wfn.org | ABCUSA: International Ministries Avoids Missionary Recalls =20

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

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 2/24/05)--American
Baptist International Ministries' acting executive director, the Rev.
Charles H. Jones, has announced that no mandatory missionary recalls
will be necessary in 2005.

"A dramatic increase in giving combined with extraordinary cost
reductions due to the actions of missionaries and staff have allowed us
to avoid a mandatory recall of missionaries this year," Jones said
today. Jones explained that American Baptists used the World Mission
Offering and other denominational giving channels to provide over $1
million in additional support to IM, at the same time that over a dozen
missionaries have chosen to pursue other ministries as part of a
"voluntary recall" strategy to reduce IM's costs.

Jones expressed his deepest gratitude for the remarkable efforts of
missionaries, board members, staff, regional leaders, American Baptist
Women's Ministries leaders, pastors and laypersons on behalf of the 2004
World Mission Offering (WMO). "We praise and thank God for the amazing
movement of the Spirit and the generous response of our brothers and
sisters in the churches," he said. "We will continue praying fervently
for the sustained support of global mission efforts through
International Ministries and our partners, even while actively working
on strategies to continue the great momentum of the 2004 WMO."

Jones cited the great challenges still to be met by International
Ministries in order to achieve long-term economic health for IM. "There
is an enormous amount of work to be done," he said, "but the testimony
of these last few months strengthens our faith and enables us to address
the challenges ahead with renewed energy and hope."

K/2005ABNS/05ABN23

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