wfn.org | ABCUSA: Missionaries to be Commissioned at World Mission Conference

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

by Eleanor Lundy, American Baptist International Ministries

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 7/21/03)--Ten missionaries
will join the Class of 2003 as new or reappointed missionaries serving with
International Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA.  The appointments
were announced by the Rev. Elmo Familiaran, director of Missionary
Recruitment for International Ministries' Global Mission Team.	

A formal commissioning service will be held Aug. 8, 2003 during the American
Baptist World Mission Conference at the American Baptist Assembly, Green
Lake, Wis. 

The Rev. Edith Yamina Apolinaris will serve as a two-year contract
missionary in Spain in partnership with the Union of Evangelical Baptists,
effective June 1, 2003.  Apolinaris, a native of Puerto Rico, will work in
educational ministries and counseling at the Baptist Seminary in Madrid. 

Ann E. C. Borquist and Bruce R. Borquist have been reappointed for
missionary service.  The Borquists, who previously served in the
Philippines, now will serve in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, with the National
Baptist Convention of Brazil.  Ann Borquist's appointment is effective Sept.
1, 2003.  Currently a pastoral assistant at Siloam Baptist Church,
Norristown, Pa., in September she will begin serving with American Baptist
Churches of New Jersey to develop a partnership to empower local churches to
engage in global mission.  She also will work with International Ministries
staff to help shape the infrastructure for proposed Missionary Support
Teams. In Brazil she will serve in the area of educational ministries.
Bruce Borquist, currently treasurer of International Ministries, will serve
in Brazil in the area of economic development, effective with the
appointment of a new International Ministries treasurer. 

The Rev. Daniel L. Buttry has been appointed as a global service missionary
for peace and justice, effective July 1, 2003. Buttry, based in Warren,
Mich., most recently has served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Dearborn,
Mich., and as coordinator of the Gavel Memorial Peace Fund of the Baptist
Peace Fellowship of North America. 

The Rev. Jorge L. D. Damasceno and Hermelinda A. Damasceno will serve in
Albania with the Albanian Baptist Union in a joint appointment by
International Ministries and the National Baptist Convention of Brazil,
effective July 1, 2003. The Damascenos will work in the areas of evangelism,
new church development, and women's and children's ministries.	

Dr. Stanley D. Slade has been reappointed for missionary service.  Having
previously served in El Salvador, Slade will be regional missionary for
Iberoamerica in theological education, effective Jan. 1, 2004. Currently
special assistant to International Ministries' executive director, he will
continue to reside in Pennsylvania as he serves as a visiting professor
throughout Iberoamerica. 

Philip B. Smith will serve in Brazil in a joint appointment by International
Ministries and Hope Unlimited International, effective July 1, 2003.  He
will work with the National Baptist Convention of Brazil in ministries to
orphans and homeless youth.  He currently is president and CEO of Hope
Unlimited International, Brazil. 

The Rev. Charles W. Sydnor IV and Carole J. Sydnor have been reappointed to
missionary service.  The Sydnors, who previously served in Nepal, now will
serve in development ministries with Human Development and Community Service
in Nepal, effective Jan. 1, 2004.  Charles Sydnor has been World Relief
officer for American Baptist Churches USA since 1988. Carole Sydnor
currently is administrative assistant to the pastor of Royersford Baptist
Church, Royersford, Pa. 

K/2003ABNS/03ABN107

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org