Church series to target worldwide mission work

Later this month, McDuffie County Baptist churches willwelcome a small slice of international religious life with open arms.

From March 30 through April 2 the Kilpatrick Baptist Association will present On Mission Celebration, a series of 22 missionaries from around the world who will be speaking at churches throughout the area.

"Basically the goal of this is so our people can hear firsthand of some of the mission work around the world," said Mason Davis, Associational Missionary for the Kilpatrick Baptist Association. "It's an opportunity for firsthand communications to hear presentations, to get to ask questions, and to have fellowship."

Pastor John Prater of Marshall Baptist Church in Thomson stressed that the program isn't only for people who might be interested in doing mission work themselves.

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"That would be one hope, but it wouldn't be limited to that," he said. "It should touch anybody no matter where they are."

Davis agrees.

"Even though that's not our primary objective, yes that does sometimes take place."

Prater added that the strength of the program will be allowing church members to compare their lives with those of the missionaries in a spiritual sense.

"It gives us an up close look at our missionaries and what they're doing and is really for us to see what we're involved in," he said.

Davis said that many of the missionaries are on breaks from their mission work, which can last several months. Soon, however, they'll all be going back to complete their missions.

In McDuffie County, On Mission Celebration will be visiting churches in Thomson and Dearing. Each church will have five speakers. There will be two on Sunday the 30th, and then one on each of the following three days.

In Thomson, the churches are Marshall Baptist Church, Pine Grove Baptist Church, Raysville Baptist Church, Sweetwater Baptist Church, Little Briar Creek Baptist Church, Washington Heights Baptist Church, Union Baptist Church and First Baptist Church. In Dearing, the churches are Calvary Baptist Church, Fort Creek Baptist Church and Dearing Baptist Church.

There's also some Columbia County churches participating, including Sharon Baptist and Damascus Baptist, both in Appling, and Berea Baptist in Martinez.

For time and speaker information, contact the churches, or call the Kirkpatrick Baptist Association at (706) 595-5324.