Partnership MMABATHO Baptist Church

PARTNERSHIP with MMABATHO BAPTIST CHURCH

Mmabatho Baptist Church
Pastor Edward Seleka

Mailing address:
Mmabatho Baptist Church
P.O. Box 1689
Mafikeng
2745 South Africa

MBC / FBC together offering hope to the community of Mmabatho

The development of FBC’s ministry partnership with Mmabatho Baptist Church of Mmabatho, South Africa (MBC) is a reflection of God’s global church and a testimony to FBC’s and MBC’s desire to respond to God’s leading.

“How did the partnership come about?”

Pastor Phil conducted a Pastor’s conference in South Africa during November, 2005. The conference was arranged by Bill Rapier, Director of African Leadership Development and an FBC supported missionary, Bill was serving at that time as FBC’s first Pastor of Global Outreach. The concept of establishing a church-to-church ministry partnership had been identified as one of the goals in establishing the FBC Pastor of Global Outreach position.

Pastor Phil met Pastor Edward Seleka at the conference and subsequently visited Mmabatho Baptist Church where he met church leaders and preached. (Mmabatho is located about a 4 hour drive northwest of Johannesburg.) God impressed upon Pastor Phil’s heart the need for Christ, the passion of MBC in ministering to the needs of the community and the possibilities for FBC to partner. The FBC Deacon Board subsequently affirmed forming a ministry partnership with MBC based upon the following factors:

The church and leadership is known by a missionary supported by FBC
It is international and cross-cultural, but communication is in English
There are tremendous needs and opportunities spiritually, physically, culturally and economically
Their leadership has vision to reach their community
It is a similar congregation with a Baptist heritage and style

Dave Fox, Joanne Straz and Bob Straz visited Mmabatho Baptist Church in April, 2006. The purpose of the visit was to work out with Pastor Edward and the MBC Social Ministry Team an approach to a ministry partnership between our churches with defined goals for our mutual benefit as churches. The team returned with what they felt was a clear confirmation to proceed with the partnership and they had a very specific first project identified. Just as Pastor Phil has previously stated, Dave, Joanne and Bob would echo; “We will never be able to get the images of our first trip to Africa out of our minds. They are etched on our hearts as well as our minds. We thank God for sending us and for granting us the opportunity to minister in partnership.”

“Why partner in South Africa?”

South Africa has a population of ~47 million. Although a middle-income emerging economic market, growth has not been strong enough to lower its high unemployment rate (~25%). Daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era (~50% living in poverty). High crime and HIV/AIDS infection rates (~5.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS) deter foreign investment. The abundant opportunity we have experienced in our lives and that we have striven to provide for our children is not even a dream for many South Africans where life expectancy is ~47 years for men and ~49 years for women. But there is hope!

“How is Mmabatho Baptist Church offering hope to their community?”

FBC’s ministry partners in Mmabatho are eager to offer hope to their community. They have identified the following three areas of social ministry:

Children’s Education – with a focus on providing a Christ-centered learning environment for children.
Skills Development – with a focus on providing computer and basic business skills training for better employment qualifications.
HIV/AIDS – with a focus on prevention, care and support services to the infected and affected.

Pastor Edward and the MBC Social Ministry Team’s vision to reach people was always real, but they lacked the means to see it happen. To address the children’s education ministry, they needed to locate space for the classroom, hire a teaching lead, recruit students and prepare the classroom. To address the skills development ministry, they needed to obtain equipment, hire a teaching lead, recruit students and secure government certification of their curriculum. To address the HIV/AIDS ministry, they needed to locate space to meet with and minister to people, recruit staff volunteers and train counselors and care givers.

“What is First Baptist Church of Elmhurst doing to help?”

God brought FBC and MBC together to accomplish His purpose. A partner is one associated with another especially in an action. In the summer of 2006, God led FBC to donate $20,000 in surplus funds so that MBC could purchase property to house their Social Ministries. The property contains two 4 room houses across the street from the church. The property is being used to operate a preschool, house the Social Ministry office and launch the HIV/AIDS ministry. This was clearly God’s leading! The preschool opened in June 2007. Enrollment peaked at 25. The first graduation service was conducted in December 2007 for five students moving on to kindergarten.

In the fall of 2006, God used us at FBC to donate 504 shoebox Christmas gifts for MBC’s ministry to families. The members and families of FBC (and their friends, neighbors and work associates) contributed as did the Men’s Ministry, Women's Ministry, High School Ministry, God Squad and K-5 Sunday School. Amazing! Hundreds of children have received a shoebox gift in connection with street campaigns conducted by Pastor Edward within the villages local to Mmabatho. Nearly 400 shoeboxes were collected in the fall of 2007 in support of village outreach ministries planned by our partners in 2008.

While Pastor Edward and Rebecca Seleka were visiting FBC in November 2006, God prompted us to promise $15,000 through designated funds in 2007 to enable MBC’s social ministries. In 2008, this commitment has been established within our annual budget. The social ministries enabled by these funds are targeted to offer hope – hope for a better education; hope for a healthier life; hope for a job.

“How is one church so far away able to make a difference in South Africa?”

There are many needs to be addressed in order for Mmabatho Baptist Church to offer skills training, provide pre-school education, and launch an HIV/AIDS ministry. Some of these needs can be addressed through information and advice. Some needs may require individual participation through field experiences. Other needs will require continued funding. All needs require prayer seeking God’s leading and direction. The FBC Mmabatho Partnership team prioritized these needs through conversation with Pastor Edward and Rebecca and validation by the MBC leaders. FBC will be undertaking very specific actions to enable Pastor Edward and our partners at Mmabatho Baptist Church to bring hope to their community.

Praise God for His faithfulness. Thank you for your commitment to His service.

View Apr 06 Trip Report

View Feb 07 Trip Report

View Oct 06 Shoebox Project Report

View Feb 07 Shoebox Distribution Report

View Jul 07 Trip Report

View Partnership History Montage

Harvest Home Dinner and Celebration, Nov. 21
You are invited to eat, talk, laugh and celebrate. Then you will enter "The Amazing Place" team competition. You will be enthused by the master plan of the "City Ministry Centre", and be able to give toward the next Building Renewal Steps. Tickets on sale after Sunday Services and at the Church Office thru Sunday November 16th. Adults $7.00, Ages 6-12 $4.00, ages 5 and under Free.

Community Christmas Carol Sing
Sunday, December 14th, 7:00 pm is our Christmas Carol Sing, Elmchurch invites the community to join us in celebrating the season of our Christ's birth in song.

Ladies Christmas Tea
December 6th from 2-4 P.M. Women's Ministry will celebrate with their biennial Christmas Tea. Please plan to join us for a concert in our sanctuary followed by tea and dessert in the Fellowship Hall. It will be a day of inspiration and enjoyment for ladies. Invite your friends and neighbors.

SFC Annual Chicago Day
Trip to Chicago by train. Fun day for Middle School Kids. More details in the near future. Save this date: December 13, 2008.

Common Journey
The "Pink Sheet" for November prayer is available in the foyer. It is also available as a pdf file here on our website. Click on the Forms/Info header, and find it under "Information". By request of SPI and their copyright privilege, printing of this "pink sheet" must be made on pink paper. Pink paper is available by request from the church office.

Common Journey
Men's small group meets every Monday at 6:45 P.M. Group study is THE MANUAL, come with the guys on a journey to be a godly manly man!

Women's Evening Edition
Tuesday Evenings at 7:00-8:50 P.M. Please join us as we experience friendships of grace and truth. You will love the relational environment as we learn the habits of a healthy group. And you will be encouraged to grow through a study by Mary Kassian called Knowing God By Name.

Crew
Is a ELMyouth's small group ministry that is designed to help students connect with each other and adults that truly care about their journey with God. The Middle School and High School will each have their own group. Crew meetings are held on Sunday evenings at 6:00 P.M. at a home. For more information contact the church office.

Men's Basketball
Come play ball with us at 8:30 P.M. on Monday evenings in the Church gym. Common Journey meets at 6:45 P.M. and there is still time for Basketball at 8:30 P.M.

Small Groups
ELM Church is increasing your options for connection. The Home Connections Groups will enable you to gain friends in order to do life together. Contact Pastor Phil to discover how to experience the mutual encouragement of a home group.

New Additions to the Library
Adult fiction books added for your reading pleasure: Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury; Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker; Picture Perfect by Debra White Smith; Dying to Kill by Patricia Rushford; and Stranded in Paradise by Lori Copeland. The DVD The Sin Eater has also been added.

KIDZ POWER HOUR
WHO? Kids entering kindergarten through 5th grade. WHAT? A cool ministry for kids to learn about God at their level with their peers. WHERE? Room 302, which is upstairs on the top floor of the church. WHEN? Every Sunday morning, from 10:20 a.m. until the end of the service. WHY? God desires a relationship with kids! We hope to help kids come into this relationship with God and grow in it.

Wondering about your involvement at ELMchurch?
Thinking about your development as a disciple of Jesus Christ? Find helpful info about both purposeful involvement and personal development at MyELMchurch on this site.

Members
Get your new Membership Covenant right on this site. See Beliefs--Membership Covenant for the downloadable file. Print two--one to sign and return to the office, and the other to keep and remind you of the lifestyle of mutual encouragement it describes.