International Mission

Gandhi said, "Give a person a fish and you give him a meal. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for life." We help organize a cooperative, enabling the people to supplement their meager incomes. We offer assistance in teaching and in materials.

One of our goals for Peniel is to become known as an educational center in their community. We have worked together on the addition of an educational wing to their building. Almost no literature of any kind is available. We continue to work in this area offering assistance to provide materials in Spanish for both Sunday School and the pre-school.

About 50 people from each congregation are becoming better acquainted through Prayer Partners. Letters and cards are exchanged two or three times a year with urgent requests made known through e-mail.

First Baptist Church sponsors mission trips to Nicaragua in alternate years.

This year the Nicaraguan Mission Team worked to bring four people from the Peniel Baptist Church to visit the Middletown area in June. This visit was very meaningful to both churches.

American Baptist International Missions Programs

Latvia —a large box of infant’s clothing was sent to Louise Hill, missionary to Latvia . This will be an on going project. Louise recently wrote and thanked us for sending such a practical selection of items. She made a request for warm clothing for triplets.

Thailand --$500 was given by our church to help build a block church for an Akha Tribe in northern Thailand . Three members from our church plan to go to Thailand in January ‘04 to help with this work.

Nicaragua —Peniel continues to work on their educational building as money becomes available. No trip is planned this year as their emphasis is on evangelism and Christian education. The money in the Elsie Perry Memorial for Nicaragua has been sent to Hogar Senil, a home for the elderly.