VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 3/17/14)—Carrie and Kurt Smalley have been appointed as associate missionaries by American Baptist International Ministries (IM). They are serving as church planters through Pioneers, an organization that glorifies God among unreached peoples by initiating church-planting movements in partnership with local churches. The Smalley’s home church is First Baptist Church in Everett, Washington.
As part of their ministry in Hungary, the couple provides support and encouragement to a growing church related to the Baptist Union of Hungary, an IM partner. There, they serve through leadership development and discipleship ministries, teaching English and reaching out in friendship evangelism in their community.
Charles Jones, IM’s area director for Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, says, “We thank God for making this partnership possible, and we are excited about the Smalleys and their ministry with our partners in Hungary!”
When asked why the couple feels called to this ministry, Carrie responded, “God has led us to Hungary to reach out primarily to Hungarians, but also to the other internationals we meet and with whom we share the gospel. Europe is quite a melting pot – people from all nations flood into Europe to have a better life, or to help their families and villages with the wages they earn there.”
“I could not be more thrilled by this official appointment of Kurt and Carrie as associate missionaries by IM,” commented Dr. Brian Harpell, pastor of First Baptist Church. “I believe the he church is at its best when it is sending its members into the world with the hope that is in Jesus Christ! As a congregation, we are very proud of the Smalley’s service for Christ in Hungary.”
As associate missionaries, the Smalleys are employed by Pioneers (http://www.pioneers.org/) and are appointed to work in association with IM as well as their employing agency. This type of joint appointment, along with a standard missionary appointment, enables IM to support the mobilization of greater numbers of American Baptists into God’s work throughout the world.
The Smalleys have two adult children, Alexander and Zachariah.
More information about the Smalley’s and their ministry is available on the IM website http://www.internationalministries.org/read/52895-carrie-and-kurt-smalley-s-profile. You may email them at Kurt.Smalley@internationalministries.org.
For more information, contact Catherine Nold: catherine.nold@internationalministries.org
American Baptist International Ministries is celebrating 200 years of ministry in 2014. Organized in 1814 as the first Baptist international mission agency in America, it began its pioneer mission work in Burma and today works in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas serving more than 1,800 long-term and short-term missionaries. Its central mission is to help people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationship with God, and change their worlds through the power of the Spirit. It works with respected partners in over 70 countries in ministries that meet human need.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.