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THE DUVALL MISSIONS PROGRAM |
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© John Ewing Roberts |
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Today's program falls into two parts: the presentation in the sanctuary followed by the luncheon in the fellowship hall. Seven Woodbrook members visited Cuba in November: William Dooley, Jessi Fowler, Danica Lorincz, Jim Oshida, John Roberts, Marylynn Roberts and Eric Salsbery. You will hear from them today through the message to the young worshippers, pictures, brief remarks, and a photo essay accompanied by Cuban music. The group spent time in Havana and in Pinar del Ro province in western Cuba. Travelling with us were Stan Hasty, Director of the Alliance of Baptists, Adalberto Cueller, Director of the Fraternity of Cuban Baptists, and members of the First Baptist Church of Washington, D. C., and the St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church of New Orleans. The delegation visited six Baptist churches and the annual convention of the Fraternity of Cuban Baptists. Danica Lorincz and Marylynn Roberts sang Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore in Spanish in two services; John Roberts preached on these occasions with Stan Hastey serving as interpreter. The first Baptist church in Cuba was organized in 1886; at that time the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention assumed responsibility for Baptist work in Cuba. In 1898 Cuban work was divided, Southern Baptists in western Cuba, American Baptists in eastern Cuba. In 1989 the Fraternity of Cuban Baptists was created by Baptists who were as interested in saving lives (Christian social ministry) as in saving souls (evangelism), who preferred self-governance to supervision by Baptists from another country, and who affirmed the ministry of women as deacons and pastors. Working in ten of the fourteen Cuban Provinces the group has grown to 20 churches and 32 missions, opening more preaching stations in the last ten years than in the previous 100! In the near future our Missions Committee will recommend to our congregation that we establish a partnership either with a particular congregation or with the Fraternity of Cuban Baptists. Gifts of $2,000 from the Special Missions Fund budget line item have already been made in support of a new retreat and conference center for the Fraternity on the outskirts of Havana. There will be future trips. If you are interested, please speak with Linda Anderson, the incoming Chairperson of the Missions Committee or with Pastor Roberts. All are invited to stay for the Cuban luncheon. There is no charge, and reservations are not required. The menu includes a Cuban fruit salad, black beans over rice (moros y cristianos) with ham, plantain chips, and flan; the beverages are fruit juice, tea and coffee. Our thanks to Missions Committee Chairperson, William Dooley, for organizing the luncheon. He was assisted in preparation by Lillian Crenshaw, Greg Cochran, Katherine, Alex and Rees Dooley, Jessi Fowler, Beth, David and Thea Kreis, and Marylynn Roberts. You are encouraged to show your appreciation by assisting in the clean-up! 21 STEVENSON LANE is open today until one hour after the luncheon. You are encouraged to make a careful inspection of the premises in preparation for considering recommendations from the Trustees at the Annual Business Meeting on Wednesday, January 27, at 6:00 p.m. Because of the cost of estimates to repair, renovate and maintain the house, the Trustees are reconsidering the decision made last summer to save the house. The house will open again next Sunday from 8:45 Notes: |