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W oodland has set two goals for the Offering for Global Missions—$40,000 and everyone

contribute (every adult, student, teen and child). This offering will provide funds for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) work and missionary support that includes missionaries Ben and Leonora Newell, members of our church (see page 3). Read Missionary Spotlight (page 2) for others we support.

C ooperative Baptist Fellowship, based in Decatur, Georgia, is a Christian network of thousands of

individuals, state and regional organizations, and 1800 churches that work together to spread the hope of Christ. The Fellowship supports a wide range of missions and ministries all over the world including more than 750 endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors, nearly 50 ministry partners, and 125 field personnel serving in more than 30 countries. Find out more online at woodlandbc.org/ogm.

Global Missions Offering

Please contact the church office and leave a message for the ministry contact listed. Visit the Twig for updates and further details.

Christmas in the Barrio—Dec. 12th, noon to midnight, see page 3 for details.

ESL—Last day of 2015 is Dec. 10. Next session begins Jan. 11 - We need teachers and conversation partners. See Diana Bridges if you are interested. (woodlandbc.org/esl)

San Antonio Rescue Mission—Friday, Dec. 18 next WBC meal serving at 7 p.m. Every 3rd Friday. See Darren & Vaughn Ballinger.

Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace Univ.– Jan. 3 to Feb. 28, 2:30 to 4 p.m., 9 consecutive Sundays –Cost $99 but reduced to $49 for 1st 20 families. Phil Sagebiel relates, “This ministry changes lives dramatically by teaching God’s way of handling money.”

November-December 2015 Volume 1, Issue 2

WBC Mission

Opportunities For You!

Missions/Ministries Committee, Woodland Baptist Church

Harvest Tree — WBC Missions Newsletter

THANKS to the Woodland family for all your hard work!

The De La Garza family of Luis, Mariela, Ethan (5) and Jacob (3) have a new home, thanks to members of Coker UMC, Covenant Baptist, and Woodland

Baptist. Over a 9 week period on Saturdays, the house was quickly built by members of the churches. On Saturday, Nov. 14 the house was finally completed and dedicated. Members of Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel from Laredo joined the group for Dedication Day when landscaping and final

touches were applied. The family will move in by early December. Phil Sagebiel, who organized the workers and led the teams each week, states, “The family will go from living in one room with boys sleeping on the floor to a new home that they now own. Their house payment over 20 years will be about $500 monthly including escrow.”

BEFORE AFTER

De La Garza Family on Dedication Day

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Excerpt from Nov. 2015 newsletter, “The Family”: On this last mission excursion that Noy, Narith and I took, we

thought it would be a good idea to go fetch (Noy’s) brother Chet in Kampot and take him to see his brother, Phut in

Battambang. We don’t especially like to think about these

things, but not knowing how much longer brother Phut might

have, it seemed good to us to get the two brothers together one more time. At first, after he’d had the stroke, he’d cry

a lot, especially when he saw our faces. Maybe he was thinking of our times together

before he had the stroke, when he was strong….later on he went through a phase

where, to me, he seemed doomed, like he was resigned to his fate….But this last time,

there was something else. I can’t see into his soul, but I did see in his face what looked

like acceptance and not defeat….I hope that what I saw in his face was due to the

presence of God giving him the moral support he’ll need to face his suffering with the

hope that something far better awaits him up ahead…..when God speaks inside a

man’s heart, he’s got to know that everything’s going to be okay, like the voice of a

father soothing his child after she’s awakened from a terrifying dream…. Read more by signing up for the Peeler’s

newsletter at bill.noy.peeler@worldpersonnel.org.

Missionary Spotlight

Here is an update on our three missionary couples that WBC supports directly—the Peelers in Cambodia, the Hansens in Kenya and the Lees in Macedonia. Next year, we’ll be supporting a fourth missionary family, Kenny and Karen Sherin in South Dakota,.

Bill and Noy Peeler—Location: Cambodia

Praise for the skill Erik has as a pediatric surgeon to repair cleft lip/palates, and for the

blessing this surgery is to both children and parents. Praise also for the progress that is

being made on the construction of the BethanyKids Children Center at Kijabe Hospital.

Pray that the rest of the needed finances will be provided so that the facility can open in

January of 2016. Pray that those who

find physical healing will also find

healing for their souls. Pray also for Erik and another surgeon as they rebuild a more

robust database for use in Kijabe and also be available to other mission hospitals with

surgical units. See their blog postings and sign up to receive their newsletter at http://uncommonroad.blogspot.com/.

The Lee’s ministry has changed with the flood of Syrian refugees coming across the Macedonia border. They (along with 2 other organizations) are serving about 5,000 refugees daily. The Lee’s report: “Two of the groups already working at the borders are our local partners that we’ve been working with for the last two years, Open Gate and the Food Bank of Macedonia. Open Gate is responsible for operating the women’s and children’s tent. They are providing refugees with rights information. They are responsible for reuniting unaccompanied children with family. They are providing limited hygiene items (underwear, shampoo, diapers, feminine products, etc.) and a bathing station for mothers to

bathe their babies. They provide activities for children as they wait for the registration process or for the next train. Our local partners are stretched thin, working with limited resources, and the number of refugees entering the camp grows larger every day. We are positioned to help. With partnerships already in place we are prepared to come alongside our local partners and respond to the refugee crisis together.”

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw

you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25:37-40).The “least of these” are coming to our doorstep. We have a responsibility to respond with the love of Christ, for they are Christ, and we are serving him as we serve them.” Read their blog postings and get updates at: http://thelittleleefamily.blogspot.com/.

The Lee Family: Location: Macedonia

The Hansen Family—Location: Kenya

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Leonora and Ben Newell—CBF Missionaries

Laredo Partnership

On December 12, our church will join Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel (IBE) in Laredo for a single afternoon

and evening ministry initiative. Trip members are needed to give out gloves, stocking caps and hygiene products to deserving people in the barrio. Also plan to enjoy a community meal, make

pizzas, and celebrate the coming of our Savior through Christmas carols and acting out parts of the Christmas story. We’ll meet at Woodland at noon and return around midnight. Fun for the whole family!

Sign up online at woodlandbc.org/laredo-partnership. Your only investment for this experience is your time.

In 2012, Woodland & Emmanuel entered into an intentional relationship. Leaders of both congregations were determined to work on efforts to

develop and increase a deeper understanding of their respective church cultures, their communities, and customs. “We are ‘one set of missionaries’ that happen to worship in different cities and buildings… walking the missionary journey together in our respective places of service and teaching each other how to love and serve God’s people,” says Ben Newell, one of our church leaders in this initiative. Since the collaboration began, joint ministry projects have occurred — traditional ministries such as Vacation Bible School format in parks and neighborhoods, provision of food and clothing, toiletries, and school supplies. However, the collaboration between WBC & IBE is unique to traditional short term missions. This collaboration includes mutual mission trips to both

B eing the hands and feet of Christ in the world is our calling as Christians, relates Ben Newell, CBF

missionary. “It is about being Christ-like in the world not of the world. We are to be doers of the Word and not just speakers of the Word...No matter our circumstance, we are called according to His purpose -honoring God and doing His will.” Leonora and Ben have been CBF missionaries since 1996, ministering for years among people living in poverty in rural settings. They worked in Phillips County, Arkansas for 10 years in one of the poorest counties in the country. The ministry covered a broad spectrum of activities from college internships with CBF’s Student.Go, community construction, community gardening and student training, literacy through Stories on Wheels (a toy/book library bus) and a two week summer mission team blitz called the All Church Challenge where they ran sports & VBS preschool/kids/youth summer camps. Before that, the Newells served with CBF in South East Asia. Ben has a B.A. in Economics and Math, M.B.A from The College of William and Mary, VA, and 16 years business experience in various corporate settings prior to working with CBF; Leonora has a B.S. and M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth Univ. in Richmond, VA, and 10 years experience in early intervention/pediatrics prior to working with CBF. Together for Hope (TFH) is the CBF rural pover ty initiative that believes in and utilizes community and

economical development practice in the 20 poorest counties in the U.S. What is BAM? Business as Mission is helping people start their own small business, and pull themselves out of poverty using Christian economic principles, in

collaboration with other Christian business people. For example, the Newells started and facilitated a jewelry-making co-op called Delta Jewels in Arkansas, recruiting a jewelry designer who trained teenage girls to make jewelry which helped pay their bills. The company put ten percent of their income into a community chest to return back to the community, a BAM biblical principle of giving back. Leonora says, “The girls met

twice a week to learn Biblical truths, entrepreneurship and other skills… all are now in pursuit of a college degree.” The Newells transitioned to San Antonio in 2011 to minister and mobilize ministry among the six poorest counties located along the Texas border. The Laredo partnership is one of their projects (below) in addition to the Human Trafficking Coalition between “destination cities” and “gateway cities” to stop trafficking through awareness and economic development. Leonora is also an ESL teacher at our church, as ESL is a passion of hers. “This is a way that we can support people that feel alone and incapable of adapting because of a language barrier,” Leonora relates.

Your contribution to CBF’s Global Missions goal helps the Newells continue their ministry efforts!

Gabriela, Leonora, Ben, Lucas and Nate Newell

Pastor Lorenzo and family helping at Habitat

Continued on page 4

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Kid’s Hope CBF Kids

L atina Leadership Institute (LLI) will begin 2016 with its annual 5 day training at Camp

Buckner on January 7 - 11. Several activities during the week of training will commemorate it's 10 year anniversary of training Latina and "Latina-at-heart" leaders. Woodland Global Women are sponsoring Leonora Newell, Woodland member, and Maria Elena Ortiz, Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel member for the LLI January training. Both are pursuing a leadership certificate. January also marks the return of Patty Villarreal, co-founder of the LLI. The LLI board extended to her the post as Development Director. “Please include the Latina Leadership Institute in your prayers and celebrate our 10 year anniversary with us! Thank you Woodlanders for all your support throughout these years!” says Nora O. Lozano, LLI Executive Director.

Latina Leadership Institute

C heryl Sharp, CBF Kids’ Director, says a big “thank you” for everyone who contributed to

the Christmas boxes for Operation Christmas Child. A total of 93 boxes were received and will be given to Samaritan’s Purse to be distributed all over the world.

Laredo Partnership (cont.)

S chool at Larkspur Elementary School is back in session. Marty Goppert says, “I want to thank

our returning mentors for their time & dedication to the Kids Hope program.” Also this year there are 4 new mentors who are making a difference in 4 student lives. It has been proven that a one-to-one

relationship with a caring adult and a child at risk does makes a difference. The child feels someone really does care about them. “There are still children needing mentors at Larkspur. So please think about sharing your time with one of these children,” says Marty who can be reached at 210-834-9647 or martygop70@gmail.com.

ESL

D iana Bridges reports: We’ve had a great fall. We have about 70 students participating on a

weekly basis and several advanced students have become volunteers themselves, working with beginners. Our volunteer staff has become even more diverse with three of our Wed. conversation group leaders being international, two from Germany, one from Turkmenistan. We’ll end the semester with a number of opportunities to celebrate the Christmas season, including a trip to Fredericksburg. We’ll be looking for additional help in the spring. If you’re interested, there’s a place for you! esl@woodlandbc.org

V aughan Ballinger states, “Thanks for giving to SAMM all the items to fill the laundry baskets,

and big thanks to Ben and Lori Tyler for organizing and overseeing the Fair Trade Market.” She asks that when you shop, remember to look for products with the Fair Trade emblem, which means that workers get a fair wage and better living conditions. Global Women needs a new leader next year as this is Vaughan’s last year.

Global Women

congregations and their respective communities. Emmanuel has been an active participant of our Habitat build, Fair Trade Fairs, and WBC's social justice anti-human trafficking awareness & initiative. IBE has adopted this initiative as their own and returned to Laredo to advocate for the defenseless victims involved in human labor and sex trafficking Another very unique project to increase self sufficiency in at-risk families and

communities is the mission initiative known as BAM (Business as Mission). In Laredo, BAM provides loans to entrepreneurs and coaching to bi-vocational pastors and other congregants on how to start and run a company. Women

are trained on how to budget their households. BAM also helps build affordable homes in Laredo out of compressed earth blocks (CEB). Out of this Kingdom-based business, Laredo youth are learning to make and sell pizzas and using the mobile wood-fired pizza ovens. The BAM strategy has helped provide jobs and give churches or individuals an opportunity to share the gospel in the workplace, raise funds for missions and provide employment to workers in a home that increases the opportunity towards self-sufficiency. Please continue to pray for this collaboration and how you may be able to add to the success of this initiative!

C.E.B. Machine

Bro. Lorenzo & pizza oven