What makes the mission trip led by Wayne Jenkins so successful is the organization behind it.
BELO – What makes the mission trip led by Wayne Jenkins so successful is the organization behind it.
After 25 years of doing it, Jenkins knows what needs done in the U.S., and his Brazilian counterpart – Alexandre Felicio Peixoto, a World Mission representative for the Brazilian Baptist Convention on loan to the Minas Gerias State Baptist Convention for this assignment – is equally prepared. It truly is a joint operation, Jenkins says.
“Although we are able to make an impact for a short time, it is our SBC missionaries – supported by our Cooperative Program – along with the Brazilian Baptists who carry on the work year round,” Jenkins said. “It is our privilege to come alongside of them for a short period of time and assist them.”
The first order of business for both men: praying in faith, trusting God to work out details and situations beyond their control.
This year, for example, Jenkins lined up construction crews to build the three churches the Brazilians had requested. But only enough money had come in to build two – until the final week before the Americans boarded their aircrafts for flights to Brazil.
“God provided, just at the right time,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins this year arranged with a Texas-based travel agent for the 162 flights on seven airlines to get everyone to Brazil at about the same time. He then assigned everyone to one of four tour buses, to make sure no one got left behind at an airport.
He also assigned singles to double hotel rooms, to save on costs and to make sure everyone had a bed. A 40-page book for volunteers told them everything. A constant response to questions in Brazil was, “It’s in the book.”
Clear communication is vital, Jenkins said. He also sent out six updates in recent months to keep all mission team members current with the latest details.
Jenkins assigned everyone to specific duties, based on their experience and/or interest. No matter what a person’s age or state of health, an appropriate – and significant – missions responsibility was given to them.
In Brazil, he arranged for the hotel, enough vans to carry each crew to their assignments, drivers for the vans, and interpreters for the Americans. The interpreters for the most part were high school students from a Baptist school, and were provided by the Minas Gerias state convention.
Peixoto made arrangements with all the churches – 30 or more – that would be working in partnership with the Americans, to make sure there would be meals provided, members on-site, appointments made for home visits, and announcements given in the neighborhood about the upcoming medical/dental/eye, VBS, construction, evening services, and drama/street/jump ropes ministries.
He also handled all the government paperwork involved with building, and he purchased the rebar, block, sand, roofing and support materials needed for the construction.
After the American mission volunteers left, Peixoto spent another two weeks returning excess building materials and talking with the churches, to insure they knew their continuing responsibility was to follow up on the contacts and professions of faith made as a result of the Americans’ presence in Belo.
So, how difficult logistically is a 162-person mission team? The difficulty doesn’t matter, both men said.
“Even more than 200 [mission volunteers] are much needed,” Peixoto said. “The needs are great, but the work – it is easy when you do it for the Lord.”
To participate in the 2010 mid-July mission trip to Belo, contact Wayne Jenkins or his assistant Wendy Bordelon at 318.448.3402. Individuals and church groups are needed and welcomed.