March 2005
A Challenging Mission Field
According to a recent community newsletter, Alabama’s Gulf Coast hosted over 4 million visitors in 2003. Due to Hurricane Ivan, our area received less than 4 million visitors in 2004; however, we anticipate continued growth and tourism in the coming months and years. Excellent information on beach restoration and long term hurricane recovery can be found at www.gulfshores.com. Ministering on the beaches and campgrounds in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is a unique and exciting experience. The changing gulf coast landscape has created a number of challenges for our staff and ministry partners. You may want to consider visiting our area in the near future for a church wide or student mission team experience. Pray for us as we approach the exciting yet challenging seasons of Spring and Summer in ’05.
Snowbird TV
Many of our resort visitors are winter residents affectionately referred to as snowbirds. Through the ministries of mission service corp. missionaries and campers on mission, Gulf Area Resort Ministries recently hosted a “snowbird luau” at Island Retreat RV park. The event was filmed by the media professionals at the North American Mission Board. The film crew also captured additional images of the “gulf state park resort family” and a resort worship service at Luxury RV Campground. We are looking forward to the potential ministry partnerships that may result through the work of the snowbird ministry video segment.
I believe that senior adults may be the greatest untapped resource in the local church especially when we consider the many unique ministry opportunities that are available today for an ever growing senior adult population. My prayer is that God would continue to call out senior adults to the adventures of mission field. The senior adults’ mission field can be found in the communities that they live, throughout the United States that they travel, and around the world. If you are a senior adult reading this newsletter and would like to know more about unique mission opportunities, visit us on the web www.barefootbelievers.com
For additional mission project information visit www.answerthecall.net, www.namb.net, and www.imb.org
Another Exciting Spring Break at the Beach
My recent visits to Beech’s RV, Island Retreat RV, Gulf Breeze RV, and Luxury RV for the purpose of securing mission projects for our Spring Break ministry partners were extremely productive. “Random Acts of Kindness” this Spring in the campgrounds will result in many snowbird ministry opportunities. We are also looking forward to fun with the kids at the resort ministry sites through Spring Break Backyard Bible Clubs and Puppet Performances. Construction teams will be working with local churches and residents to assist in the long term storm recovery efforts. Many of the student and adult volunteers will also be “hitting the beach” in the afternoon to share the gospel through hair wraps, face painting, sand sculptures, volleyball games, and many other creative ministry efforts.
Please pray for the ministry partners that make up the following Ministry Teams. The students and adults listed below will be ministering in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach during their Spring Break vacation. The teams are from Henderson Hills Baptist Church from Edmond, Oklahoma. The ministry teams will arrive on the mission field on March 12th…
Snowbird Ministry Team… Daryl, Brady, Jon, Mitch, Kate, Rachel, Esther, Jessica, Devon, Megan, Meredith, Kayla, Terri, Skylar, Lela, Ashley, Colin, Will, Cris, Allison, Elizabeth, Cara, Jenny, Chad, and Kelli
Backyard Bible Club Team… Evan, Kimberly, Krystal, Nathan, Alyson, Janelle, Brett, Ryann, Stefani, Julie Ann, Abbey, Shawna, Michael, Tom, Cassie, Megan, Emily, Kyle, Rebekah, Heather, Tate, Ryan, Sarah, Lauren, Paivy, Mary Beth, and Chelsea
Construction Team… Chip, Ken, Ian, Trey, Matthew, Carter, Braden, Hannah, Geoffrey, Emily, Greggory, Phillip, Christopher, Caleb, Steve, Matt, Jarrett, Alex, Trey, Bennett, Jake, Jonathan, Tyler, Dillon, and Max
Puppet Team… Julie, Ryan, Kaylee, Jana, Matt, Ricky, Preston, and Erin
Pray for the youth pastors, Brian and Chris, as they lead the Henderson Hills Mission Team in these and other exciting opportunities.
The 2005 Summer Missions Staff
One of Gulf Area Resort Ministries’ 2005 summer missionaries has been officially appointed. Please pray for Stephanie Robertson. Stephanie will arrive on the mission field on Alabama’s gulf coast at the end of May.
Last summer we worked with 8 summer missionaries, and we hope to have 7 more appointed to our areas in the coming months. The summer missionaries will partner with Thea and me in ministry for the entire months of June and July. The summer missionaries may be working with the following ministry teams as well…
FBC Madison, MS, Willowbrook BC, AL, North Carrolton BC, AL, FBC Decatur, AL, Church at the Crossing, IN, Imagine Ministries Drama Team, AL, Jubilee Baptist Church, AL, Orchid Crest BC, MO, Brewster Road BC, AL, Metamorphosis Ministries, AL, Capstone Church, AL, Woodland BC, AL, FBC Sandersville, GA, Leatherwood BC, AL, New Cannan BC, AL, Mt. Airey BC, SC, Calvary BC, MO, Parkview BC, AL, Timber Ridge Community Church, MO
We are also looking forward to working with students from across Baldwin County in July of 2005. We are calling this associational mission project BEACH BLITZ 2005. For more information on this event visit this corner of our website…
http://www.barefootbelievers.com/beachblitz.htm
One Last Thing
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Peace in Christ,
Jeff Ford
