into participants in what God is dong.  This saving, renewing work of God is what we call mission.  For more on the American Baptist Northwest Region and international ministries and missionaries go to http://abcnw.org/mission-support/. 

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 ♦ AMOS
With the vision of Equipping God's Leaders with Vision, AMOS Ministries works to reach our world with the Good News of Jesus Christ through training, vision seminars focusing on and reaching business people, ministry in the local church, teaching and preaching the unadulterated Word of God via radio, television and the Internet, through its tapes and books, contributing financially to mission projects around the world, organizing pastors' missions trips to Africa and World Crusade and pastors conferences.  For more information on AMOS, go to  http://www.amoshealthandhope.org/Health_for_all/Resource_files/20080315%20AMOS%20Brochure%20-1.pdf.

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♦ Nicaragua:  David & Laura Parajon 
Since 2001, David and Laura have been serving remote rural communities in Nicaragua through the training and support of village health leaders.  These health care providers staff clinics in their communities to diagnose and treat the most common illnesses, teach nutrition and hygiene, and coordinate diverse community-oriented projects to improve health and prevent disease; they have significantly reduced deaths among children and women in their communities.  David and Laura have also been receiving short-term mission teams that work in construction projects alongside village members.  David is an internist and Laura is a family physician.  Their ministry to serve the poor focuses on health, hope and healing.  Based in Nicaragua, they serve through AMOS Health and Hope and the Council of Protestant Churches in Nicaragua (CEPAD), working in Latin America to improve the health of rural communities.  They also work with hospital and clinical services, hospice care, and programs focused on prevention and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS.

• Pray for David and Laura as they minister in training leaders and provide for the health needs of persons and communities in Nicaragua.
• Pray for their children: Christine, Scott, and David.

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♦ Nicaragua:  Vital and Ketley Pierre
Vital and Ketley Pierre work on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua to strengthen local churches and encourage existing churches to plant new ones.  One way they do this is by leading and coordinating seminars and workshops.  Through these sessions, pastors and leaders of local congregations learn how to strengthen the ministries of their churches.  The Pierres' ministry is a holistic, "hands on" endeavor in which they walk and work alongside local people, building relationships.  They also work with people in local churches to educate against drug abuse and drug trafficking.  The Pierres also serve as a link with American Baptist churches in the U.S. for volunteer groups.  The groups are matched with local ministries according to where they would be the most effective.  The Pierres invite leaders and short-term missionaries, pastors, businessmen, teachers, and professors to present seminars and workshops.

♦ Carolyn Culbertson (World-wide Student Network--Campus Crusade for Christ Staff)
Carolyn Culbertson has been a Campus Crusade for Christ staff member since 1973.  Carolyn joined CCC staff to minister to college students, cultivating within them a personal faith that forms their character and directs their life choices.  She currently acts as a CCC spiritual adviser and speaks at Campus Crusade engagements all over the world.  For more information on Carolyn, go to www.Carolyn.Culbertson@uscm.org and www.Carolyn.culbertson.blogspot.com.

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♦ Dan and Rachel Culbertson (Missionaries, Moscow, Russia)
In early 2009 Dan and Rachel Culbertson headed off to Moscow, Russia, to serve as Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) missionaries within the city’s Universities.  This will be Dan and Rachel’s second missionary tour in Russia, with their first occurring from 2002-2005 within regions of Siberia and Southern Russia.  Dan and Rachel look forward to returning to Russia and working in Moscow, home to an estimated 12,000,000 people.  Moscow is a culturally and ethnically diverse city comprised of individuals from neighboring countries and Russia's various regions.  Among those people, just over 1.2 million attend one of Moscow's 240 colleges, universities and technical schools.  With great enthusiasm and some trepidation, Dan and Rachel intend to work in Moscow for 5-7 years!  Anyone interested in learning more about Dan and Rachel’s missionary venture is invited to contact the couple via their email address danculbertson@gmail.com.

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♦ Gary and Carol Culbertson (Florida- Campus Crusade for Christ)
Gary Culbertson and his wife Carol also serve on the Campus Crusade for Christ staff (CCC).  Gary joined the Campus Crusade staff in 1976 and currently serves as an engineer at Lake Hart, the international headquarters of CCC in Orlando, Florida.  The Lake Hart facility serves over 25,000 staff in 191 countries. Gary has had an important role in the design, construction, maintenance and improvement of the Lake Hart facility.  Over the years Gary has worked on ways to save millions of dollars in building and maintenance costs associated with the CCC facility.  One of his current projects is the installation of a generator which will provide electricity during storms so that CCC staff throughout the world continues to be served regardless of electrical outages.  

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Petr Eding (Bosnia)
Petr is a Russian from Siberia and is married to an American woman.  Petr and his wife live in St. Petersburg where they work with university students.  Petr is hosted by Campus Crusade for Christ and is a good example of the II Timothy 2:2 principle of "taking the things we have heard (from Paul) and passing them on to faithful men who will teach others also."

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♦ Dave Stalsbroten (Every Nation Ministries, Seattle)
Dave Stalsbroten serves as the Youth Outreach Coordinator for Every Nation Ministries here in Seattle.  Working in the neighborhoods of the Rainier Valley and Rainier Beach, Dave's goal is to help urban youth and their families be in relationship with Jesus.  In addition, he seeks to empower adults to become more involved in the lives of our young men and women through mentorship and community involvement.  For more on Dave, go to his webpage at http://www.everynationseattle.org/davestalsbroten.php.

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♦ Fresh Paint Ministries 
Fresh Paint Ministry is a six-year-old non-profit Washington-based children's/family public charity that began in 2004 as a response to challenges of the increasing needs in our communities that were not being met.  The organization, run solely by volunteers, uses events such as free carnivals, puppet shows, and band concerts to lift the spirits of those attending.  Volunteer youth from different Indian tribes and churches are chosen and trained before the events; they are the stage hands for the concerts as they set up and roll out all the cables, and set up and operate all the games and puppet shows.  Fresh Paint is dedicated to partnering with local churches and tribes to help children and youth understand their value, worth and purpose.  The organization provides positive and purposeful presentations that focus on Christ's love for us in all of life's struggles, and challenges us to help meet the needs of others.  Many events combine with food drives and collection of various essential items for those in need in our communities.  For more information on Fresh Paint Ministries go to http://freshpaint4you.com.

• Pray for Fresh Paint coordinators Bruce, Joyce and their daughter Kathryn Rechststeiner as they witness.
• Needs:  Summer Program Supplies Needed:  4-inch tall clay pots, clay saucers (available at Michaels), fabric crayons and markers, bags of Tootsie Roll pops, individually wrapped hard candy, brown yarn, yellow paper plates, Kodak ink combo pack #10, ink stamps (flowers, bugs, anything farm related), old fashioned vinyl table cloths for face painting tables, old costume jewelry, jewelry pliers and cutters.

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♦ The Gideons International.
The Gideons International is an interdenominational association of Christian business and professional men who are members of Protestant/evangelical churches. Members are dedicated to saving the lost through personal witnessing and the distribution of God's Word in more than 180 countries around the world.  Several men from our church currently serve as Gideons.  To learn more about this program, contact Brent Morrow at bdmorrow@msn.com, or go to the Gideons website at http://gideons.org.

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♦ Kairos Prison Ministry. 
Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. is the parent organization of a body of ministries addressing the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women and children, their families and those who work in the prison environment.  For more information on Kairos prison ministry, go to http://www.kairosprisonministry.org.  

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♦ New Tribes Missions. 
FBC Missions supports Ron and Carol Lindsey with New Tribes Missions. Of the world's 6,500 people groups, 2,500 are still unreached.  New Tribes Missions helps local churches train, coordinate and send missionaries to these tribes.  The NTM missionary team learns the tribal language and understands the culture so the message of the Gospel can be presented in the language and the manner the people will understand.  Missionaries translate God's Word, teach people how to read and write their own language, and teach through the Bible chronologically, laying a foundation for the Gospel among people who have never met the God of the Bible.  Missionaries disciple the new believers, equip them to lead their church, and help them reach out to other villages within their own tribe and to neighboring tribes.  For more on New Tribes Missions, go to http://www.ntm.org.

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♦ North American Indian Ministries (NAIM) 
FBC Missions supports Bill Saarschmidt of North American Indian Ministries (NAIM).  NAIM is a multicultural team that exists to glorify God through building the Church by making disciples among North American Indigenous peoples and to reach the world for Christ.  NAIM is committed to covenant relationships with First Nations churches, creating vibrant ministry in their communities and beyond.  For more on NAIM, go to http://www.naim.ca/AboutUs.html.

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 ♦ North Islands Young Life
North Islands Young Life (NIYL) is part of Young Life International, a non-profit, Christian non-denominational, incarnational, parachurch ministry.  Young Life consists of many branches of ministry, but most commonly the name "Young Life" refers to the outreach arm of the organization directed toward high school and middle school students.  Young Life staff and volunteer leaders build relationships with teenagers through a variety of social interactions, formal and informal events, and group trips.  NIYL thinks the world of kids and believes that they deserve to know what life can hold for them.  North Islands' leaders are caring adults who come sharing that hope as well as fun and lasting friendships with kids.  North Islands Young Life is also all about fun.  From club and camp to Campaigners and other activities, teenagers will have blast laughing, trying new things and being with their friends.  Headquartered in Anacortes, NIYL has a presence at middle and high schools in Anacortes, La Conner, Lopez Island, San Juan Island, and Oak Harbor.  For more on NIYL, go to their website at http://www.younglife.org/

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♦ Youth Dynamics
Youth Dynamics is about reaching today's youth through dynamic relationships and challenging experiences.  The organization ministers to youth through three distinct branches of ministry, YD Communities, YD Adventures, and Stonewater Ranch.  All three branches strive to meet the same mission and vision.  YD focuses on building relationships.  Building relationships involves: going to where young people are and becoming a part of their world; conveying genuine love and acceptance; modeling an authentic Christian life; being a friend, a counselor, a teacher.  In each YD community we seek to create a non-threatening environment where students can meet to have fun and hear how Jesus Christ can impact their lives.  YD staff may use weekly events, visits to the middle and high school campuses, wilderness trips and more.  They may meet in homes, rented office space, or a full-blown youth center.  Whatever the method, our heart is to reach teens who live in small or rural towns throughout the Northwest.  For more on YD, go to their website at www.yd.org.

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Benevolence Fund
Anacortes First Baptist’s benevolent fund is administered by a group of volunteers within the church who provide emergency funds (when available) to our brothers and sisters in need within the congregation and our community at large.  As with many other churches within Anacortes, we partner with the Salvation Army in ensuring funds are distributed in a responsible manner.  The goal is to care for the immediate needs of the individual (e.g., locating shelter) while making relationships with extremely vulnerable people.

"I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Psalm 18:1-2