Missionaries in Attendance

• Gary and Mylinda Baits from Costa Rica
• Dan Buttry, a global consultant on reconciliation and economic development
• Mike Lowery from the Congo
• Karen Smith from Thailand
• Duane Binkley who works with Refugees in northern Thailand

Bible Study Leader

Bucky Sydnor from Nepal

Housing and Reservations

Reservations for this conference will be made through International Ministries through www.internationalministries.org (after March 1, 2008)

Housing is available at the Red Lion Hotel for double occupancy rooms at $81.00/night. A second location is being arranged at a lower rate.

Other Housing Options:  Please contact Maxine Gilmer 541-840-1106.

Special Children's Program will run parallel to the Mission Conference. Sponsored by local churches, this Vacation Bible School style ministry will integrate the missionaries into the fun and games enjoyed by the children. In other words, bring the kids.

Youth Program is sponsored by International Ministries with Tim Moore, Missionary Kids Care and Concern Director. Youth leaders from regional churches will be assisting in this Youth Program.

Pre/Post Conference events. The local planning team is developing recreational plans for families before and after the conference. Watch for future updates.

Schedule for the Oregon Conference

MISSIONARIES

Gary and Mylinda Baits, Costa Rica

The Baitses work with the Costa Rican Baptist Federation in pastoral and lay leadership development and theological education.  There is an urgent need for committed, trained servant leaders for the churches. Recruiting, training, and encouraging leaders are some of the ways Mylinda and Gary spend their time and energy. This involves teaching courses at the Baptist Seminary in the San Jose area, and making practical ministry workshops available at a number of local church locations. Through annual events like a "Call Retreat" for people considering how God might be calling them into some kind of ministry, they help recruit new leadership for the churches and community ministries. Pastoral support groups, visits over coffee, and prayer walks through communities served by the local Baptist churches, are some of the many ways that the Baitses “walk alongside” and encourage their Costa Rican friends.  

Daniel Buttry

In International Ministries' Go Global vision, the mission priority of Christ-like Mission sets the strategy to pursue peace, justice and reconciliation through ministries of conflict transformation and education, as well as by standing with and serving the victims of conflict. Undertaking that strategy is Dan Buttry's chief aim as IM's Global Service Missionary for Peace and Justice. Dan will work with IM missionaries and national church partners around the world to deal constructively with conflict situations. These conflicts may be social and political conflicts within a country, or they may be conflicts within the national church bodies that negatively impact Christian witness.

Mike Lowery,  Democratic Republic of Congo

Mike is a professor and administrator at the Pastor's Institute in Kikongo. He teaches New Testament and prepares pastors for rural ministry in the Bandundu region of Congo. Since 2004, Mike has also served as the Mission Treasurer, thus his relocation to Kinshasa. He still commutes to Kikongo once a month to teach at the Pastors Institute for one week at a time. He also participates in the preaching schedule of the local churches in Kikongo, as well as in nearby churches when invited. Mike is involved in Information Technology—he maintains the email communication system in Kikongo. He is researching the costs and availability of satellite internet connections for Kikongo.

Karen Smith, Thailand

Karen serves at the New Life Center Foundation, an evangelical ministry located in Northern Thailand. The New Life Center Foundation (NLCF) works exclusively with ethnic minority (tribal) women throughout the Mekong sub- region (Thailand and its neighboring countries) who are at risk for, or victims of, labor exploitation. Labor exploitation includes forced work in factories, local markets, domestic situations, and prostitution. Since its inception in 1987, the NLCF has partnered with the Royal Thai Government and other organizations to provide legal, psychological, and repatriation assistance to victims of human trafficking.

The NLCF provides shelter, education, vocational and life skills training to all residents. Over the past several years, new treatment methodologies for victims have been implemented, including art, dance and music therapy. NLCF staff continue to advocate for full human rights and legal Thai citizenship for all residents, and have led ground-breaking educational campaigns about trafficking, labor exploitation, and HIV/AIDS throughout Thailand, China, and Laos PDR.

BIBLE STUDY LEADER:   Bucky Sydnor, Nepal

Bucky and Carole Sydnor serve in Nepal, a country where they previously served from 1978 to 1987. They are based in the Kathmandu Valley, which has the country's largest concentrations of population. Nepal is one of the world’s poorest countries in the world. Traditionally a Hindu Monarchy, full freedom of religion came to Nepal in 1990. The Nepal Baptist Church Council was established in 1994 and has grown to 115 churches and several hundred fellowships. Handling donor relations, Bucky works as the international relations coordinator for Human Development and Community Service (HDCS), a non-governmental Christian organization based in Kathmandu. HDCS is committed to holistic mission in Nepal, and focuses on the great need for social ministries such as health, education, and community development. HDCS manages several hospitals across the country, which together serve over 10% of the country's population. The hospitals are partially supported by various subsidies, including one from the government. He also assists HDCS with financial management.

Bucky and Carole relate informally with individuals and churches in the rapidly growing Nepal Baptist Church Council, in areas of discipleship and leadership development.

Refugee Forum Leader, Duane Binkley, Northern Thailand

Duane and Marcia Binkley are involved with resettlement of Burmese refugees. Particularly relating to Karen and Chin resettlement, Duane will conduct sessions on Friday (3:00 – 5:00 pm) and Saturday (1:30 – 5:00 pm), focusing upon the exchange of ideas and experiences. Working with resettled refugees is new for almost all of us so come and share what is working and not working in your area and learn and get ideas from others involved in similar work around the country. Topics we are often asked about and might be discussed include, worship models to include multiple languages, developing a multi-cultural Sunday school, available resource materials, how to run ESL classes, ethnic church leadership development, transportation issues, bridging the cultural gap, mentoring or friendship programs, getting involved from a distance, living in a tough urban environment, dealing with domestic issues (substance abuse & domestic violence), etc. Definitive solutions to any or all the issues in two days might not be possible, but maybe each of us can come away with some new ideas.

Friday Night Forum Leader, Reid S. Trulson

The Rev. Dr. Reid S. Trulson became the Executive Director of International Ministries in December, 2006. He graduated from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis with a B.S. degree in History and from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California with M.Div and D.Min degrees. From 1995 – 2000 Reid and his wife Janelle served as American Baptist missionaries to Europe, living in Austria and the Czech Republic. He then served for six years as Area Director, overseeing American Baptist missionaries and mission work in Europe and the Middle East, initiating and building partner relationships with 51 European and Middle Eastern Baptist Unions. Reid and Janelle have two daughters

International Guest: Jose Salvador, Brazil

“Salvador” (to his friends) serves as a missionary of JAMI-CBN (the Administrative Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention of Brazil), International Ministries’ partner mission agency in Brazil. He is a pioneer in Christ-like ministries among five indigenous people groups in the Javari River basin of Brazil, where he has served since 1997. His ministry projects are in the areas of health and wellness, education and literacy, community development (particularly well drilling to provide clean water), language and cultural preservation, and support for an indigenous non-governmental organization that links the five people groups.