Our Developing Mission and Vision

Eleven months ago Angela and I, along with seven friends from our church in Charlottesville, took a mission trip to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. During our time in Bolivia we discovered God “pursuing” us, and like so many discoveries in God’s kingdom this one happened in the context of relationships. A friend said to me one evening, “Bubba, you think you could give it all up, ya know, you and Angela and the kids become missionaries?” My initial reaction was to say, “Why are you asking me?” Now, my reaction is to say, “Thank you, God, for using our friends as vessels for your message.”

Eleven months later, our family is actively preparing to move to South America to help build the church in the city of Santa Cruz. We will go as missionaries under the leadership of South America Mission—an agency that has been reaching South Americans with the message of Christ for 90 years. We are excited and feel affirmed in our decision to do this. However, we can only go knowing that you are praying for us and desiring to hear from us as we report back to you regarding God’s work in the lives of the Bolivians whom we will grow to love as we become integrated into their culture and community. So will you pray for us?

Right now we are orienting our lives around a December 2007 departure date, and as you can imagine, there is great preparation that will take place over the next five months. More than anything, we are eager to develop a strategy and vision for how God will use us in Santa Cruz. Our initial community of focus will be the professional class. We also care deeply about the poor and matters of social justice. Could we, then, work to establish a church, founded among the professional class, that grows to care for and embrace the millions who live undignified existences in Bolivian society—like indigenous peoples who live in slums in the city and remote villages in the countryside? Could we be used in this way, to cultivate hearts of compassion and communities oriented around a hope for Shalom?

We hope that our relationships will evolve organically as we live among Bolivians, learn from them, send our children to school with them, and study the Bible with them. We also know that there are great social barriers to overcome in order to be effective. How will we overcome? Who will our new friends be? What activities will be at the center of our relationships? Please pray that we will begin to know more fully God’s plan for our work in Santa Cruz.

In addition to praying for us, will you also consider supporting our work with a financial gift? We are required to reach commitments totaling $4,500 per month before we can leave in December. Of this amount, our family will receive a modest salary with the remaining dollars covering ministry, professional and logistical expenses.
Our work will be done well in South America only if this team of co-laborers comes together around us. Please join us. You are indispensable to our mission.

Yours in Christ,

Bubba and Angela

Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Today it became official. South America Mission commissioned us to be missionaries in Bolivia, specifically to live among Bolivian nationals in the city of Santa Cruz with the hope and aim of growing the church. The task before us is becoming more than just a plan for this chapter of our lives, but a dream that is forming deep within our hearts.

God is good to us. His goodness needs to be shared.