By Patricia Taylor

Brother Luis Morales, sponsorship coordinator (left), and Pastor Pereira stand in front of photo wall in the church cafeteria. Using funds they receive for lunches served after church is one innovative way they raise money for missions. Pictures of Christian Aid-assisted missionaries in action remind the diners of those who are out on the fields carrying the gospel to the many who may be hearing the name of Jesus for the first time.

Glenview Baptist Church in Puerto Rico is an example of what one church can do to help spread the gospel in many parts of the world. This missionary-minded church currently sponsors 137 indigenous missionaries through Christian Aid Mission. Started in 1976 with a core of seven believers, this body of Christ is now 2,500 strong with six more churches planted. René Pereira was a professor of microbiology at one of the leading universities in Puerto Rico when the Lord called him to pastor this vibrant fellowship.

Several years ago Pastor Pereira and some of his church members traveled to see firsthand some ministries in China, India, Bangladesh, Russia, Ukraine and Siberia. "I was formed under the traditional concept of missions, until I saw on the trips how much more effective a native missionary was," explains Pastor René. "We owe our missionary vision to Christian Aid. We have had the satisfaction of moving from a romantic missionary vision of going for two weeks somewhere and doing very little, to an effective vision where we support missionaries bearing permanent and abundant fruit."

How your church can help... God has raised up thousands of native missionaries worldwide. Most are in countries that are closed to foreign missionaries from the USA. Many of them, living in poorer countries, have very little support. $50 a month would enable indigenous ministries to send a Christian worker to the field. A representative from Christian Aid can come to your church to present the details. Call 1-800-977-5650.

It is remarkable how Glenview Baptist Church has grown and prospered since it has adopted the model of giving to indigenous missions. Pastor René says it well: "We, as pastors, usually think that finances at the church are going to be affected if we get too involved in missions. We have to overcome this fear. In our church we have discovered that the more we give, the more the Lord supplies. Today we are planning to build a new sanctuary for 4,000 people. We thought we were going to have to take a large loan to buy the land. Instead, the church members themselves provided the necessary funds. We are still giving 40% of our total income to missions. God has provided us with membership growth, a retreat center, and many other things. We are debt free. Therefore, we are not going to sacrifice our contribution to missions for our new sanctuary, just the opposite; we need to think of increasing it, while building our new facilities."

The goal of the church is to assist 200 native missionaries before the year 2012. We thank God that this flourishing church is one of many contributing to Christian Aid for major projects, as well as individual ministries worldwide.