Missionaries to be Commissioned at World Mission Conference

Valley Forge, Pa. -- Ten missionaries will join the Class of 2003 as new or reappointed missionaries serving with International Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA. The appointments were announced by the Rev. Elmo Familiaran, director of Missionary Recruitment for International Ministries' Global Mission Team.

A formal commissioning service will be held Aug. 8, 2003 during the American Baptist World Mission Conference at the American Baptist Assembly, Green Lake, Wis.

The Rev. Edith Yamina Apolinaris will serve as a two-year contract missionary in Spain in partnership with the Union of Evangelical Baptists, effective June 1, 2003. Apolinaris, a native of Puerto Rico, will work in educational ministries and counseling at the Baptist Seminary in Madrid.

Ann E. C. Borquist and Bruce R. Borquist have been reappointed for missionary service. The Borquists, who previously served in the Philippines, now will serve in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, with the National Baptist Convention of Brazil. Ann Borquist's appointment is effective Sept. 1, 2003. Currently a pastoral assistant at Siloam Baptist Church, Norristown, Pa., in September she will begin serving with American Baptist Churches of New Jersey to develop a partnership to empower local churches to engage in global mission. She also will work with International Ministries staff to help shape the infrastructure for proposed Missionary Support Teams. In Brazil she will serve in the area of educational ministries. Bruce Borquist, currently treasurer of International Ministries, will serve in Brazil in the area of economic development, effective with the appointment of a new International Ministries treasurer.

The Rev. Daniel L. Buttry has been appointed as a global service missionary for peace and justice, effective July 1, 2003. Buttry, based in Warren, Mich., most recently has served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Dearborn, Mich., and as coordinator of the Gavel Memorial Peace Fund of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America.

The Rev. Jorge L. D. Damasceno and Hermelinda A. Damasceno will serve in Albania with the Albanian Baptist Union in a joint appointment by International Ministries and the National Baptist Convention of Brazil, effective July 1, 2003. The Damascenos will work in the areas of evangelism, new church development, and women's and children's ministries.

Dr. Stanley D. Slade has been reappointed for missionary service. Having previously served in El Salvador, Slade will be regional missionary for Iberoamerica in theological education, effective Jan. 1, 2004. Currently special assistant to International Ministries' executive director, he will continue to reside in Pennsylvania as he serves as a visiting professor throughout Iberoamerica.

Philip B. Smith will serve in Brazil in a joint appointment by International Ministries and Hope Unlimited International, effective July 1, 2003. He will work with the National Baptist Convention of Brazil in ministries to orphans and homeless youth. He currently is president and CEO of Hope Unlimited International, Brazil.

The Rev. Charles W. Sydnor IV and Carole J. Sydnor have been reappointed to missionary service. The Sydnors, who previously served in Nepal, now will serve in development ministries with Human Development and Community Service in Nepal, effective Jan. 1, 2004. Charles Sydnor has been World Relief officer for American Baptist Churches USA since 1988. Carole Sydnor currently is administrative assistant to the pastor of Royersford Baptist Church, Royersford, Pa.