by Wayne and Janet Barrier
Editor’s Note: This report got stuck somewhere on the equator, but we’re glad to release it now.
Hamilton, Ala. (BNc)- Over 100 people interested in missions attended the second annual May Missionary Retreat held at Maywood Christian Camp May 1-3.
The event is sponsored by the Double Springs, Ala., church and the World Evangelism School of Missions.
Wayne and Janet Barrier organized and directed the retreat.
They counted on the support of the World Evangelism team that includes Betty Choate, Joey and Anna Barrier, Louis and Bonnie Rushmore, Jamie and Katie Barrier, Jerry and Paula Bates, Jeremy Barrier, Gene and Madolyn Gibson, Jenny Whiteside, Dennis and Sharon Larson, Colin and Ellen McKee, Will White, Charles Brymer, Jon Lucius, Don Posey and Greg Farris.
Several others that helped with the camp include Don and Sylvia Petty, Ruth Orr, Prissy Sellers, Luther and Jane Moorman.
Over 100 individuals involved in mission work across the world attended the retreat.
Several missionaries made presentations on assigned topics. The theme of the retreat was “Effective Missions.”
Dennis Larson served as master of ceremonies again this year. Dennis was a vocational missionary in Indonesia for many years and works with World Evangelism as a teacher in Myanmar.
Wayne Barrier of Florence, Ala., event organizer and director of World Evangelism Missions for the Double Springs church, leads work that focuses on Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, India and Sri Lanka. An update on the newly formed World Evangelism School of Missions was given. The school is designed to provide practical, applications-oriented education and training to prospective missions evangelism workers.
Plans to begin classes in August 2008 are complete. Teachers for the next year include Colin and Ellen McKee, Gordon Hogan, Loy Mitchell, Ken Wilkey, Don Green, Don Norwood, Don Petty, Randal Matheny, Jeremy Barrier, Wayne Barrier, Dennis Larson and Joey Barrier.
Retreat speaker Colin McKee, missionary to Indonesia, challenged the group as he asked, “How Well Am I Watching?”
Don Petty of Farmers Branch, Tex., addressed the future with, “A Good Visualization of the Church in 2008 and Beyond.” Don is organizing the first annual Lewisville, Tex., workshop, “Sound Doctrine and Practice,” scheduled for Aug. 8-10.
Randal Matheny, missionary to Brazil, described the necessary elements for “What Makes Missions Effective?” in an excellent presentation.
Don Norwood, long-time missionary to South India, reviewed his “30 Years of Mission Work in India” as he listed criteria for successful work in Asian mission fields.
Ken Wilkey, missionary to the Philippines, discussed the “Missionary Role in a Field with Capable Native Preachers”. His experience of over 35 years has evolved to a role of resource person and advisor.
Jeremy Barrier, missionary to Asia and professor at Heritage Christian University, presented “The Changing Face of America: A History of Christian Missions.” He talked about the shift in areas of church strength from America to Asia and Africa.
Gordon Hogan, missionary to Singapore and missions professor at Harding University, capably reminded us of “All Spiritual Blessings in Christ.”
Loy Mitchell, long-time missionary to Zimbabwe, Africa, reviewed the elements and necessity of reporting in “The Importance of Making Reports.”
Don Green, missionary to Ukraine, gave an update entitled “My work in the Ukraine.” Don’s long-time experience in Asian missions is being applied to the more recent work.
Mark Hall, physician and missions supporter from Austin, Tex., gave a motivating presentation on “Closeness with God.”
Stan Mitchell, professor at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn., and missionary to Zimbabwe, Africa, talked about his experiences and lessons learned in “Growing Up on the Mission Field.”
Claude Lewis, missionary to Cambodia, made a presentation on his work with a medical mission project. The presentation, entitled “Cambodia – The Ship of Life,” included an excellent video with images from Cambodia.
Mission work reports were given by Mike Brooks (Bangladesh and Nepal), Joey Barrier (Myanmar), Larry Murdock (Heritage Christian University Mobile Ministry training program), Wayne Kilpatrick, (Mexico), Gene Gibson (Christian Student Center), Jerry Bates (World Evangelism radio and literature), Byron Nichols (Voice of Truth International), Louis Rushmore (World Evangelism radio and literature), Roger Mills (disaster relief).
The event was attended by Vinay David (New Delhi, India) and George Achard (Myanmar) who gave updates on work in their home countries.
James Lee, from Franklin County, Fla., was to speak on his work in Eastpoint and his prison ministry, but had an automobile accident May 2 and was unable to speak at the event. Joey Barrier gave an update on the work for James. James is out of the hospital and is undergoing physical therapy for 2 weeks before returning to Florida.
Betty Choate, long-time missionary to Asia with her late husband J.C. Choate, provided free literature to all the retreat participants. Hundreds of missions books and books to support mission evangelism teachers were distributed at the retreat.
Betty continues to work with World Evangelism in Winona, Miss., assisting programs to evangelize Asia and Africa using radio, television and literature.
Wayne and Janet Barrier, Jerry and Paul Bates and Louis and Bonnie Rushmore work with Betty on a day-to-day basis.
The May Missionary Retreat is an annual event. Plans are being made for next year’s event at Maywood Christian Camp on Apr. 30-May 2, 2009. The topic is “How the Church Can Expand Evangelism – Foreign and in the U.S.”
For more information contact us at wbarrier@hiwaay.net, choate@worldevangelism.org, jerry@worldevangelism.org or rushmore@worldevangelism.org.
For videos and pictures of the 2008 retreat, as well as the speeches in pdf format, see this resource page.
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