For the past 12 years, the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey has enjoyed the North Carolina/Pennsylvania Baptist Partnership, through which North Carolina Baptist churches, associations, and individuals have partnered with Pennsylvania Baptist congregations, church plants, and ministries in fulfilling the God-given task of reaching the lost for Christ.
Through this North Carolina Baptist on Mission partnership, teams from North Carolina assist churches in events, such as a Backyard Bible Club, sports camp, evangelism, and other outreach activities – OR – one that better equips your church for ministry – such as leadership training or facility construction or renovation.
One special group has taken on the renovation of the BRN’s mission house in Harrisburg.
Under the leadership of NC/PA On-Site Coordinators Dewey and Kathie Aiken, who are North American Mission Board missionaries, volunteers have spent over 2.5 years reconstructing the missions house, which is across the street from the BRN HUB.
The work has included repainting all the bedrooms, rebuilding closets, redoing bathrooms, and most recently, renovating the kitchen, replacing all its cabinets and the floors. Future plans include updating furniture and otherwise modernizing the spaces.
“Dewey and Kathie have been God’s gift to Pennsylvania,” said Andy Weber, BRN director of finance and operations.
“They have such a heart for the Lord, serving the Lord, and loving people. They are prayer warriors that are not afraid to start a task with prayer,” Weber said.
“Their construction services have been a tremendous help to our BRN properties and their partnership has helped so many BRN churches in so many different ways. We thank God for them! What started as partnership has become true friendship!”
The Aikens, whose home church is Dunns Rock Baptist Church in Brevard, are able to come more frequently than some of the staff members and are able to be here to coordinate these teams, who stay for one-to-two weeks, offering their free labor. North Carolina Baptists also have given offerings to help offset the cost of the renovations.
“Some of us are from the mountains of North Carolina, some from the Piedmont,” shared Kathie Aiken. “We’ve worked together in many places through the years.”
Other teams are already planning summer missions projects with churches in Altoona, Pittsburgh, Sunbury, and Tamaqua, among others, she said.
“Throughout these years our N.C. family has been a blessing to many pastors, church planters, and churches across Pennsylvania,” shared BRN Executive Director Barry Whitworth. “Countless hours of labor in Pennsylvania have blessed not only our churches, but people who have been reached with the gospel through their work.”
Whitworth said the resources “they helped provide in our state through the volunteers has been incredible,” adding “N.C. Baptists hold a very special place in our heart. Their faithful commitment to Kingdom work in Pennsylvania will resound in all eternity. I speak on behalf of many pastors and churches in saying to the Aikens and NC Baptists, THANK YOU for giving to the Lord!”
To learn more about the partnership, click here.
