by Mark Hodges
Representing the BBFI as president this past year, I traveled to several foreign countries and experienced many wonderful adventures in our churches and overseas fellowships.
I started the year traveling with BBFI Mission Director Jon Konnerup to the country of Indonesia to be with missionaries Larry and Nancy Quinlan. We were amazed at the great work accomplished in this recently persecuted land. Well over 200 pastors and workers from all over Indonesia attended an exciting pastor’s conference. On the way home, I had the opportunity to visit with Ray and Ginger Crocker in Singapore for a wonderful Wednesday night service.
In March, I had the joy of speaking at the great Bible Baptist Church in Cebu City, Philippines, where we saw 180 people accept Christ in one service. This is the church begun by Bob Hughes, one of our early BBFI missionaries. A special thank you goes to Dr. Armie Jesalva, the pastor of the Cebu church for many years, for challenging the people in the Philippines to pray every day for the rest of their lives that revival would come to America. (View this moving presentation for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAb2wKkSzNw). The video was shown at the May Graduation Fellowship Week and all attending were impressed with Dr. Jesalva’s appreciation and concern for American Christians.
As I began my return to the States, I had the joy of spending time with faithful missionaries Mike and Carolyn Tester. That Wednesday evening I once again experienced the exciting ministry of Don and LuJean Stone in Hong Kong.
Later in the year, while in Chile, missionaries Dave and Peggy Disney showed us some of the earthquake’s devastation to some of their works and national pastors’ homes. We also had a good time of fellowship with missionaries Joel and Wendy Solomon.
While speaking at various places in Brazil, it was a privilege to travel with the fine young missionary Patrick McClure (view: http://brazilianoutreach.org/main/). We preached numerous times in the BBFI Congress where 300 to 400 pastors and workers attended. At that same meeting, we enjoyed good fellowship with missionaries Gary Tomberlin and Steven Trask. On the last evening, I challenged those at the Congress to embrace the vision of reaching our entire world for Christ. Nine young adults surrendered their lives to go, and over 100 came forward to pray for them and for others to go.
It was a treasured time, a great privilege to represent the pastors and missionaries of our Fellowship in foreign lands, and I was reminded all over again that we have some of the greatest missionaries in the entire world!