On Friday, October 7, 2022, the BBFI Mission Office hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on its new property located at the corner of West Sunshine and Farm Road 123. Pastors, missionaries, special guests, and other community members received a firsthand look at the future home of BBFI Missions and heard stories of how God has provided over the years to make this project possible.
Carl Boonstra, who served as the third BBFI Mission Director, shared how he has been a part of every mission building of the BBFI including the building connected to the G.B. Vick Memorial Library on the campus of Baptist Bible College, the old High Street Baptist Church building on High Street, the current building that was originally intended to be a chapel for BBC, and now this new building. He stated that he has already put in a request to move into the first available housing for retired missionaries. Ann Baird, wife of the fourth BBFI Mission Director, blessed all in attendance with a missions focused song.
Special guests for the groundbreaking included BBFI Executive Committee members John Theisen, Kevin Carson, and Bob Stephenson, former BBFI Mission Director, Carl Boonstra, wife of former BBFI Mission Director, Ann Baird, Baptist Bible College president, Mark Milioni, and BBFI Communication Director, Randy Harp. Other local guests included Keith Noble, president of Commerce Banks, Louie Michael from the Firm Real Estate agency, and representatives from Burkholder Design Collaborative, Crossland Construction, and Toth & Associates. Lunch was provided to all guests curtesy of Commerce Bank.
