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Teaming Up to Share the Good News! by Ken Lewis The story began in January 2002 with the decision to begin a “pilot project”- a joint effort between Continent of Great Cities and Baxter Institute of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The objective: to train and assist a 10-member missionary team of Baxter graduates to develop a 7-year church-planting project for Bogotá, Colombia. To our knowledge, this team constitutes the largest all-Hispanic mission team ever sent to Latin America by churches of Christ. Team members had already completed the arduous and thorough four-year Bible and Ministerial Training curriculum at Baxter. In addition, each member went through the arduous team selection process through which all Continent of Great Cities teams go. This process includes a complete psychological evaluation and extensive interviews. Five of the seven men on the team finished a fifth year of study at Baxter. Every team member completed the “Team Missions” and “Urban Evangelism” courses taught by Continent of Great Cities’ staff. A professor in the National University of Honduras taught a course on “The History and Culture of Colombia.” The team made a two-week visit to the U.S. to meet with potential financial partners. Later, the entire team, including two wives and one fiancée, took a two-week research/vision trip to Santiago, Chile, Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Bogotá. This trip provided the opportunity to observe other missionary teams and churches at various stages of development. After one year of intense work, the team is poised to enter Bogotá! One couple is already in Colombia, serving as “avant-guard” for the rest of the team. The others are completing visa requirements and hope to arrive in the first quarter of the year. Several great churches in the U.S. have stepped out in faith to make this mission possible. Major sponsors include the Bammel Road church in Houston, TX, the Greenwood Park church in Bowling Green, KY, the Maple Hill church in Lebanon, TN, the Signal Mountain church in Signal Mountain, TN, and the Donelson church in Nashville, TN. Many individuals have also stepped forward with prayer, encouragement and support. Financial support is still needed for two of the team members. PRAY for and REJOICE with us over the Bogotá Mission Team! Contact Ken Lewis at ken@greatcities.org for details on remaining financial needs. |
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