“’Go ye and preach the Gospel’- Five Do and Die” reads the headline in Life Magazine’s January 30, 1956 issue. Fifty five years later, a group of 10 Roanoke teenagers and adults will return to the area from where this shocking news originated.
Prior to 1956, the beautiful land located on the equator in the dense Amazon rainforest was the home to what turned out to be a very dangerous indigenous tribe. But as a result of five missionaries giving their lives and the continued effort by their families, this area has become open to mission work.
After hearing the stories of what was called “Operation Auca” and seeing the movie “End of the Spear,” Jason, youth pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Roanoke, felt called to serve this area.
“The first thing I felt burdened to do was to sponsor a child in this area through Compassion International,” says Jason. “My wife and I sponsor a little girl for $38 a month to provide her with her basic life needs and more. Soon after, the teenagers at our church began to also sponsor a girl in this area by donating their change every week.”
Along with sponsoring a child in Ecuador, the group of teenagers and youth leaders have decided to travel to the Amazon jungles in Ecuador to help run a children’s camp and to visit their sponsored children.
To help cover the costs for this trip (over $2,000 per person), the team is hosting the “Compassion International Golf Tournament,” on June 27th. The tournament, being held at Roanoke Country Club, will not only help send them to serve the people of Ecuador, but will also help meet some of the financial needs of a specific Compassion International site as well.
“Because we believe Christians should do things with excellence, we want this golf tournament to be a first-class experience for all those who participate,” Jason shares. The tournament will have prizes for the top 10 teams, closest to the pin, farthest drive and will also offer a memorabilia auction as well as food for all participants. Currently, their biggest need is for additional corporate sponsors to join them in making this event as successful as possible.
To find out more visit www.MPBaptist.com/golf.htm or call Mount Pleasant Baptist Church at 540-427-5494.
