Over the past few weeks, Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) has posted and sent out some important updates that we wanted to pass on to you. Below are highlighted recent announcements regarding Global Field Staff, an announcement about the appointment of a new president and an update about our work in Northeast Province in Kenya and the increasing security issues.
Darrell and Laura Lee Bustin have been re-deployed to Rwanda effective summer of 2012. They will be working in leadership development with a strong focus on theological education and rural pastoral training. They will also work with CBM’s partner in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Read more here.
David and Cathie Phillips will be retiring effective December 31, 2011. Their retirement will conclude 36 years of faithful missionary service with CBM in Brazil, Bolivia, Canada and Turkey. David also served as the first General Secretary of CBM (1994-2000), formed through the merger of the Canadian Baptist Federation and Canadian Baptist International Ministries. Read more here.
The CBM Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Rev. Dr. Ken Bellous has accepted the appointment to a three-year term as CBM President, effective September 1, 2012. Born in Saskatchewan, Ken has successfully developed and worked with staff teams in several organizational leadership roles, and has assisted organizations with their leadership development. From 1997-2009, Ken was Executive Minister of the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ). Read more here.
Update on Northeast Province:
As Kenyan forces continue to square off against suspected Somali based al-Shabab insurgents, the area of Northeast Province (NEP) in Kenya has become extremely volatile. The Canadian High Commission of Kenya has issued a travel warning to all Canadians, strongly recommending avoidance of this area after the abduction of two MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) aid workers last month. CBM has taken this under advisement and all our Field Staff have left the area and will not be traveling to NEP until such time as the situation improves. CBM will continue to regularly re-assess the safety of travel into the region. Our prayers are offered for those who have already suffered violence, abduction and live under constant threat. Please continue to remember those suffering from drought, famine and are refugees in this region. Many foreign aid agency staff have withdrawn from the area, but the needs of people in the area are still great. Please pray for workers who continue to provide the help needed on the ground, as well as for our GFS who continue to work on CBM’s NEP programs from a distance. Read more here.
