Rob Nash, right, Patsy Ayres of FBC Austin, center, and Raquel Contreras, left, sign memorandums of understanding. Rod Reilly photo
ATLANTA – Leaders from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Union of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Chile (UBACH), representing official partnerships between the organizations and churches that partner with them.
The memorandum was signed at the Fellowship’s General Assembly in June, where CBF also presented a plaque to UBACH president Raquel Contreras commemorating the 100th anniversary of UBACH.
“We're very excited about this connection with the Union of Baptists in Chile because it offers so many opportunities for CBF churches here in the United States to connect with our Chilean brothers and sisters and for real collaboration in working with Chileans here in the United States,” said Rob Nash, CBF’s coordinator of global missions. “I'm grateful to President Contreras for her vision and leadership in helping us to put this network together.”
In the five-year partnership, the Fellowship and UBACH will share personnel, financial and training resources in order to strengthen ministry and leadership formation. Through a network of congregations, the organizations will work together to strengthen ministries related to evangelism, missions and social services.
“The Chilean Baptists are looking forward, with a sense of expectation, to see the many blessings that will come from this new relationship with CBF,” Contreras said. “We are sure this relationship will be beneficial for all of us in many ways. We thank God for the churches in CBF, and we are hoping to show you the way God is working among us.”
First Baptist Church of Austin, Texas, a Fellowship partner, has also entered into a partnership with UBACH. First Baptist signed a missional church engagement covenant, committing to offer prayer and financial support for CBU and CBF and to engage in mission immersion experiences in Chile.
UBACH is a union of 500 churches with more than 32,000 baptized members.
To learn about partnership opportunities in Chile, contact Chris Boltin at cboltin@thefellowship.info or (800) 352-8741.
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.