By Message Staff
Louisiana Baptist churches looking for a unique missions opportunity should consider partnering with a missions organization in Wales.
Through a partnership with Missional Links Wales, churches have a variety of options available to share the Gospel in a country where just 60,000 out of a population of 3 million profess to be evangelical, according to Rob Burns, founder and international director of the organization.
Opportunities include a one-week vision trip, one week missions trip, internships for college students and an apprenticeship for seminary graduates and other adults.
Burns shared more about the options during a recent presentation at the Baptist Building in Alexandria to pastors, Louisiana Baptist Convention missions and ministry strategists and Baptist Collegiate Ministers.
“We’d love to talk to any American missional oriented church who would like long term partnership in Wales and who would like to get involved in investing inside the counties and across the nation of Wales,” Burns told the Baptist Message. “In Wales, currently 2 percent or less are evangelical. But there is an openness to Americans and the American culture. The Welsh people like Americans and they love to talk to Americans. We have a special relationship together. But with only 2 percent or less evangelical, there’s a real need for the Gospel to come through Americans and churches to come and to partner with us.”
Among the Louisiana Baptist churches already participating in missions trips to Wales is First Baptist Church, West Monroe. Global Ministries Pastor Mark Fenn is planning to lead his tenth trip to the country June 30-July 10.
“Through work in primary schools, comprehensive schools, retirement home, and outreach events, our team of around 30 has been able to share the Gospel with approximately 10,000 Welsh people each year on our mission trip alone, with hundreds coming to the Lord,” Fenn said. “Being able to impact lostness in a culture that is only 2 percent evangelized, yet speaks our language and welcomes Americans into their schools to share the Gospel, is an opportunity I highly recommend to every pastor and missions pastor. You don’t have to ‘reinvent the wheel’ because Rob Burns and his team handle practically everything involved in establishing effective partnerships. I’m happy to share our story with any churches that might be interested in learning more about how they can help spread the Gospel throughout Wales.”
For more information on taking a mission trip to Wales, visit the Missional Links Wales website or e-mail mfenn@firstwest.cc.
