Jennifer Wallace, a short-term, volunteer missionary for International Ministries (IM) has safely returned to the U.S. from Lebanon. Wallace, evacuated from Lebanon due to the escalating conflict between the militant group Hezbollah and Israel, arrived in the U.S. in Baltimore on Saturday, July 22, and later flew to Ohio, where she lives with her family.
Angela Sudermann, associate coordinator for volunteers in global mission for IM, had been in touch with the family over the weekend, and confirmed Wallace's safe arrival back in the states.
Wallace, age 19, had been in Lebanon since June 16 and planned to stay until Aug. 14. According to Sudermann, the young lady met Rev. Nabil Costa of Lebanon at IM's World Mission Conference in July 2005. Costa, a Baptist leader who is executive director of the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development, invited Wallace to attend a peace conference in June of 2006. She was also planning to take Arabic language classes and volunteer at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary of Beirut (ABTS).
Though violence has escalated in Lebanon over the past 12 days, IM career missionaries Dan and Sarah Chetti are still safe. The Chettis also serve at ABTS. They have chosen to remain and minister with ABTS and others responding to the humanitarian crisis created by the ongoing military conflict.
IM’s area director for Europe and the Middle East, Rev. Reid Trulson is urging American Baptists to be in prayer for our personnel, the students and staff of the seminary as well as the people of Lebanon and Israel. Since the conflict broke out a week ago, nearly 400 persons have been killed, the vast majority in Lebanon, as well as estimated 500,000 persons displaced. Trulson is in regular contact with IM's missionaries in the region by email -- the most effective means of communication presently.
The World Relief Office of the American Baptist Churches USA released an emergency relief grant of $15,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) to provide immediate relief to displaced persons in Lebanon.
The grant is being sent to the ABTS, and will be used to provide aid and provisions for those sheltered at the Beirut Baptist School and the seminary, which reportedly are housing hundreds of refugees.
IM is a Baptist mission agency, established in 1814, which serves the more than 5,800 churches of the American Baptist Churches USA.
Globally, IM relates to more than 500 educational institutions and 125 hospitals and medical facilities. Missionaries work in partnership with some 15,000 trained national workers, who serve about 22,000 congregations and nearly 3,000,000 baptized members.