Rachel Sims Baptist Mission in New Orleans, which began as a backyard Bible club in 1910, has grown into an unparalleled mission center that hosts a plethora of ministries ranging from teen Bible clubs and Vacation Bible Schools to sports programs and prayer walks.
NEW ORLEANS – Rachel Sims Baptist Mission in New Orleans, which began as a backyard Bible club in 1910, has grown into an unparalleled mission center that hosts a plethora of ministries ranging from teen Bible clubs and Vacation Bible Schools to sports programs and prayer walks.
Rachel Sims Baptist Mission began with the purchase of a house across from Clay Square Park.
The North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention, and Missionary Rachel Sims worked together to create the center after recognizing the community’s increasing needs.
The current director of Rachel Sims Baptist Mission, Larry Miguez, began working there in 1980 as the assistant director. Miguez became the director in 2005.
“My ministry is with the people and I view people as relationships,” Miguez said. “So I feel that each group I work with merits their own relationships for the purpose of sharing the gospel.”
Linda Middlebrooks, assistant director of Rachel Sims Baptist Mission, began working there as a North American Mission Board-appointed US/C-2 (United States Canada two year) missionary in 1980. She’s been there ever since.
Middlebrooks said she felt that she was called to lead the life of a missionary from an early age. Direction came for her when she heard Mildred McWhorter speak.
McWhorter was a well-known, inner-city missionary in Houston for more than 30 years; she retired in 1992.
“Until I heard her speak, I didn’t realize the need for positive influences in the lives of inner city children,” Middlebrook said.
“I could identify with many aspects of these children’s lives, but my parents made the difference in my life,” she said. “I wanted to have a similar impact in the lives of kids that my parents had on me.”
A USC2 missionary spends two years living and working wherever NAMB places them. Right now, Rachel Sims Baptist Mission has two US/C-2 missionaries under its roof.
US/C-2 Tammy Vickers participated in 15 weeklong mission trips before coming to work at Rachel Sims Baptist Mission for two years.
Her previous ministry experiences provided her with insight that aids her in her current position.
“The mission trips in Mexico stood out the most because life is harder but the people are the same,” Vickers said. “Witnessing their growth in Christ has caused me to realize the importance of what I am doing now.”
US/C-2 Stacy Rains has been working at Rachel Sims for more than a year. Rains said she knew what to expect in regards to some of the various programs that Rachel Sims Baptist Mission hosts, but the long-term aspect of her work took her by surprise.
“The fact that this mission is so long term has allowed me to build relationships that I would not have been able to cultivate with less time,” Rains said.
Rachel Sims also utilizes the ministry of summer missionaries as it carries out its unending list of activities and events designed to draw youngsters closer to God’s people, and to God.
While some believe that ministry in and of itself is its own reward, missionaries sometimes find various aspects of missionary work rewarding.
“I find that the children’s enthusiasm provides me with more incentive to keep up with my ministry,” said Summer Missionary Carlie Stewart.
Fellow summer missionary Ryan Dowling said he appreciates the relationship-building aspect of missionary work.
“Getting to know their lives and helping people begin their Christian walk gives me a sense of fulfillment,” Dowling said.
Volunteers round out the types of missionaries who reach out with God’s love to the children and families in the neighborhood on the back side of the lavish homes in the Garden District. Like all other Rachel Sims workers, they find the need to be flexible.
“One of the bigger challenges I’m facing is doing things the way that they are asked to be done and not how I want to do them,” said Volunteer David Stippick.
“I think that learning to share my faith without fearing rejection is the major thing that I’m working on,” said NAMB summer missionary Jeremy Hudson.
“This experience has helped me realize that it’s not about me or what I feel like doing,” said Summer Missionary Rachel Holaway. “This is all about the kids.”