2011 FBA JAARS Mission Trip, March 13-19

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.