RBA-ACCC "Liberian Partnership"
RBA Partnership Missions
Going Local with
RBA-African Christian Community Church
“Liberian Partnership”
In her 2009 annual report, Ruth Guill, Team Leader of the RBA Partnership Missions Team reported to attendees of the RBA’s 58th Annual Fall Meeting that in the past the churches of the Richmond Baptist Association have been involved in partnership missions in Toronto. This has been a great blessing to all who participated and there were many. In fact, this partnership continues between individual RBA churches and those in Toronto.
In 2010 the RBA Partnership Missions Team (PMT) has decided to move in a new direction – that is, local partnerships.
The Team has had a request from the African Christian Community Church (Pastor Calvin Birch) to partner with them, beginning as soon as possible, in their various outreach ministries to African immigrants in Richmond. The African Christian Community Church (ACCC) which was voted into full-membership in the RBA on October 18, 2009, was founded in 2003 as an outreach to immigrants. To date 95% of its members consists of immigrants from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Sudan and Zambia. The remaining 5% are African Americans. The ACCC needs assistance with their after-school tutoring and mentoring program, The Barnabas Project; and in providing food, clothing and the like with their community ministry.
Therefore the PMT is seeking volunteers from RBA churches to assist in this undertaking.
Many possibilities and opportunities are being explored. Several churches have already shown an interest in this partnership with the ACCC. Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church has partnered with the African Christian Community Church for six years giving them space and sharing the utility costs.
The PMT is inviting you or your church group to consider participating, on a regular basis, in this partnership as individual volunteers or as ministry teams to provide food and clothing; to be tutors and mentors as part of the After School program for all ages on Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Liberian children were not in school in Liberia for many years because of the unrest in the country. They need our help. Representatives from RBA Churches voted positively at the recent Annual Meeting to move forward in this direction beginning in November 2009.
Rev. Calvin Birch has developed a list of Needs & Volunteer Opportunities. Please review the list to see how you and your church might be able to participate.
A covenant agreement has been drawn up between the RBA and the ACCC. Mrs. Ruth Guill will serve as coordinator.
If you have any questions regarding this partnership, contact Mrs. Ruth Guill, Partnership Coordinator, at 804-745-1655 or by email: mrguill@verizon.net.
Important Liberian Partnership Documents:
* Needs and Volunteer Opportunities List
