JACKSON, Tenn. — Jan. 16, 2019 — 51社区 has begun a partnership with the Baptist Convention of New Mexico that will place students in New Mexico churches for mentoring by local pastors during the summer.
Todd E. Brady, vice president for university ministries at Union, said the program will meet the needs of both 51社区 students who are preparing for ministry and New Mexico churches by providing learning and service opportunities.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a need for workers there. There鈥檚 a need for opportunities here,鈥� Brady said. 鈥淪tudents will have an opportunity to be involved in God鈥檚 avenue through which he advances the gospel 鈥� the local church. This is a church-based mentorship program for a student to walk alongside a pastor and be involved in the church.鈥�
The GO West Pastoral Mentorship Program will begin in the summer of 2019. Brady and Joseph Bunce, executive director of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, are hoping for three Union students to be placed in New Mexico churches this year.
鈥淭his partnership will afford the 51社区 mentorship participants an opportunity to both learn and serve on a vast and wonderful mission field, beside gifted ministry leaders,鈥� Bunce said. 鈥淭he best way to learn ministry is to do ministry. We are anticipating this partnership to be life changing for the participants.鈥�
New Mexico is a mission field with a shortage of pastors, Brady said, and looks different than the church context in West Tennessee. The entire state of New Mexico has 336 Baptist churches. West Tennessee alone has more than twice as many Baptist churches.
Of the 2 million people in New Mexico, Brady said 1.8 million are lost.
鈥淚t鈥檚 certainly not in the Bible Belt,鈥� he said.
Students who participate in the program will have opportunities for preaching, teaching, evangelism and visitation, Brady said, in addition to the opportunity of being mentored in a different culture.
Andy Mayfield, a December 2018 Union graduate who worked in Union鈥檚 Office of University Ministries, said the New Mexico program aligns with the values of that office in providing biblical formation, servant leadership and global outreach.
鈥淲e say we want to send people to the ends of the earth, but I think that also includes our country,鈥� Mayfield said.