Salongo! Salongo!

“Salongo! Salongo! Why do you not answer when I call you?”

The young pastor calling me was smiling as he touched my elbow to gain my attention. It was the second morning that our Urbancrest team was ministering on Buvuma Island in Uganda. Charles Fry and I were teaching at the Buvuma Island Pastor Training School that George Smith had founded. The day before, the pastors had given me an African name, Salongo. I was not quite familiar with it yet. According to the pastors, the name meant “twins” because I brought teams to them and, as they explained, it meant double blessing or “double trouble.”

Well, it was true that I brought volunteer mission teams. This was my fourteenth team to Uganda and there were fourteen of us currently on Buvuma Island. Eight of the fourteen were returning for their fourth, fifth, or sixth year. Three were remaining in Uganda to work for an additional two months.

Buvuma Island is a chain of islands on Lake Victoria. It is remote and primitive. There are no roads, no electricity, and no resort hotels. It is estimated that 50,000 souls live there tucked away from the rest of the world and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our IMB missionaries George & Geraldine Smith are doing an awesome work there and have planted over twenty churches and started 5 schools.

Our teams go there to teach pastors and layman. We also teach women and children and help school teachers develop their abilities. Most of our volunteers are just everyday folks that sit in a pew on Sunday and go to the Sunday school class. But, they are following Jesus and He has given them a great passion to bring glory to His name.

Our purpose at Urbancrest is just that: to bring glory and honor to the name of Jesus and to make His name famous. For that reason, we send mission teams numerous places around the globe each year. Every year Urbancrest carries that name from Lebanon to Haiti, Argentina, Africa, and many places in between. There is a place for everyone to serve. You can go! When you go, God WILL use you to glorify His name.

In 2011, we have more than 15 trips planned. See the list below and begin now to pray. Begin the process of getting your passport if you do not have one already. Information meetings will be announced very soon. Some trips are starting to train now. Both Israel and Cuba are now forming and need you to go.

“If God desires every knee to bow to Jesus and every tongue to confess him, so should we. We should be ‘jealous’ (as Scripture sometimes puts it) for the honour of his name — troubled when it remains unknown, hurt when it is ignored, indignant when it is blasphemed, and all the time anxious and determined that it shall be given the honour and glory which are due to it. The highest of all missionary motives is neither obedience to the Great Commission (important as that is), nor love for sinners who are alienated and perishing (strong as that incentive is, especially when we contemplate the wrath of God) but rather zeal — burning and passionate zeal – for the glory of Jesus Christ. … Before this supreme goal of the Christian mission, all unworthy motives wither and die.” --John Stott

Urbancrest Baptist Church Mission Trips 2011

Cuba ~ February 19-26, Team Leader: Doss Estep

Israel ~ February 12-26, Team Leaders: Mike & Darlys Bullock

Haiti ~ March TBD, Team Leader: Mick Lovely

Hawaii ~ March 24 - April 1, Team Leader: Shawn Peoples

Haiti ~ April TBD, Team Leader: Wanda Lovely

Appalachia ~ June TBD, Team Leader: TBD

Key West, Florida ~ June 2-9, Team Leader: Dave Bickers

Uganda ~ June 29 - July 16, Team Leaders: Doss Estep & Diane Lynch

Ukraine ~ July 10-17, Team Leader: Bob Grimshaw

Eastern Kentucky ~ July TBD, Team Leaders: Paul & Janet Boroff

Argentina ~ August TBD, Team Leader: TBD

Summer IMPACT West Central Association ~ July TBD, Team Leader: TBD

Haiti ~ August TBD, Team Leaders: Jeff & Deanne Clem

Uruguay ~ November TBD, Team Leader: David Coppedge

For more information please contact Doss Estep at 513.932.4405 or by email at destep@urbancrest.org.

You-Turn Mission Trips with Joe Veal 2011
Malawi, Africa ~ February 1-15, April 25 to May 9, July 18 to August 1, August 2-16, August 8-22, October 31 to November 14

Haiti ~ June 24-30

Dominican Republic ~ December 2-9

For more information about You-Turn trips, please contact Joe Veal at joetveal@mac.com.