Backyard Missionaries Share God's Love in Their Communities

  “If your church closed its doors next week would the community miss you?”  Five years ago, that question presented a formidable challenge to church leaders at Schofield’s Bethany Baptist Church.  “Frankly, we were not sure our absence would be noticed,” said Bethany’s pastor, Kim Swenson. “We realized our church needed a more visible presence in the community.”
   To help remedy their problem, Bethany contacted Crossroads Outreach Center in Ashland, Wisconsin, a ministry that helps churches develop church-to-community events.  From numerous event options suggested by the Crossroads representative, Bethany chose the “backyard mission trip” for their church ministry.  Good News church in Mosinee, also interested in reaching out to their community, did likewise.  Unlike typical missionaries, who travel to other cities, states or foreign lands, backyard missionaries work out of their own homes,  sleep in their own beds and work within their own community.
   In 2013 Bethany’s 30 missionaries completed 18 work related projects in the Schofield/Wausau area.  Last year 72 church missionaries completed 25 community work projects.  On August 22, 2016, missionaries from Bethany church will embark on their fourth  backyard mission trip engaging in a variety of work projects for residents of their community. “We do landscaping, yard ...