What follows are some reflections from one of our many travels in the U.S. I should add that Mylinda and I started out the weekend fussy with each other. Actually, fussy is not a strong enough word, but you get the picture. It turns out we really weren't all that excited about going. Leaving the kids to head to the ice and wind of Illinois was not on our list of favorites. But we did it, and God surprised us with great stuff. Enjoy.

It's hard to think of something more joyful than a baptism. As pastors, Mylinda and I always enjoyed the privilege of being in the tank with people who were saying yes to Jesus in this moist and meaningful way. In Costa Rica we don't serve as pastors of specific churches, but have been called upon in special circumstances to baptize people; what an honor!

While worshipping at Cherry Hills Baptist Church in Springfield, IL recently, we got to see three people baptized. I don't remember their names but God does. As the first candidate, a young woman, went under, the water did a bit of sloshing and several fluid ounces ended up on the cushioned pew that sits just in front of the baptistry. I heard some gasps of surprise and some laughter, but nobody griped that the cushion got wet. Rather, the baptism was followed by applause and heartfelt "amens." With the immersion of the second person, another female, the cushion again got more than a sprinkle, and again, nobody fussed. The third person was a male, and larger than the first two candidates. When he came up out of the water a good size wave sloshed over the glass. While the pew cushion was never fully immersed and therefore not technically a baptismal candidate, it was far wetter than anyone gets in those churches where they sprinkle or pour. But again, nobody fussed about the fabric; they were too busy celebrating what God was doing; salvation, forgiveness, new life. As an added bonus, Pastor Jeff Nelsen's sermon really spoke to us and gave us some much needed sustenance for the journey.

This worship service was the culmination of a good weekend of celebrating God at work. We had spent Friday and Saturday at the Great Rivers Region mission conference, an event with lots of joy and little or no fussing. We had been invited, along with our missionary friends Kristy Engel, Flint Miller, and Magda Aguirre to share about our ministries with 200 conferees from Illinois and Missouri and to thank them for their generous giving to the World Mission Offering. With help from Stan Crews we explained what it means to be part of a MISSIONARY PARTNERSHIP NETWORK (more on that later), and we invited people to consider participating in this new relational model that will encourage our ministries and keep us connected to churches and individuals. The response overflowed, or sloshed, as several people showed interest and support for the various ministries. More sloshing occurred in each gathering. John Grisham (the mission support guy for GRR, not the novelist) and his cohorts decided that in the space of 22 hours we should have three offerings: one for the victims of horrific violence in the Sudan; one for STEP (student tuition expense program) students in El Salvador; and one for flood victims in Sixaola, Costa Rica. The culture of the day tells us that we can't take three offerings in less than a day, but this was a gospel culture, a generous culture, a people who believe in the sloshing of compassion and grace. When the offering amounts were announced some people gave additional gifts to round them up, increasing the joy.

The whole idea behind Missionary Partnership Networks is relationship. Churches and individuals agree to work with us as missionaries to pray for, participate in, and financially support our ministry. They get regular updates, pray for specific needs and act as cheerleaders, or partners, for our ministry in Costa Rica. If possible, they see us on our year of U.S./Puerto Rico Assignment to catch up in person. There is no limit to the number of people that can be part of the network.

The Missionary Partnership Team is a smaller group, chosen by us, to help build and maintain the network, and to provide reliable spiritual, emotional and financial support to the missionaries and missionary kids. We plan to have one MPT in the Great Rivers Region and another closer to our home on the west coast.

The book of Acts is full of examples of MPTs as the early sent its "witnesses to Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Centuries later Baptists came together for mission, forming societies to send and encourage missionaries. While it could be said that the whole MPN/MPT undertaking is a new program, it's more a matter of putting a name on how we work together when we are at our best as Christ's community. It does involve some structure, but it really has more to do with connecting people for mission, and celebrating the sloshing.


Please pray for:

• The formation of our Missionary Partnership Network, and for the networks of all of our ABC missionaries.


• The formation and training of our Missionary Partnership Teams.


• Work teams to Costa Rica who continue to work on the new church building at the Alajuelita church.


• The needs in Sudan, Sixaola, and El Salvador.


• The pastors and leaders of the Great Rivers Region.


• The staff of International Ministries and all of ABCUSA.


• Our upcoming mission conference event in San Bernardino, CA


• Gary's leadership at an upcoming Men's Retreat in western Washington.
  
  Thanks in Christ,
  
  Gary Baits