On Saturday evening things got under way at 5:00 at Bedford Baptist Church with a celebration service that included a banner processional. The churches designed and made banners representative of the particular people group that they had elected to learn about and pray for. Our guest missionaries were then introduced, and they began to share brief testimonies of how God had called them to the field and used them over the years to help bring light into darkness.

Following the worship celebration we gathered around the tables for an international banquet that included scores of delicious dishes. There were typical foods of India, China, Greece, Mexico, Korea, Germany, Italy, and of course, the United States. Aaround the tables the participants were able to visit one-on-one with the missionaries who also represented the many nations where we are supporting efforts to share the Gospel. The final Saturday night session started at 7:00 as Rick Dellinger sang several touching songs related to the work of the missionary and the need to tell others of Jesus' love.

The large group of folks attentively listened to the missionaries' inspiring words of individual examples of people who understood their message and came to be followers of Christ. Before the night was over we had a special prayer/commitment time with our missionaries. On Sunday our guest missionaries scattered to the four corners of Strawberry Baptist Association to preach in fourteen of our churches. Sunday morning and Sunday night were excellent learning times for all of us as we not only heard what the missionaries had to share from their hearts, but we were able to eat, fellowship, and visit with them again.

Without a doubt, the weekend touched many hundreds of lives. Our prayer is that this emphasis will bear much fruit as we are called into service as an Association of churches that actively supports and does missions and helps individuals find their personal call from God to be obedient and responsive to the needs all about us.

Special thanks goes to everyone who helped make this a blessed weekend. The Missions Development Committee worked overtime getting everything lined up. Thank you Cheryl Nester (our tireless and esteemed leader), Winnie Agee, Richard Akers, Jewell Chambers, Rebekah Overstreet, Jerry Parr, Larry Ross, Kathy Smith, Charles Stinson, and James Watson for a most memorable experience. An extra special "thank you" goes to Esther Woodford for all of her work keeping things running like a well-oiled machine. And thank you Bedford Baptist Church for hosting this year's Celebration. We look forward to what will be next!