December 2022
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Expanding Our Reach
Word of Welcome
By Jennifer Lau · Executive Director
min read
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
As we approach this new season, we do so remembering that God’s spirit has never stopped working, even in times of challenge. We give thanks for his faithful provision to CBM over these past few years and the protection he has given our global church partners and Field Staff who have remained steadfast through difficult times. Together, let us also remember and give thanks for the courageous men and women whom we lost during the pandemic and for their inspiring example of faithful service to God even amidst great risk.
Every day God calls us to come alongside him in his work of transforming lives and communities. We at CBM want to seize new opportunities to expand our reach and widen our partnership circle wherever we are needed and invited. Currently, we find ourselves collectively discerning the places and people he has called us to serve in this next phase of our work.
This past July, I was privileged to attend the Annual Gathering of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), with whom I serve as a volunteer Vice-President. This gathering at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama was the first one held by the BWA in over two years. It was inspiring to renew and make new connections with church leaders from around the globe and hear the stories of God at work in their local communities over these past years. It was clear to me that the Spirit has been actively at work, moving the Global Church to make an impact on some of the most significant issues of our time, including racial justice, displacement of people, environmental degradation, poverty and gender equity. Though global insecurity remains at an all-time high, we hold firm in the knowledge that Christ’s hope can transform even the darkest places through the witness of local churches on the ground.
It is with great excitement that we look to a future that deepens the impact of Canadian Baptists who have never abandoned their commitment to global mission. Stay tuned for more details on new partnerships and projects in the coming months, including new work in Togo, Egypt, and several other places. Thank you for journeying with us as your mission partner as we embrace our broken world through word and deed.
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This article was from CBM Responding Issue 08.
Get Ready to be Sent
Relaunching SENT in 2023
Louise Hannem · Team Lead, Global Discipleship
min read
For over 40 years CBM has sent individuals and teams from Canada to visit our global partners. These experiences were put on hold in March 2020 due to the pandemic. However, we are excited to be planning SENT experiences again for 2023.
SENT is CBM’s short-term mission program renamed SENT to better reflect the unique way CBM engages with our global partners. We believe that we are sent as God’s people, living up to and into the call to be disciples in a world of disparity and injustice. We are sent cross-culturally to serve and learn and sent back to advocate and put faith into action in our local communities. There is nothing “short-term” about it.
We send teams to Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Bolivia, El Salvador, Lebanon, India, Rwanda, Kenya, Thailand, Germany and the Philippines.
Most trips are between 10-14 days, but longer experiences are also available, including up to 1 year.
No two SENT trips are the same, but you can expect to visit CBM’s partner churches and field staff and join God in the work being done through the local church. You’ll learn about faithfully living out the gospel in a different culture and have your eyes opened as you worship and read scripture in a new context. Your way of thinking will be challenged, and you’ll leave with more questions than answers. Your sense of wonder will be expanded, and you’ll have unforgettable experiences as you enjoy life with God’s people in a new culture!
For more information, please contact Louise Hannem at lhannem@cbmin.org or visit www.besent.ca
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This article was from CBM Responding Issue 08.
Rob Sellitto
New Staff Spotlight
Regional Representative, Central Region
min read
Rob lives in Ottawa with his wife Jill, son Isaac, daughter Nevaeh and two dogs. They moved to Ottawa so that Rob could serve as the pastor of Bromley Road Baptist Church.
Previously, Rob served at Heart Lake Baptist Church in Brampton as their associate pastor, West Edge Community Church as their youth pastor, and at Yonge Street Missions Evergreen Youth Center.
Rob completed his undergrad at Tyndale University College and received a master’s degree from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto and another master’s degree from Tyndale Seminary. He also went through the Arrow Leadership Program a few years ago, which was a transformational experience. Rob is currently a student at Acadia Divinity College in their Doctor of Ministry program.
INTERVIEW
Q: How did you navigate the decision to work for CBM?
The decision to join the team at CBM came as a bit of a surprise to me! I have served at Bromley Road Baptist Church for nine years and have loved being part of this church. I was not looking to leave, but when I received an email from CBM about the vacant position, I thought it would be a great one to apply to, but maybe in a year or two if it’s open. After a few days of thinking, I emailed Adrian Gardner to ask a little about the role. This got me more excited about the opportunity, and I shared the idea with some trusted friends and mentors to see what they thought about it. Through conversations and prayer, they encouraged me to take a chance and apply. I did, and as the interviews progressed, God seemed to make it clearer to me that CBM is somewhere I want to be.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I am looking forward to seeing how I can come alongside pastors and leaders and help them live out Christ’s mission as the church. I look forward to building relationships with people and seeing how we can serve the church globally together.
Q: What unique skills do you bring to CBM?
One of the ways that God has gifted me is in building relationships. I am genuinely curious about people and want to help them as best I can. I look forward to getting to know our partners and hearing their stories. In addition, I am strong in my teaching ability. As a child, I had wanted to become a high school teacher, and while that never materialized, God has used this gift of teaching and love for people to help those around me grow in their relationship with Christ.
It may not be a unique skill, but having grown up in Montreal, I speak and understand French. While it is a bit rusty, as I have not used it much in the past few years, I look forward to improving that skill so I can connect with some of our partners and churches in Quebec.
Are you interested in joining CBM as Global Field Staff?
Are there other people you know who might?
If you are passionate about how God’s love transforms people’s lives, and want to join our team, contact Member Care: membercare@cbmin.org OR call 905.821.3533. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you.
For more details, visit cbmin.org/job-opportunities
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This article was from CBM Responding Issue 08.
Christmas Appeal
Hopeful Gifts for Change 2022 Gift Catalogue
Looking to make a lasting impact this Christmas season? We invite you to explore our gift catalogue, Hopeful Gifts for Change. From education to justice to poverty reduction to building the church, you’ll find a gift that ignites your passion. As we work to mitigate the devastating effects of COVID-19, we invite you to find the people, places and causes that resonate with you. We thank you for your faithful generosity as you answer God’s mission call.
Field Staff Updates
Laura Muema Ministry Update November 2022
I am grateful for all the support, love and prayers from churches in Canada and my colleagues at CBM. I am sincerely blessed and encouraged to have your prayerful support of my ministry serving at CBM and your prayers for my personal and family needs. May God’s blessings always be...
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Yuanchuan＆Ming Ye Update July 2022
As the mission strategies changes, the organizations that support us have mobilized our ministries and moved us to another city Kassel in Germany, to serve. We will cooperate with several missionaries from the same CBM mission organization and in the nearby cities of Göttingen and Marburg to form a team...
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Bustin Ministry Update October 2022
It has been a while since we checked in with everyone. So we thought it was time to get people caught up with all that has been happening. 2022 has been the year of the suitcase! We began the year in Rwanda, with Darrell making quick trips to Kenya and...
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