The Vision Shared

By Phyllis DeSmit

When Victoria A. joined the Blessings Trust Bank in Ghana, her first loan was $16, which helped her begin a baking business. Today, she oversees a successful enterprise. With another loan, this one $495, Victoria replaced her traditional brick oven with a convection oven. She can now provide for her family and employ others.

Because of Central's determination to tithe to outreach causes from funds accumulating in the "Share the Vision" (STV) Campaign (funds to develop the new facilities), $100,000 was distributed during 2005 to various ministries. Victoria benefited from one of those.

Central joined Opportunity International in its Lending Hope to Africa Campaign. The focus is to address the needs of communities suffering from poverty and AIDS through the power of microfinance and group lending. Opportunity's African partners now have AIDS/Transformation Coordinators on staff as well as business advisors and spiritual encouragers. These staff members are qualified native Africans.

Closer to home, Ms. Mary from the newly renovated office at the Baltimore Christian School says, "I am like a little child at Christmas in the new office space. I love to come in everyday. It is so bright and cheery." She is thankful for the new cabinets, fresh paint, and a laminating machine "that is better than Staples." These improvements are the result of shared STV monies. Add to this a computer center being created!

"We have established (purchased) a legal presence in Thailand to allow property ownership and offered the down payment on land for a future Gospel Recordings Network (GRN) building in northern Thailand," reports Jon Rulison, GRN staff and resident of Thailand. "This center will expand the ministry of reaching more language groups with the gospel message in their heart dialect. It will enable staff to devote full time to the work, avoiding the current restriction of working outside the Mission in order to maintain visas." Our STV monies contribute to this.

More than renovating houses, Sandtown Habitat for Humanity is creating community and changing lives. Volunteers from Central appreciate the fellowship with workers from many Baltimore churches and the fellowship with Sandtown residents! STV funds have contributed to Central's 12th house at 1525 Baker Street. Scott Corey reports that when finished, the three surviving walls and parts of two floors will be a four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath new house by late fall 2006.

The vision is shared in Asia. "One of the rescued child soldiers was severely ill. Everyone was sure he was going to die. God was petitioned for healing. Today young Saikap is well. His recovery impacted the hearts of many of our little soldiers. Now most of them have accepted Jesus into their hearts," so writes a missionary. STV monies are helping with the care (spiritual, medical, educational, board and room needs) of youngsters who have no hope of finding their families and who must overcome the terror they have experienced at the mercy of horribly abusive people.

God's vision is world embracing,
and so is ours!