Welcome, and thank you for your interest in our First Baptist Atlanta, Short-Term Mission Trip to serve at the JAARS Center in Waxhaw, North Carolina. JAARS is a nonprofit organization committed to speeding Bible translation for all people. JAARS provides technical services and resources to Wycliffe Bible Translators, SIL International and related organizations around the world.

Phil & Marilyn McBride are the first Faith Promise Missionaries sent from First Baptist Atlanta in 1978, and serve at the JAARS Center. Kirk and Cindy Flanegan are also FBA Faith Promise Missionaries. Kirk works with The Seed Company (see link below). Cindy works at JAARS, and The Seed Company.


Brief History:

William Cameron Townsend founded Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1942. Working in Central and South America, Townsend saw the need for a support organization to assist the Bible translators. In 1948 he founded the "Jungle Aviation and Radio Services" that went by the acronym "J.A.A.R.S.". For more than 60 years this organization has consistently expanded their support services to meet the changing needs of the translator teams. In 1986 to reflect the diversity of services, the acronym was dropped and the ministry is now known simply as JAARS. Today nearly 600 people serve each weekday at the JAARS Center in Waxhaw, North Carolina. For the past five years JAARS has been named one of thirty "Shining Lights" by MinistryWatch.com, an organization dedicated to helping Christians make informed giving decisions. Please use the Ministry Links below for more information.

The JAARS Center has about 100 housing units for missionaries in training and many office and warehouse buildings. Our team will be working with Construction and Maintenance from March 14th through March 18th to help with the ongoing work. We will have an opportunity to tour the JAARS Center and learn of the support work for Bible translation. We will also have an opportunity for fellowship with and to hear from many missionaries. Please join our Team as a prayer partner and follow along as we go to serve at the JAARS Center.



Waxhaw, North Carolina

Waxhaw, North Carolina

The Last Supper With Twelve Tribes, by Hyatt Moore

The Last Supper With Twelve Tribes, by Hyatt Moore

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Praise the Lord for a wonderful week at the JAARS Center! We arrived back at FBA late Saturday afternoon.  

Here is a summary of our work week:
Painted 2 coats of paint at Waxhaw Creek Apartment "N", including painting the ceiling.
Elim House: Removed and installed 3 exterior doors and ten windows.
Piatt House: Removed and installed 3 exterior doors and one window.
Simpson House: Removed and installed 1 exterior door and three windows.

We heard from many Missionaries and had fellowship time each day with them. 

 Thank you for all your prayers for our team as God worked in and through us this week. Watch for a short video at FBA on Sunday Morning, March 20th with pictures from our week!
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Friday, March 18, 2011

Steve Japhet, Ed Crafter, & Ted Mauch fly with JAARS pilot, Bob.
Steve Japhet painting in Waxhaw Creek Apartment "N".

Roland Charlow removing trim from an old window that will be replaced. with a new energy efficient window.
Ted Mauch and Steve Fowler installing a new door at the Simpson house.
Ed Crafter caulking a new window.
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Thursday, March 17, 2011


FBA bus loaded with replacement exterior doors.

Roland removing a storm door.


Cutting trim molding, installing door hardware, and cleaning up.
We replaced three exterior doors at the Piatt house, and continued painting at the Waxhaw Creek apartments.


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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Ten new windows and three new exterior doors installed on the Elim House. The Elim house is currently occupied by Tim & Tammy Harold. They have four children and have been with Wycliffe for 16 years. They returned from Indonesia 2 years ago and Tim is currently training JAARS pilots. The electric bills will certainly be lower with these much needed improvements.
We have also been repainting the interior of another JAARS apartment.
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Greg, Ted, & Ed Installing a new energy efficient door.
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

We were blessed to have our Tuesday evening meal with Phil, Marilyn, & Joshua McBride.
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Ed Crafter and Beth Mersfelder, the JAARS HR Group Coordinator.
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Monday, March 14, 2011

Orientation for our team!
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A happy group of painters! We all had a great first day at JAARS and enjoyed fellowship time with the missionaries.  
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Sunday, March 13, 2011

We had a great drive to JAARS!  Kirk & Cindy Flanegan, Beth Mersfelder, and James & Myra Matthews greeted us upon arrival. We especially enjoyed our fellowship time with them!  
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Thursday, February 10, 2011

JAARS Brochure


Ted Mauch and Ed Crafter are now the face of volunteering on this current JAARS promotional literature.
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Monday, January 3, 2011

Prayer Request

Please pray:
  • Giving Thanks for our opportunity to support this important ministry work
  • That God will provide "His" team members for this Short-Term Mission Trip.
  • For the JAARS HR Group Coordinator, Beth Mersfelder, as she prepares for our trip.
  • For wisdom in the selection of the work projects that our team will work on.
  • For financial support to cover our travel and lodging costs and to help with material costs.
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