Arequipa, Peru

During July 17—July 25, 2010, forty-nine volunteers from Alabama and Texas conducted a medical and evangelical mission project in poverty-stricken areas of Arequipa, Peru’s second largest city, situated at 8000 ft in the Andes Mountains.

The medical clinic ministered to 1249 patients through medical consultations, free medications, eye exams, free glasses, and dentistry. The clinic also conducted a Children’s Bible School. All patients had the opportunity to receive Spiritual Counseling and to hear the Plan of Salvation. Additionally, eight teams of 2 or more volunteers joined local church members to conduct door-to-door evangelism.

During the week of ministry, there were over 1000 professions of faith in Jesus Christ, and two new churches were planted adjacent to the clinic ministry sites. All of Dawson’s team was highly blessed by this experience, and many team members remarked that their lives had been changed forever. 

Southeast Asia

Dawson’s Asia mission team consisted of nine people who felt passionately about ministering. The team focused on five areas of ministry:

1) the university setting, where four of the team members gave lectures to professors and groups of about 200 students at a time

2) teaching ESL in a middle school in a fishing village

3) teaching a craft with the women in three different fishing villages

4) playing ball and interacting with children and students through sports in the village; and

5) interacting with college students through scrap booking and English conversation at a language and cultural center. 

Team members were able to express that God’s love had brought them there. “We knew that our times for witness would have to be completely ‘opened’ by God since it is against the law to directly share a witness…And God did provide those moments. Our prayer was that we would be the ‘fragrance of Christ’ –that people would be drawn to this fragrance and also –that it would linger after we left.” The trip was life changing for all who went.

Kajo Keji, Sudan

A group of six Dawson members served in Kajo Keji, Sudan.  Here are some of the special people and moments from the mission trip:
Susan, who had a miscarriage at 4 months, and then her husband left her.  She has no family BUT the church family.  The mission team prayed with her.

Chief Gabriel watched the mission group closely and made a remark that solidified the impact Dawson’s members are making.  “He said we were the first whites to come to his village to help his people,” Debbie said. “He said he’d build us a tukel if we would come back to help.” Chief Gabriel prayed to receive Christ, and a church will be established in his village.

As an example of local outreach, the women of Dawson made hygiene items for the Sudanese women. A godly Sudanese woman named Rose Dima is the Director of the Women’s Ministry in her church. She learned to make the items and currently spreads the knowledge by teaching other women in her community to make them.

The Sudanese people were also taught vital information in a three-day conference. At the end of the conference, students were asked to recall what they learned and present it to the class in a drama, song or dance. Two stand outs were: the song, “HIV is a Killer” and “The Drama of a Man,” showing what they learned from several different classes, including Hygiene, HIV, Drinking, Lack of exercise, etc.  These presentations showed our team that they “got it.”

Sally Smith really appreciated graduation day with the Sudanese people.  “The excited and bright smiles on the students’ faces as they were presented with training badges and certificates was a picture to behold. God bless them as they pass on the new knowledge.”

It was touching to see the beautiful smiles on so many faces, in spite of the harsh world they live in,” she adds.  “I especially loved Chief Gabriel’s grin when he got the new reading glasses. He said, ‘Now I can read my Bible better.’”

Scott Swedenburg shared that a seminary student at Kajo Keji named Sam Ochan left a great impression on him. “He always had a big smile, wonderful attitude and loved sharing the gospel,” Scott said. “Then he told us his story of watching his parents and 6 siblings killed by soldiers when he was nine years old. It really made me look at my life. I’ve been so blessed, and yet I sometimes have a big smile, sometimes have a good attitude and sometimes share my faith.”

The Lord’s Supper that the group celebrated with the Sudanese people on Wednesday was particularly meaningful.  In the midst of a Ugandan Safari camp, they engaged in the remembrance of Our Lord’s blood sacrifice for our transgressions. The setting, the crackers and grape crystal light were not traditional but they were on holy ground as they read the scripture and partook of the elements. It was a solemn moment. Wherever two or more are gathered in His name, He is with us.

Beyond the Walls in 2010

MEDICAL MISSIONS—There were three medical mission projects this year… Haiti, Peru and Sudan.  Since 2002, 35 Dawson medical mission projects have taken place in twelve different countries.  These teams have ministered to over 44,000 people.

WORSHIP—Six worship services take place each Sunday on Dawson’s campus.  These services are conducted in three different languages.

LANGUAGE MINISTRY—Two of Dawson’s English as a Second Language Students gained their U.S. citizenship this summer.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY—Backyard Bible Schools were conducted at Inglenook Park in Birmingham, Gentilly Baptist in New Orleans, and several communities in Orlando, Florida.

CHILD SPONSORSHIPS—32 orphans in Swaziland (Africa) have been sponsored by Dawson members as a part of our partnership with Children’s Hope Chest.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES—Dawson volunteers provided school supplies for children in Coy, Alabama.

DISASTER RELIEF—A team of 10 medical professional worked in Gressier, Haiti, after the earthquake.

MISSIONARY HOUSES—Our two missionary residences have hosted families from Macau and China.

HEMMED IN PRAYER—200 dresses, made by Dawson volunteers, were given away to young girls on international mission projects.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATORS —A team University Educators worked with our international partners in the largest Muslim country in the world.

HISPANIC VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL—Dawson’s largest Hispanic Bible School ever enrolled 98 children.

UNLIMITED PARTNERSHIPS—With the help of Dawson’s education ministry our seminary intern at Gentilly Baptist Church in New Orleans started an adult Sunday school ministry.

UNIVERSITY MINISTRY—Dawson sent $10,000 direct financial support of Baptist Campus Ministry on the UAB campus. 

DIRECT FINANCIAL MISSIONARY SUPPORT—In addition to cooperative giving, Dawson sent direct financial support to partner missionaries working in Honduras, Brazil, New Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Sudan.

FAMILY MISSION PROJECTS—Parents and their children (52 people in all) participated in Dawson’s second Family Mission Project in New Orleans.

CONSTRUCTION—Dawson Builders helped complete an education building in Manteno, Illinois and five local Metro Changers projects.

EARTHQUAKE HELP—Dawson members donated 240 “Buckets of Hope,” filled with food for earthquake victims in Haiti.

ORPHANS—Dawson provided funding the construction of Make Way Partners’ new orphange in South Sudan, construction of a youth camp for Lifesong for Orphans in Ukraine, and a feeding station for Children’s Hope Chest in Swaziland.