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Amy Cook of Morrow plays a violin at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly in Birmingham, Ala. |
ATLANTA – A violin and a collectible C.S. Lewis book were sold to the highest bidders at a silent auction during the 14th annual General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Birmingham, Ala., June 24-26. The auction raised $18,200 to support ministry projects of CBF Global Missions field personnel around the world.
"The spirit in which people participated was a spirit of giving," said one of the CBF Global Missions field personnel. "The auction wasn’t about acquiring things. People had very meaningful reasons they wanted the pieces they bid on."
The auction’s most valued items were a violin and a 1947 autographed edition of C.S. Lewis’ "Miracles: A Preliminary Study." Amy Cook, a member of First Baptist Church, Morrow, Ga., played the violin during the Assembly worship time and silent auction. She is now the instrument’s new owner.
The violin, a wooden, hand-made reproduction of a Florian Sikore, was made in 2003 by Dirk Wagner, a well-known Romany instrument-maker in Gerwin, the Netherlands. Cook said it includes minute flaws found in the original instrument, which dates back to the 1700s.
Cook said that she enjoyed playing the violin as part of the Assembly worship experience.
"This is my fifth General Assembly, but it’s the first time I’ve performed in it," she said. "Having been on the other side for the past four years, I know what an impact this can have on people in worship."
After learning of her love for the instrument, Cook’s father-in-law placed a bid on the violin. After he received the violin, it was given to Cook as a gift from both her parents and her in-laws.
An inscribed, 1947 first edition of "Miracles: A Preliminary Study," by C.S. Lewis, was another Assembly silent auction item. Copies of this book are difficult to find, and the value is increased more if the book is signed.
"The book was priced at $2,000 for the silent auction but would be priced at twice that amount if placed on the market," said Jim Strawn, CBF coordinator of finance for the past five years.
No bids had been placed on the book prior to the Friday evening general session. After the worship service concluded, a person placed a bid and received the book.
The recipient, who wished to remain anonymous, donated the book back to the Fellowship, to be sold again at next year’s General Assembly.
Strawn said the book’s title is ironic, given the donor’s recent generosity.
"Quite frankly, his gift was a miracle," Strawn said. "Proceeds from the sale of these items go to support ministries and projects for those who live and work among marginalized peoples."
The violin’s proceeds will benefit the gypsy ministry at the Sinti Romany Church in Gerwin, the Netherlands. The book’s proceeds will provide a one-year scholarship through the Asian Baptist Federation for an emerging Asian church leader.
Three other highly-sought items were a painting and two pieces of embroidery by Chinese Christian artist He Qi. Qi donated his work for the auction as well as a painting to the Fellowship to be displayed in the Atlanta Resource Center.
A benefit of the annual art auction is that field personnel find artists among their people group and support them by purchasing their pieces. Another is the connection to ministries and work among unevangelized people groups that is reinforced for a number of people who bid on the art. Third, the auction helps raise awareness of how art can inform a person’s faith.
"The artwork is a very tangible connection to work going on around the world," said one of the field personnel. "It gives the buyer a more rounded perspective of marginalized people. Rather than see them as helpless, the buyers see the marginalized as artistic and creative people."
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission. Next year’s General Assembly will be held in Grapevine, Texas.