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IBCM Holds Annual Reunion and Meeting • If you have memory of the “cold war” you no doubt are familiar with the term ICBM. We thank God that no Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile was ever launched during that “war” of words, challenges, and times of apprehension. However, another acronym gaining attention in the international Christian community is IBCM. It was launched from the home of Charles McIlveene some 12 years ago. In this case, IBCM refers to International Baptist Church Ministries. The goal of this ministry is to financially assist English-language international churches in igniting the explosive gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in as many areas of the world as possible. Although the majority of the churches that have received assistance are in Europe, other International English-language Baptist churches are located in the UAE, Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and Tanzania. Others are in formational stages as God provides leadership and guidance. IBCM is a membership organization, which meets annually. The most recent gathering was at First Baptist Church, Euless, Texas (USA), on 6 February. The evening before, a time of food, fellowship, and fun, was enjoyed by more than 40 associates at the Bavarian Grill in Plano. Sharing ministry memories, as well as updates of current activities, is one of the great joys of our organization’s get-togethers. The February meeting was not “business as usual.” There were times of recounting this ministry’s beginnings, and those who contributed ideas and support from IBCM’s inception. A moving devotional, brought by Mary Beth Moore, daughter of the ministry’s founder and visionary Charles McIlveene, was entitled, “Leaving a Legacy.” The legacy of Charles and others, who, under God’s leadership, anchored IBCM’s foundation and direction, will reach into eternity A report by Jimmy Martin, general secretary of the International Baptist Convention, concerning churches now gathering new believers, heretofore un-reached, was both inspiring and challenging. Laurie Martin shared promising women’s ministries involving European Baptist Federation churches. Jim Erwin, Nat Mack, Jimmie Nelson, and Minette Pratt were elected to fill vacancies on IBCM’s Board of Directors. Other reports and business concerning IBCM was conducted in an atmosphere of love, grace, and encouragement. Richard Page reported current organization membership and encouraged membership promotion. Membership in IBCM is open to those desiring to see this ministry continue to grow in its ability to aid as many churches as possible in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far-reaches of planet earth. Membership information is available at www. ibcmworld.org.• Neil G. Thompson Berlin, 1988-1991 Schweinfurt, 1997-1999 Reaching Women in Their Community • Frontline Community, located in Ramstein, Germany, maintains an active women’s ministry called RefresHER, which includes monthly events, weekly Bible studies, and a developing deployment ministry. The purpose of this ministry is to encourage and equip women in our community to lead a life that points others to Christ. Our past few months’ activities are highlighted here. Laugh Night last September was a huge hit with more than 70 women attending. A catered Italian buffet dinner, games encouraging laughter, and video clips of Christian comedians made for a fun and friendship-building event as we remembered that laughter is “good medicine” for the soul. In November the RefresHER team led a church-wide Boxing Night to fill more than 85 boxes with goodies and Psalm 91 books for deployed friends and spouses. We have received numerous notes from those deployed stating that the boxes and notes were received at just the right time to encourage them as they are away from family and friends during the holiday. December’s festive events included a trip by train to the Mannheim Christmas Markets. The women enjoyed fellowship and German treats to stay warm and experienced cultural events. During December the women helped our Shining Stars, 10 | Highlights 05/2010 school-age students, with a gift drive and delivery of gifts and goodies to a local orphanage. Frontline is privileged to partner with missionaries in Slovenia who were in need of sporting equipment and treattype food items for ministry to local youth. RefresHER women set up a Christmas tree with gift tags to encourage gifts for the Slovenia team. In January the RefresHER team organized a Healthy Lifestyle brunch. Frontline member and personal trainer Sandi Griffin shared her success story “Couch Potato to PT Spud” (available on Tangle. com). She shared guidelines about grocery shopping and falling prey to deceitful marketing. Kim Foley, Frontliner and aerobics instructor, also shared tips on exercises that can be done at home using minimal equipment. Bernadette Morris, Frontliner and fitness instructor, shared her heart for ministering to moms and children about health and went on to lead a group of women in an eight-week challenge to reach their health goals and grow closer to God in the process. February’s event, Stories from the Heart, included cupcakes (just to balance things out from our healthy lifestyle brunch!). Frontline women shared stories about God’s sovereign hand in their lives in areas like marriage, adoption, salvation testimonies, and friendship. The RefresHER team continues to seek God’s will for reaching the Frontline and Kaiserslautern military community women, making and strengthening friendships, and growing closer to God. Upcoming events include a Swap Party, giving suggestions to women on organizing, reducing clutter, and being good stewards of the gifts we have been given. Additional RefresHER gatherings include a day trip to the Prayer Gardens in Darmstadt and a Daughters of the King formal event reminding women of the value that we hold as children of a loving, redeeming Father. • Jocelyn Cadiz & Lisa Alvey January’s event features information on a healthy lifestyle.
In Response to the Haitian Tragedy Do No Harm by Nery Duarte Member of International Baptist Church, San Jose, Costa Rica • The Haitian disaster is quite possibly one of the most complex humanitarian emergencies in modern human history. Millions of people are facing, and likely will continue to face, shortages of basic necessities. Paradoxically, this tragedy is unfolding on the doorstep of two of the most prosperous nations in the world, the Unites States and Canada. Humanitarian agencies, along with supportive governments, are being forced to ask themselves this question: How can we, in a timely and appropriate way, help the Haitian people meet their short and long-term needs; and at the same time, seek to use this tragedy as an opportunity to break away from a seemingly endless cycle of dependency? The answers are not simple. In my organization, these highly complicated issues are being addressed by our most insightful thinkers as we refine our assistance strategy. This article does not necessarily address the larger humanitarian agencies working in Haiti, nor other supportive governments. I trust that they, along with my own organization, are rushing to come up with possible solutions to the issue of investing, rather than just spending, the resources entrusted to us for the people of Haiti. In our quest for answers we must be wise and attempt to incorporate a mechanism that will empower the Haitian society for long-term solutions, not help to nourish a cycle of dependency. This article focuses on smaller non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based and/or independent aid groups – those humanitarian groups who have plenty of good intentions and are already working hard in Haiti or those who will very soon join this massive humanitarian effort. As a whole, the humanitarian industry has learned many lessons from previous emergencies. It is by recognizing and embracing these “lessons learned” tools that we can attempt to avoid mistakes made in the past. Tools such as the books Do Not Harm and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies and codes for ethics and conduct such as those provided by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation and the Standards of Humanitarian Aid will undoubtedly be implemented. Along with this, most large humanitarian agencies are joining the coordinating effort led by the United Nations with the assumption that the Haitian government is solely responsible for the welfare of its own citizens. The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and their families can give us some guidance on how to tackle the question of wisely providing aid to desperately needy people. The story begins with uncertainties about how to meet the needs and the way in which Jesus responds to those uncertainties. Although the world may have enough resources to meet the basic needs of the people of Haiti, it is important to note that in this Biblical passage, the resources which were miraculously multiplied came from within the needy crowd and from the one who had the least: a child. We must remember that before the earthquake the Haitian people were somehow able to meet their own needs, and in spite of their scarcity, they did have agriculture, commerce, and productive activities. The first question we need to ask is: What can we do to support their current livelihoods and avoid activities that could weaken them? Referring back to the story of feeding the 5,000, I notice that the food distribution was not done by Jesus himself, but by his disciples. Very simply, Jesus did not seek to make a name for himself, although it may have been tempting. With this in mind, the second question all aid groups (large or small) ought to ask is: How can we enable local networks to do their own relief and development work? The question should not be limited to: How can we do relief and development work? We need to find ways to work through the local government, municipalities, and communitybased organizations in order to strengthen them by providing a sense of accomplishment and moral authority. Ten years ago during Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, a faith-based organization came to donate several truckloads of supplies to a community. These were distributed among the population in need. Simultaneously, the local municipality was struggling to meet many of the same basic emergency needs. Although the donation was obviously well-meaning, it actually humiliated the efforts of the local 11 | Highlights 05/2010
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Page 3 and 4: IBC gospel through the popular Alph
Page 5 and 6: Executive Council Plans Ministries
Page 7 and 8: ken 2010 the children’s program p
Page 9: “Give Yourself Away” at Singles
Page 13 and 14: News from the Churches Freiburg, Ge
Page 15 and 16: News from the Churches Paris, Franc

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