• 43°
franklin county times

Church members head to Mexico for mission work

By By Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
July 14, 2001
When you think about the work of missionaries, the first thing that comes to mind is someone who dedicates his life to serving God in the jungles of a Third World country.
There is, however, work for short-term missionaries and church members can fill that role.
Gary Phillips, longtime youth minister of First Baptist Church of Quitman, took a group of church members last month to Matamoros, Mexico, where they taught bible school in churches around the city for about a week.
Church members provide needed services
First Baptist-Quitman has three mission trips each year.
The June trip involved 60 youth members and adults.
In September, church members will join others from around Mississippi to provide a week of medical services to the Matamoros area. And in January, a group of church men will do construction work at the Matamoros Orphanage.
Phillips almost missed this year's youth trip.
He suffered a heart attack in January and underwent bypass surgery. Then in early May, doctors found a tumor attached to one of his kidneys. The kidney was removed May 17, three weeks before the Mexico trip.
So he did.
Tropical storm lengthened trip
With his wife Keri, Phillips flew to Matamoros while the rest of the group drove. Along the way, they ran in another obstacle in the form of Tropical Storm Allison.
Although Phillips' physical work was limited while he recovered from surgery, Keri said it was important to him to be there.
Phillips noted that First Baptist-Quitman had sent about 165 different people to the mission field since 1997. "A lot of people have gone several times, but we've had that many different people go," he said.
Phillips, a native of Sumner, just south of Clarksdale, has been in youth ministry for 29 years. He has been at First Baptist-Quitman since 1994.
Steve Swogetinsky is regional editor of The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3217, or e-mail him at sswogetinsky@themeridianstar.com.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x