The world came to Fayette County this week as 160 ordinary people with extraordinary callings met at New Hope Baptist Church for the Global Missions Conference 2000.

The five-day seminar has culled missionaries from every continent and gathered pastors and church leaders from more than 20 states.

Missionaries serving in Mexico, Thailand, China, the Middle East and Latin America attended a senior luncheon on New Hope's South Campus Thursday, allowing church members to learn firsthand about their work around the globe.

Evelyn and Bob Pemberton are missionaries serving in Mexico. After 12 years living south of the border, the couple call Mexico home. Evelyn noted that her rural Alabama upbringing helped prepare her for the type of cooking she would eventually learn in her adopted land. “I've learned to make corn bread with masa flour and substitute Swiss chard for cabbage greens,” she said.

Despite her years abroad, Pemberton maintains her Southern drawl, giving the Spanish language a distinctive accent. In the beginning of her mission stint, Pemberton said she “Threw it (Spanish) out buffet style... I threw out a few words and let them put it together.”

One of the couple's greatest fears at the start of their work, the female missionaries said, was their apprehension of leaving the safety of the United States, particularly with young children. But everyone said they were constantly affirmed by the Lord in their decision.

Ted and Heather Laba are missionaries preparing to leave in the next couple of months for a post near Pretoria, South Africa. They are now working stateside in Tyrone with Operation Mobilization. The Labas have three daughters, ages 11, 8 and 14 months. Heather admitted she had her own personal struggle with the decision to live in a country still dealing with apartheid issues and violence. She explained that it was a family decision, and one that was based on prayer and faith.

Most of the family's household belongings will either be placed in storage or sold before the move. “We have a choice of either engaging in the culture or just ministering to the people,” Ted explained. He said they will start fresh and avoid the appearance of being the colonializing Westerners.

Bob Pemberton said he and Evelyn chose to live like the people they served, recognizing the fact that they would still never be natives.

At the close of the luncheon, Tim Woodruff, associate pastor of New Hope, called on the church's seniors to be “mission minded” in their thinking here and abroad. “We need to take on the community and share the gospel of Jesus Christ in all of Fayette County,” he said.

He also called on his members to consider a call to a short-term mission project.

The Global Missions Conference continues through the weekend with a “World's Fair” at the North Campus Saturday noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at 5 :30 p.m. the Awe Star youth organization will seek out the next generation of Christian missionaries.

For information, phone the church at 770-461-4337.

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