Blake and Bekah Hart, CBF Field Personnel, moved from Atlanta to Chile about 6 months ago. Perhaps their journey into CBF life can help to encourage you if you are looking to find ways to plug in. Bekah and Blake share their story below as a part of a new series on CBF Young Baptists. 
Our connection with CBF began in our second year studying at Mars Hill College. As students at a local campus, we led the youth portion of a Lay Renewal Retreat at First Baptist Church in Weaverville, NC. At the time, neither of us knew much about FBC, CBF or each other. We also didn’t know how big a role those things would have in shaping our faith journey (nor that our journey would be a shared one). Eight years later, it’s fun to look back and remember.
After helping with the retreat, we both decided that the First Baptist Church was the place for us. Blake was hired as youth minister and I happily tagged along with the cute redhead I secretly admired. Five years after graduating from Mars Hill and parting ways with the church, going back still feels like going home. They continue to encourage and support us in our role as field personnel.
Our connection with CBF grew after Mars Hill hired Todd Boling as chaplain. Todd was a recent graduate of McAfee School of Theology and spoke highly of McAfee and CBF. When Blake felt the call to attend seminary, Todd nudged him towards McAfee. After taking a year off to do mission work (and getting engaged!), we decided that McAfee was, indeed, the school for him. Once we made that decision, I started looking for employment in the Atlanta area.
Honestly, when I applied for an assistant position at CBF I still didn’t know a whole lot about the organization. I knew they had field personnel and that interested me—given that Blake and I felt strongly pulled towards missions in Latin America—but I didn’t know much else. Before my interview, I studied their website so I could seem knowledgeable if I needed to. I got the job and attended my first General Assembly less than a month later. I still have no idea why I was allowed to staff a booth in Memphis, given that most people with questions about CBF knew way more about it than I did!
Three and a half years working for CBF while Blake studied cured my ignorance and we both found ourselves drawn towards doing missions the CBF way—focusing on cooperating with local entities to create or support a sustainable ministry. We went through the selection process and were commissioned in 2010 to work in Chile.
We’ve been here in Arica, Chile for almost six months now and we know we wouldn’t be here if not for the cooperation and support from CBF-partner churches. Through the fundraising process, our CBF family has grown by leaps and bounds. We have both been very blessed by our visits and online interactions with CBF individuals and congregations.
We’re still praying through future ministry opportunities on the high plains of the Andes, but we’ve quickly found our niches in Arica. Access to theological resources and education is a challenge in the middle of the Atacama Desert, so through friendships he’s developed Blake serves as a sounding board (and sometimes library) for local pastors. He is also one of three pastors/missionaries here in Arica that is starting a Biblical Formation Center for anyone interested in learning more about the Bible—its context and faith application. In addition to furthering Biblical education, Blake hopes to pinpoint students with leadership potential to work with them in developing their call.
I currently work as a volunteer in our region’s home for abused and abandoned children. Like so many children’s homes, the one in Arica is severely understaffed. The caretakers are so busy caring for the physical needs of the forty or so children that there is little focus on the children’s emotional needs. As a result, most of the children have attachment and/or behavioral issues. My job is simply to show them that someone loves them and that they matter. I go to the home two or three times a week to play with, hold, hug, and love on these kids that have been abandoned by their families. It’s hard work because they’re “hard” children, and I depend on the prayers and support of my CBF family. My eventual goal is to try to start a ministry with the regional Women’s Missionary Union. As one person, I may be able to reach a couple of children, but with the women of Arica I believe we can do more.
As newbies on the field, we greatly anticipate further partnership with Fellowship Baptists—both churches and individuals. There will always be students hungry to learn more about God’s word and children waiting to be loved on.
Keep up with Blake and Bekah here: http://thehartbeat.wordpress.com