Please plan to attend this year’s Annual OIC [Overseas Instruction in Counseling] Friendship Gathering on Saturday, April 14, at 11:00 a.m. Why? Good food, an excellent speaker, information about the worldwide ministry of OIC and Dr. Wayne Vanderwier. You are all invited and are welcome to bring your children. If you would like to know more about this banquet, please contact Pastor Brady here at the church. For more information about OIC, please click here.
Category Archives: Missions
OIC Banquet
Date: Saturday, April 14, 2012
Time: 11:00 am
Adolpho and April Ruesga: Our Missionaries to Mexico
Adolpho Ruesga was raised in a Christian home in Mexico and was saved at the age of 7. In 1992, he accepted the call to ministry. April was also raised in a Christian home, being the daughter of missionaries to Mexico. Her grandparents were also missionaries there. At the age of 6, she received Christ as her Savior.
The Ruesga’s knew each other from the time they were children, and were married in 2001. Shortly after, they surrendered their lives to serve the Lord in Saltillo, Mexico, and helped to start the Saltillo Baptist Church. Adolpho served as the Senior Pastor of this church until May, 2008. Their goal in ministry is that which is outlined in the Great Commission – Evangelizing – Baptizing – Training – and Reaching Others. Under Adolpho’s leadership, the Saltillo church planted two other churches in the area, supported 20 missionaries, and sent two families as missionaries to the foreign field. The Ruesga’s are now serving in Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico. They have 3 young children.
We have been privileged to have them as our missionaries for the past 4 years. The faithful giving of our people to missions provides the funds to keep them on this needy field. Please keep them in your prayers as you meet with the Lord this week! You can find out more about the Ruesga Family by visiting their website.
Praying for Nepal
Nepal is a country of about 30 million people; 380 different people groups; and 127 languages. It is 75% Hindu, and less than 3% Christian. Since 2008 there have been sweeping political reforms which have given new opportunities for the advance of the gospel. Pray that Nepali believers will move quickly to take advantage of these opportunities.
With communist China on its northern border, there are Maoist rebels (terrorists) within Nepal that threaten the political stability of the country. Pray for the spiritual strength and physical safety of our missionaries to Nepal, David and Karen Freeman. Pray also for the believers in Nepal, that they will stand fast in faith, and fearlessly proclaim the truths of the gospel in this deeply pagan nation.
If you would like to know more about how to pray for Nepal, please check out Operation World by clicking here or by watching the short video below.
Missionary Bud Everett to Visit Unity Baptist Church
Date: Sunday, October 23, 2011
Time: 10:15 am
Location: Unity Baptist Church
On Sunday, October 23rd, we will be given the privilege of having Bud Everett join us for our morning services. He is a missionary with Outreach to Asian Nationals and will be filling us in on his ministry and passion for the lost people of Asia. We would love for you to join us for this exciting Sunday. Services will begin at 10:15!
Unity to Hold Missions Emphasis Sunday
Date: Sunday, September 18, 2011
Time: 10:15 a.m.
Location: Unity Baptist Church
We are a church with a heart for missions. It is part of our effort to obey the great commission and get the gospel throughout the world. Right now, we support 8 missionary families or projects at $150.00 each month. We have set aside September 18th to focus our attention on missionary outreach and our responsibility to do all we can to reach the unreached people groups with the gospel.
As a part of the Missions Emphasis Sunday, joining us on this special day we will be having Ray and Kristi Rhoton, our missionaries to Costa Rica; and Bud Everett, who is with Outreach to Asian Nationals. We hope you’ll plan to be with us on this day!
Ray & Kristi Rhoton & Lily
Ribbon Cutting for Kuna Mission in Panama
Date: Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Unity Baptist Church
We were so encouraged by your generosity in giving for this project. We were able to purchase enough ribbon to help meet the entire need for this mission project. Now, all that is needed is to cut the ribbons and finish it up! Ladies, come to fellowship, watch some funny “I Love Lucy” reruns, and help our missionaries by cutting some ribbon! If you are planning on coming, please B.Y.O.S (Bring your own scissors)! “Many hands (scissors) make light work!”
Costa Rica Mission Team Arrives Home Safely
After 8 days and over 40 hours of travel, our Costa Rica Mission Team arrived home safe and sound! During those 8 days in Costa Rica, our mission team was able to update an existing building into a youth center, lead an evangelistic youth rally, set up and help run a family fun fair, run children’s programs during the church services, and find time to see the beautiful country of Costa Rica! It seems like a lot during a short amount of time, but all of the team members more than willing to serve our missionaries, Ray & Kristi Rhoton, in any way possible! We thank you for your prayers, and we want you to know that the Lord was glorified and the name of Jesus Christ went forth through this mission! Please click the movie below to see pictures and highlights of our trip!
Costa Rica Mission Trip Update
Hello Friends! Here is our 1st and most recent update due to a lack of internet connection down here!
We arrived at 3am in Costa Rica (4am IL time) Tuesday morning after traveling since 8am Monday morning. Ray and Kristi were gracious to encourage us to sleep in so our Tuesday morning wake-up call was 10am. We had devotion time and prayer and headed to the old church to see the vision for changing it into a community Youth Center. We immediately jumped into the project. The boys worked on tearing down a wall and the girls began scraping the walls, followed by sanding the newly created pits in the wall, and then spackled by Dan. By the end of Tuesday night we had successfully… cleared out the benches, tore down the wall, completely prepared for painting, and cleaned out the office and organized all of the items that were in it.
Wednesday morning was a 9am “go-time” after devotion and prayer. We immediately set to work taping EVERYTHING to prepare for painting, followed by some serious (ALL DAY LONG!) “cutting” (as we discovered is another term for “edging”) and LOTS of rolling. Pretty much… we painted all day. The men also had to attack a cement wall that almost had them beat, but they came out victorious in the end. Our night ended with a trip to Ray’s parents’ church in Santiago for Caritas Felices. It’s an Awana-like program that Ray’s mom created. It was great to be involved and see the different ministries already taking place here in Costa Rica.
Today we spent many, many hours touring the “Highlights” of Costa Rica. The adventure included breakfast on the terrace at Siempreverde coffee plantation, a hike to the Poas Volcano, and a visit to the La Paz Lodge and Waterfall which included many sights and sounds of the Costa Rican Rainforest! Tomorrow brings the Youth Night “Extreme Games” and Saturday morning brings the Family Fun Day “fair.” Please pray for us as we have a LOT to do tomorrow to prepare for these two main events. We will update again as time allows to fill you in on what the Lord is doing!
Love you all and are so appreciative of your support!
Costa Rica Mission Trip Team
Unity Baptist Church to Send Mission Team to Costa Rica
Date: Monday, June 13, 2011
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
In less than one week, a Missions Team from Unity Baptist Church will be heading to San Jose, Costa Rica. The purpose of this Missions Trip is to visit our missionaries, Ray and Kristi Rhoton, to help, encourage, and support them in their ministry to the people of Costa Rica. During the trip, the team will helping the Rhotons minister through children’s programs, youth events, and a family fun day to help evangelize the area. They will also help begin the process of turning an old church building into a youth center for the teens in the surrounding areas. They’ll be working hard to transform this building into a place that teens will feel safe and comfortable.
This is a great opportunity that the Lord has provided to work in hearts and change lives in people from Champaign, IL, all the way to San Jose, Costa Rica. Please keep this team of short-term missionaries in your prayers by praying that the Lord keeps them safe, uses them mightily, and brings them back to Illinois more on fire for the Lord than before. Here are the names of the team members so that you can pray for them specifically [picture: left to right, top to bottom]: Pastor Dan Neighbors, Lyle Shallenberger, Ed Kennedy, Laura Neighbors, Samantha Gray, Priscilla Kennedy, Katie Sapp, Rufina Ebes.
Unity Baptist Church is excited to see how the Lord will use the Mission Team for His glory! We’ll pray you there and back and look forward to hearing the great things the Lord will do!
Auction for Missions
Date: Saturday, April 2, 2011
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Unity Baptist Church
On Saturday, April 2nd at 2:00 p.m. the Costa Rica Missions Team will be hosting an auction to raise support for their missions trip in June. Several local businesses have been generous enough to donate items and services which we can auction off to the highest bidder! We would like to invite you to join us in helping our Missions Team raise enough money to make it to Costa Rica! So please join us on Saturday, April 2nd for a fun time of bidding for a good cause! If you have any questions about this event, please contact the church office.
