“One more song, just one more! Please!” 

“I want to share a word of testimony.” 

“Allow me to share this scripture.” 

The service lasted for three hours. Bethlehem Baptist Church in Moldova baptized 11 new Romany believers, male and female, young and old. 

Field personnel, Mary van Rheenen and her husband, Keith Holmes, CBF Mission Engagement Partner, rejoiced with the new believers and with those surrounding them offering support and encouragement. They praise God for these new believers. Their prayer is for these converts to grow in faith and find their places of service in the church. 

Gardening has offered another opportunity for Mary and Keith to engage with the Global Church. Once a month, a team meets to weed, trim and rake around an Eritrean Orthodox church. As they garden and then breathe in the unfamiliar aroma of incense, they listen as men, women and children in fine woven white robes chant and pray. 

While they are working, one of the Eritrean brothers offered them a round loaf of bread for their coffee break. Mary and Keith say, “We do share the same language. We do not share the same church traditions, but we share the same Lord. And we shared this loaf of bread.”

Mary and Keith were present and able to join in celebrating with new believers. They were present and able to break bread with those who are different, but who share the same Lord. Because presence matters.  

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6, NRSV)

Join Cooperative Baptists around the world this week during the Offering for Global Missions Week of Prayer. Learn more and find resources to pray throughout the week at www.cbf.net/ogmpray.