First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City

BUA Student Allan Escobar	OKC Church, San Antonio University Partner for Missions
	Leaders at the Baptist University of the Americas (BUA) dreamed of establishing a partnership that would link them with local congregations for education and missions. Leaders of the San Antonio-based university hoped to develop a true, two-way partnership model that would further both the mission of the university, as well as the mission of a local congregation. After many conversations, First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City (FBCOKC) agreed to act as BUA's first "Barnabas Project" church. For its role in the partnership, FBCOKC agreed to provide funding for scholarships, an emergency medical fund, missions resources for the BUA library, and supplemental support for the on-campus administration of the project. The church has also earmarked funds for the placement of BUA interns, whose work will focus on launching a new Hispanic Ministry Initiative this summer with the Oklahoma City congregation. "This partnership has the potential to impact not only local but national and global missions, as well," said FBCOKC senior pastor Tom Ogburn. "Bringing these interns into our community helps put our congregation in the very midst of the education of future ministers and missionaries. It also helps us to reach out to a segment of our community that we might never have reached on our own." Interns Allan and Griselda Escobar hope the Barnabas Project will fill a significant need in the Oklahoma City metro area. "Demographics show upwards of 30,000 Spanish-speaking residents in this area," said Allan Escobar. "We want to lay the groundwork for reaching these families and bringing them together through First Baptist's Hispanic ministry initiative." "Not only will it be important for this church," said Griselda Escobar, "it will also help strengthen Oklahoma City's Hispanic population overall by uniting them through the programs being established here." For its part in the relationship, BUA will provide FBCOKC with promotional materials, newsletters and other information on its mission and programs, develop criteria for disbursement of the scholarship and other dollars provided by the congregation, and will work with FBCOKC's leadership to select future interns. Marconi Monteiro, BUA's vice president of student affairs, celebrated the signing of the partnership in a follow-up letter. "We are excited at the opportunity to work with your church in the Barnabas Project," Marconi wrote. "I am certain that God will bless this endeavor for the benefit of all involved: Oklahoma City, FBC Oklahoma City, BUA and Allan and Griselda. I look forward to continuing to work together with you in many other ventures for years to come." With the first partnership in place, the Baptist University of the Americas will begin to promote the Barnabas Project partnership model in hopes of enlisting other congregations in similar missions education projects. Baptist University of the Americas website