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Funding

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE
Office of Communication
American Baptist Churches USA
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director
E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

GENERAL BOARD UPDATE: June 20, 2001

WORLD RELIEF COMMITTEE APPROVES FUNDS FOR PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

PROVIDENCE, RI--The American Baptist Churches' World Relief Committee, in
semiannual session here June 18, voted to fund dozens of relief and
development programs and projects within the U.S. and overseas.

The committee establishes policy for distribution of funds from the One
Great Hour of Sharing Offering.

Among major funding determined by the committee:
- Overseas--$9,540 to support Nsona Mpangu Baptist Church in the Democratic
Republic of Congo as it refurbishes hydroelectric equipment; $15,000 for a
women's ministries project (including job training and health care) in
Haiti; $9,000 to the Van Allen Hospital in Kodaikanal, South India, for the
purchase of a jeep; $8,000 to the Impur Christian Hospital, Nagaland, India,
to help purchase an ultrasound machine; and $8,000 to the Nagaland Baptist
Church Council to fund peace talks, training conferences and seminars on
peace building in that conflicted region.

- Within the U.S.--$20,000 start-up funds for a ministry to men, women and
youth developed by Inner City Baptist Church, San Diego; $30,000 to hire a
full-timer administrator at "Timezone," a youth-centered ministry of First
Baptist Church, Boise, Idaho; $15,000 to assist the "Village Builders
Project," a ministry of First Baptist Church, Birmingham, Mich., centered on
prevention programs; $25,000 for a community anti-violence/crisis
intervention program of New Visions Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo.;
$15,000 to expand violence prevention and substance abuse prevention
services to girls in Youngstown and Campbell, Ohio, endorsed by
American Baptist Churches of Ohio; $30,000 to the Life Integrity Center for
Children/Hug of Love Center operated by First Baptist Church, Carolina,
Puerto Rico; $90,000 (over three years) for Companis Mission Workers
Association/Companis Homeless Families Interfaith Response, an
ecumenical ministry that includes First Baptist Church, Seattle, Wash.; and
$15,000 to assist the National Coalition for Burned Churches in the
rebuilding of Apostolic Faith Temple, Dubuque, Ia.

The committee also held a joint session with the American Baptist Committee
on Christian Unity, at which time it discussed funding of ecumenical
organizations and heard from Jane Richardson, development representative of
the World Council of Churches. In response to a recommendation from the
Committee on Christian Unity, the World Relief
Committee voted $5,000 to fund the National Association of Evangelical's
relief and development arm, World Relief. The American Baptist Churches USA
is an official observer in the NAE.

In his report to the committee World Relief Officer Charles Sydnor noted
that One Great Hour of Sharing giving in 2000 totaled $2,328,580.01. OGHS
funds went to emergency relief and development projects in 49 countries, 19
states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico as follows: emergency relief- 45%;
refugee work- 15%;
development and self-help assistance- 25%; education- 7%; agriculture- 3%;
public health and medical work- 5%.

SUNDQUIST REPORTS PROGRESS IN GO GLOBAL ENDEAVORS

PROVIDENCE, RI-Dr. John A. Sundquist, executive director of American Baptist
International Ministries, reported June 19 a summary of progress
toward the detailed goals of the major strategic mission plan Go Global.

Sundquist addressed members of the Board of International Ministries,
meeting here in semiannual sessions. The Go Global strategic plan will guide
the work of American Baptist International Ministries for the next decade.

In the year and a half of its implementation many of the 40 measurable Go
Global goals have been addressed through projects, partnerships and other
manifestations of effective mission. The report documented progress in all
six main mission priorities of Go Global: "Evangelism and discipleship,"
"Christ-like Mission," "Equipping Leaders," "Mission Education," "Urban
Mission" and "Mission Explosion."

The Go Global planning and implementing processes are the result of
considerable staff and task force work and input from more than 1,200
persons.

KOREA INITIATIVE PROGRESS REPORTED BY
INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES

PROVIDENCE, RI-In his report to the American Baptist Board of International
Ministries, meeting June 19 in semiannual sessions, International Ministries
Executive Director John A. Sundquist emphasized "how important it is that we
focus on Korea at this moment in history."
At the board's meeting last November Sundquist announced that Baptists in
South Korea are seeking a closer relationship-and prayer support-from
American Baptists. He noted today that in North and South Korea now "there
is more hope, more possibility for some kind of breakthrough than at any
point since the end of the Korean War."

The situation in North Korea is desperate, said Sundquist, who reported that
widespread malnutrition and starvation have been documented there. "We are
responding to a heartfelt cry" from Baptists in South Korea, he said, "to
walk with them" in assisting those who are suffering.
Sundquist recounted his recent visit to South Korea at the invitation of the
Rev. Dr. Billy Kim, president of the Baptist World Alliance and pastor of
the 15,000-member Central Baptist Church in Suwon, South Korea.

Sundquist was joined by the Rev. Benjamin Chan, International Ministries'
area director for East Asia and India, for the January trip. Kim, Sundquist
said, is urging American Baptists "to take seriously the ministry of
intercession and prayer to find the best way to make a difference,
particularly with children, in the north."
Kim, who Sundquist invited to be the International Ministries luncheon
speaker at the American Baptist Churches USA Biennial Meeting here this
week, also will be the preacher for the Sunday evening Biennial Meeting
gathering. Accompanying him will be a 35-voice choir and
children's orchestra from his church.