Rigney Ministries

That’s right! In the last two weeks we’ve traveled to China, Bangladesh, Senegal, and Honduras … not physically, but in spirit as we visited with missionaries from each of these four mission fields.

It’s been a wonderful experience listening to these missionaries and seeing their enthusiasm as they show their photos and tell the stories of their place of service. All of these missionaries were hosted by Roseland Park Baptist Church as part of their emphasis on the importance of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. If you are involved in the Southern Baptist Churches, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about, but for those of you from other denominations, I’ll just say that a special Christmas offering is taken every year in order to support the 5,541 international missionaries we have commissioned to carry the gospel around the world. If you’re interested in why we give this offering, Read Gabriel’s Story.

Ms. Frankie spoke to us two Sundays ago about the work in China during the 2008 earthquake. She was living only 23 miles from the epicenter when the quake hit. Ms Frankie teaches English to college students in her area, and many of them lost their parents during this disaster. Churches in our area sent many, many crates loaded with supplies to her, and she worked with the pastor of a local government church to get the supplies out to the needy.

Benjy has been leading the music at Roseland Park for most of the later part of this year, and we were SO glad to be there when Ms. Frankie gave her presentation. That’s Bro. Carl Myers our Associational Director of Missions, pictured with Benjy and Ms. Frankie. If you’d like to participate in any of the missions I discuss in this newsletter, Bro. Carl is the one to talk to. He can be reached at the associational office at 601-798-2372.

The following Wednesday evening, we were honored to have dinner with Bro. Vigilio Penga from Honduras and hear him share his powerful testimony of Christ’s provisions after becoming a quadriplegic from a motorcycle accident. Bro. Penga speaks very little English, so Martha Marcado, wife of Roseland Park’s Spanish ministry pastor, interpreted for him. Bro. Penga leads a mission effort which is sponsored by Bellview Baptist in Memphis, TN. You may recognize that church name as it was where the late Bro. Adrian Rogers pastored for many years.

At the lady’s Christmas luncheon, which was held in Roseland Park’s fellowship hall on Saturday, Ms. Faye Pind spoke about the missions work she and her husband are involved with in Bangladesh and Senegal. Her stories of persecution saddened us, but her stories of God’s awesome miracles caused us to rejoice!

Tammy Haymes, wife of Pastor Kriss Haymes, emceed the luncheon. Tammy has a special place in her heart for missions and has for many years accompanied her dad on an annual mission trip to Brazil where he works with local pastors and their communities. At the end of the event, Tammy surmised that, in a room with this many women, some had surely heard a call to be more active in missions work. She noted that not all are called to serve on the field. Some are called to pray and some are called to give so that others can go, so she gave us this challenge … “If you are called to pray, PRAY FERVENTLY! If you are called to give, GIVE EXTRAVAGANTLY!” Benjy and I “AMEN!” Tammy’s challenge, and we join our voice with hers and ask you to consider what God has called YOU to do … then do it exceedingly well!

What’s New on Our Blogs?

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We saw a barn house, a gingerbread house, a church house, and baby Jesus in a nativity scene!

7 Super Helpful Bible Study Tools
I can’t say enough good things about these helpful tools … especially the FREE one!

Benjy and I invite you to visit our blogs and participate in the conversation by leaving a comment on any post that interests you … you know how we enjoy good conversation!

On His Exciting Journey,