Mission volunteers lend hands to motivate others

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Every weekend, Bill and Elaine Newcomb load up their motor home, drive through North Florida’s sweeping, rustic countryside and ask leaders of small rural churches, "What has God called you to do here that we can help accomplish?"

The answers are varied.

Sunrise Baptist Church in Jasper had a long-time time dream to build a steeple as the guiding light for its community. Within two weeks, Bill Newcomb had secured plywood, constructed a steeple, convinced a local boat company to coat the wood with fiberglass, added seven coats of paint and persuaded the city’s maintenance crews to place it on of the church for all to see.

Fanning Springs Community Mission in Trenton was meeting in a livestock arena when the Newcombs began attending. It was evident this congregations needed a more permanent church building. The couple assisted the pastor in developing plans for a worship center. The Newcombs found volunteer workers from their home church and the ranks of Campers of Missions, They hired licensed workers and helped with the construction themselves. Now a beautiful, new, debt-free sanctuary serves as the only house of worship in their tri-county corner off of Highway 98 about 30 miles west of Gainesville.

Leaders of the Orange Springs First Baptist Church enlisted the Newcombs to conduct surveys of its community. They soon discovered that more than 3,000 people lived within five miles of the church. These became targeted prospects for the church. "Due to their coordinated efforts, the church is now growing," said Pastor Bill Freal. Again the Newcombs called in their construction volunteers to help the church build a multi-purpose building with Sunday school space.

Since 1991, the Lake City residents have served as volunteer consultants for the Florida Baptist Convention’s Partnership Mission Department. They visit more than 20 churches a year, working in 11 associations. The members of Parkview Baptist Church work with Campers on Missions and participate in statewide evangelistic efforts.

The Newcombs find a personal satisfaction when matching a smaller church that "does not know where to go for help" with a larger, stronger church and the network of resources they have developed over the years. But their personal goal is to take the small church one more step—to the place where members are volunteering to do missions themselves.

"When we visit churches, we ask ‘how can we help you do what God has called you to do here that we can help accomplish through volunteers, door-to-door survey, construction or Vacation Bible School,’" said Bill Newcomb. "Then we ask ‘now how can we help you get involved in volunteer mission opportunities?’"

The Newcombs reserve February and October each year for Daytona’s Bike Week, where they park bikes at Calvary Baptist Church and offer coffee and cookies to leather-clad, tattooed bikers. Workers at Daytona’s Speedway Race Week know the Newcombs by name as they park their motor home inside Gate 40 and carry cold bottled water to the workers. Fair workers across North Florida have learned the couple always have a smile on their face and a cup of coffee waiting at all hours of the day and night.

As they go about their tasks, the Newcombs creatively share their faith, giving passersby a free ticket with the plan of salvation, sharing a tract, serving a cup of cold water that leads into a conversation about the Living Water.

The Newcombs are "critical" to the ministry at Daytona Beach’s Calvary Baptist Church, said Pastor Brent Jones, as the congregation responds to the city’s special events and tourist influx with an on-going Gospel witness. "We couldn’t do it without them."

"They lead by example. They are constantly thinking of others instead of themselves. They are motivated by the love of the Lord and the love of people. We consider them our resident missionaries."

Although their hearts are in missions, the Newcombs exist in the real world of bills and taxes. Elaine, 52, is a staff assistant at the Columbia County Health Department. Bill, 55, is the supervisor of public safety at Lake City Community College. The two take vacation and personal leave to do the Lord’s work and credit understanding bosses who enable their flexible work schedules. Every third year, they take a week of vacation for themselves.

"We just love doing this," said Elaine. "It a vision we believe God gave us a long time ago to help churches. We felt called to do this just like a pastor is called."

Bill said the past 11 years have changed his life. "I see God work more now than I ever had before." While he has served his own church faithfully as Sunday school director and on the church council, "there was something missing," he said. "Now I see what God is doing and how he touches lives. I see the lives of churches change."