CPC 1999 Annual Report:
Missions

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As we enter the third millennium, Christians with a Biblical worldview will look back on 1999 with both hope and sadness. The growth of the internet, international travel and CNN have brought remote nations right into our daily lives. Armed conflicts in Kosovo, East Timor and Chechnya reminded us of the profound nature of human evil. Natural disasters in Turkey, Venezuela and India caused unimaginable pain and sorrow.

Yet in the midst of it all, we can still rejoice that God's Kingdom continues its relentless, inexorable advance. Amidst great suffering, God's faithful servants courageously spread His Gospel and engage in ministries of mercy. Many of these modern day saints are supported by Central Church and have deep ties to our congregation. In 1999, we were privileged to have a number of them visit us in Baltimore and share their lives and work. These folks included:

1. Don McCurry and B. Wilson, who challenged us during our missions conference in late February about reaching out to the Muslim world.
2. Joe Parker was at Central three times last year, alerting us to God's compassion in war-ravaged southern Europe, as well as tremendous opportunities in eastern Europe.
3. The Y's, and later the M's, came to Central and gave us a greater perspective on the work among the (deleted-group-name) in Burma and Thailand.
4. Jill Harris helped lead our fall Missions Celebration, making us more aware of our responsibility to children, both training our own children to know God's heart and having compassion on the needy children in the developing world.
5. The Callisons eloquently portrayed the struggles of Kurdish people in Central Asia and Europe during an adult Sunday School presentation in November.

These wonderful people are just a handful of over seventy missionaries and organizations who are part of the Central family. Their presence among us last year was orchestrated by God to give us a greater vision for saving the billions of lost people around the globe. In our fast paced, over-programmed culture, we have often lost sight of the souls God wants to reach. Those who serve overseas are an important reminder of the commitment God requires of His church.

The Missions Committee at Central welcomes any of you who share in this commitment to join us in our vital work. As God's stewards, we have been given abundant resources to put to work at home and abroad. Beyond the nearly one-third of this year's budget that has been earmarked for missions, God continues to call many of our members into new ventures in missions. Chris and Kay Smoes, Kathy Smith, Corin Chubski and Jill Marbach are just a few examples. Many more have served on short term opportunities, including last year's Easter trip to Romania. They need our support, encouragement and prayers. As God's work around the globe increases, so must we expand our passion for the Great Commission.