Global Mission Partnerships
At Culbertson Baptist, we have several global mission partnerships. In their book, The Shaping of Things to Come, Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch states, "God is a sending God, with a desire to see humankind and creation reconciled, redeemed, and healed."* Here in New Albany, we are joining God is this work. As a congregation, we are sent out into this community to our neighborhoods, schools, places of employment, and places throughout Floyd County on this mission of reconciliation, redemption, and healing.
We also know this calling of God extends to "the ends of the earth" (The Book of Acts 1:6-12, NLT). We have developed mission partnerships to affirm this calling. Each week, we contribute 10% of our Sunday morning offering to mission work both locally and globally. We contribute to United Mission, our regional mission partnership through ABC IN/KY. So far in 2019 (January - October), our church has donated $15,651.92 to missional work. A portion of that offering allows us to contribute $150.00 to our six mission partners listed below.
People in our congregation also donate to the America for Christ Offering (supporting national missionaries through ABC USA), the World Missions Offering (supporting global missionaries through ABC USA), the Retired Ministers/Missionaries Offering (supporting retired ministers and missionaries in ABC USA), and the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering (supporting victims of natural disasters). You can click on the above links to learn more about these important annual offerings.
* Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st-Century Church (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003), 18.
New International
Adam and Bent are sharing God's love in Myanmar through their work in microbusiness support and economic development.
Their organization works with migrant factory workers and other marginalized groups to start businesses and escape poverty. They also partner with Christian business owners and equip them to pursue business opportunities for the sake of building God's kingdom in Myanmar.
You can follow this link (New International) to learn more about their ministry.
ABC USA (Honduras)
Dilia Zelaya is sharing God's love in Honduras through International Missionaries of ABC USA.
Dilia Zelaya is an associate missionary appointed by International Ministries in partnership with the First Baptist Church of Marshalltown, Iowa. She is responsible for developing and supervising the Ministries of Faith and New Life in Azacualpa, Honduras. This ministry is home to nine children, providing for all their basic needs—food, education, health and spiritual growth. Additionally, Dilia has founded the Escuela Cristiana Vida Nueva (Christian School of New Life), a bilingual school that includes a computer room, a feeding program that provides a meal five days a week to approximately 50 children in need and a soccer program dedicated to teenagers from the community.
You can follow this link (Dilia Zelaya) to learn more about her ministry.
ABC USA (Thailand)
Debby & Kyle Witmer are sharing God's love in Thailand through International Missionaries of ABC USA.
Debby serves as IM’s Global Coordinator for MK (Missionary Kid) and Family Care, the branch of IM’s member care program that seeks to empower IM families to engage in healthy relationships with God, each other, those outside their families, and their cultures. Believing that MKs and their families can thrive through transition and adventure, and believing in the importance of following Jesus in active discipleship, Debby oversees IM’s initiatives to support missionary kids emotionally, spiritually, and physically by nurturing growth in their relationships with God, themselves, and others, while serving as an additional caring adult in their lives. She also comes alongside global servant parents in a supportive, encouraging, and equipping way, working together with them to build and maintain healthy families. Debby’s ministry includes assisting local churches in cultivating their relationships with their MK families to support them well.
You can follow this link (Debby Witmer) to learn more about her ministry.
ABC USA (Haiti)
Kihomi Ngwemi & Nzunga Mabudiga are sharing God's love in Haiti through International Missionaries of ABC USA.
Kihomi and Nzunga serve as a vital link between International Ministries and the Haitian Baptist Convention. They preach in churches and serve through a variety of ministries. Nzunga teaches theology at the Christian University of Northern Haiti, trains assistant professors and administers a scholarship program for elementary- through university-age students. He manages the goat and pig projects for children, the clean water project for communities and the Cap-Haitian Eye Clinic. Kihomi works in counseling, women’s health, community health evangelism and economic development. She coordinates and advises the women’s association of the convention, representing women of all the Baptist denominations of Haiti at international conferences.
You can follow this link (Kihomi Ngwemi & Nzunga Mabudiga) to learn more about their ministry.
ABC USA (Colombia)
Carlos Bonilla & Mayra Giovanetti are sharing God's love in Colombia through International Missionaries of ABC USA.
Carlos Bonilla and Mayra Giovanetti, "the BGs," have been used by God in discipleship formation and training in churches in Chile, Spain and Nicaragua. UNIBAUTISTA has invited them to continue this work with ethnic groups in one of the most neglected areas of Colombia, the Guajira Northern Region. The BGs have been long-term global servants since 2000 through International Ministries, registered as the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society.
Carlos and Mayra communicate with their network through their newsletter, Acts in Action—BGs Et Al. They love intentionally (Romans 12:15) while correctly explaining the word of truth, (2 Timothy 2:15) knowing that God provides the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)
You can follow this link (Carlos Bonilla & Mayra Giovanetti) to learn more about their ministry.
ABC USA (South Africa)
Anita & Rick Gutierrez are sharing God's love in South Africa through International Missionaries of ABC USA.
Family doctors Rick and Anita train and equip local missionaries, or “health builders,” to combat lifestyle-related diseases like HIV/AIDS, high blood pressure, heart and artery disease, diabetes and malaria in homes, schools, places of worship and marketplaces. Health builders also receive training in gardening and poultry skills to help them promote good nutrition and provide income, and they lead Bible study groups in their communities. Pray with Rick and Anita for a disciple-making movement in South Africa.
You can follow this link (Anita & Rick Gutierrez) to learn more about their ministry.
International Ministries
International Ministries, also known as the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, works cross-culturally to invite people to become disciples of Jesus Christ and to proclaim, through both word and deed, God’s reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation.
View the image below to see all the missionaries supported by ABC USA. You can also follow this link (International Ministries) to learn more about their ministry.
