Where do we reach?
Stapleford Baptist Church is excited about what God is doing "out there" and is becoming increasingly more involved with projects and people in other parts of the world. As a church we particularly support Andrew and Jennifer Love (Manaus, Brazil), Andy and Viv Birch (Palma, Mallorca), Andy and Judith Stovell (Sheffield) and Lise Dawson (Santiago, Chile). This means that we are committed to financial and prayer support as well as trying to build relationships between our church and other Chrisitans in different places. It's lovely to welcome our "missionaries" when they're in England and some of us have even been privileged to visit them as well. We have developed our links with Hogar el Alba, a children's home in Argentina, and have supported the project in several practical ways.
As well as these more formal links we are regularly supporters of Samaritan's Purse, a Christian charity who send shoeboxes of presents at Christmas to children overseas. We support the work of SASRA (Sailors and Airmen Scripture Readers Association) and have had several past missionary links in Nigeria and Nepal in which we still maintain an interest. SBC regularly give small donations to overseas projects and recently we have contributed towards The Delhi Bible Institute and MAF. Should members have an international cause on their heart they can suggest that we make a gift at our church meeting.
Recently we have raised awareness of the persecuted church by using the "30 days of prayer" booklets and resources from The Barnabas Fund. We have had a "mission prayer" afternoon and are continually trying to consider new ways of increasing our enthusiasm for God's world.
Palma
Andy and Viv Birch work in Palma on the island of Mallorca. Andy is the pastor of the Evangelical church and is involved with outreach and small groups all over the island. A group of approximately 40 members of the Palma church visited Stapleford in May 2006 for a long weekend and a return visit was enjoyed by members of SBC in May 2007. The churches are also experimenting with elder-exchanges as speakers swap “pulpits” for a service or two
Chile
In October 2007 Stapleford Baptist Church sent its first “home grown” missionary overseas. Lise Dawson a member of the church is working with SIM in Santiago, Chile. Lise is working at Rincon de Alegria (Corner of Happiness) a NGO was established in Chile by local believers to provide educational, material, spiritual and emotional care for young children and their families living within the area.
Argentina
Stapleford Baptist Church has developed close links with Hogar el Alba in Argentina. The church has sent two summer working parties to help with various tasks at the children’s home in Buenos Aires. Alfredo and Hilda who are responsible for the home visited Stapleford in spring 2006. The church has also provided money for computers for the home as well as offering other practical gifts and support.
Brazil
The Love family (Andrew, Jennifer, Hannah, Maria, Sarah and Amy) are based in Manaus in northern Brazil. Andrew is the pastor of a church. The family are involved with the Amazon Literature project which aims to get Christian books to people in inaccessible jungle areas. Jennifer is involved with the Sunday school and Andrew also teaches at a Theology college.
UK
The Stovell family (Andrew, Judith, Anna, Isaac, Seth and Josiah) are based in Sheffield with Crowded House. Andrew is an evangelist and works particularly amongst refugees and asylum seekers.