Missionaries
First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa prayerfully and financially supports the following international missionaries through American Baptist International Ministries. The following information is used with the permission of International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches U.S.A.
Daniel and Sarah Chetti – Serving at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, Lebanon and are the first international missionaries in Lebanon. The Chettis are also very involved in the International Church in Beirut, where Dan is an elder and Sarah helps teach Sunday school. Dan teaches theology and coordinates graduate studies at the seminary. He mentors students and ministers to the Sudanese Congregation at Fanar Baptist Church, Lebanon. Sarah works on the development and management of the Seminary’s library. She has also been involved in ministries in a local prison where she ministers among the maids who are locked up there. She takes fresh fruit and vegetables to them and brings their letters to be mailed and also contacts their employers for assistance to bail them out of prison.
Nora and Pieter Kalkman – The Kalkmans coordinate the skills and interests of volunteers from the US and Puerto Rico with needs of the more than 50 Baptist unions that are part of the European Baptist Federation. Facilitating the volunteers and volunteer groups is an important ministry in developing relationships and doing Christian witness across national boundaries. They travel extensively, meeting with partners throughout Europe, Middle East and West Asia to identify needs and coordinate opportunities for American Baptist Churches and individuals to engage in mission in the region.
Jill and Mike Lowery – Jill and Mike work with the Congo Baptist Community, at national and local levels, continuing the efforts started by American Baptists in the Congo more than a century ago. Jill is involved in mission education, women’s ministries and youth work. She is involved in organizing women’s activities in Kinshasa and throughout Western Congo. Mike is a professor and administrator at the Pastor’s Institute in Kikongo where he teaches New Testament and prepares pastors for rural ministry in the Bandundu region of Congo. Since 2004, Mike has also served as Mission Treasurer and has relocated from Kikongo to Kinshasa. He still commutes to Kikongo once a month to teach at the Pastors Institute for one week at a time. He also participates in the preaching schedule of local churches in Kikongo, as well as other churches when invited. Mike is involved in Information Technology and maintains the email communication system and computers in Kikongo. While in Kinshasa, Jill and Mike find ways to use their gifts to serve in the International Protestant Church of Kinshasa. Jill is very involved in youth ministries there, while Mike currently is serving as pastor of the church.
Katherine and Wayne Niles – They serve as seconded missionaries to Interchurch Medical Assistance in Democratic Republic of Congo. Both are involved in full time service with IMA/ECC affiliated health and development activities in Congo, serving as liaison officers for IMA in matters related to HIV/AIDS and Maternal Health projects throughout the Africa Continent. In addition to serving as in-country liaison officer with IMA for financial and account matters, Wayne has been helping Congolese people through development projects to grow more food. Katherine works with a group of Congolese Christian professionals in training community leaders, urban and rural, to be promoters of health in their communities. A church related health center in Kinshasa is also using Katherine’s expertise in making their medical ministry more holistic as they care for urban poor people.
Judy Suttlerlin – Serving with Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, where she teaches general, Biblical and Theological English. As faculty and students improve their English skills, they gain access to additional Bible study resources, increasing their ability to dialogue with Christians from around the world, acquiring proficiency that can enable them to lead English outreach ministries now existing in some city churches. In addition, Judy continues to help with the orientation and care for the Amity Foundation’s English teachers and serves as liaison to Amity projects that International Ministries supports, including support for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS related loss of their parents and support for remote village clinic work.
Debbie Mulneix – Debbie serves as the liaison of churches in India and Nepal, and the US enabling them to develop volunteer service and mission trips opportunities. This ministry involves an effort to help the churches of both sides to understand the culture, needs, and resources of each other. Debbie will provide consultation and training to equip individuals and churches of both sides to develop mutual understanding and respect, and cooperative effort to provide personnel, financial and other resources to each other via volunteer service and mission trips. Programs developed include, but not limited to, pastoral and management training, lay preacher training, women’s and youth ministries.
Daniel and Sarah Chetti – Serving at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, Lebanon and are the first international missionaries in Lebanon. The Chettis are also very involved in the International Church in Beirut, where Dan is an elder and Sarah helps teach Sunday school. Dan teaches theology and coordinates graduate studies at the seminary. He mentors students and ministers to the Sudanese Congregation at Fanar Baptist Church, Lebanon. Sarah works on the development and management of the Seminary’s library. She has also been involved in ministries in a local prison where she ministers among the maids who are locked up there. She takes fresh fruit and vegetables to them and brings their letters to be mailed and also contacts their employers for assistance to bail them out of prison.
Nora and Pieter Kalkman – The Kalkmans coordinate the skills and interests of volunteers from the US and Puerto Rico with needs of the more than 50 Baptist unions that are part of the European Baptist Federation. Facilitating the volunteers and volunteer groups is an important ministry in developing relationships and doing Christian witness across national boundaries. They travel extensively, meeting with partners throughout Europe, Middle East and West Asia to identify needs and coordinate opportunities for American Baptist Churches and individuals to engage in mission in the region.
Jill and Mike Lowery – Jill and Mike work with the Congo Baptist Community, at national and local levels, continuing the efforts started by American Baptists in the Congo more than a century ago. Jill is involved in mission education, women’s ministries and youth work. She is involved in organizing women’s activities in Kinshasa and throughout Western Congo. Mike is a professor and administrator at the Pastor’s Institute in Kikongo where he teaches New Testament and prepares pastors for rural ministry in the Bandundu region of Congo. Since 2004, Mike has also served as Mission Treasurer and has relocated from Kikongo to Kinshasa. He still commutes to Kikongo once a month to teach at the Pastors Institute for one week at a time. He also participates in the preaching schedule of local churches in Kikongo, as well as other churches when invited. Mike is involved in Information Technology and maintains the email communication system and computers in Kikongo. While in Kinshasa, Jill and Mike find ways to use their gifts to serve in the International Protestant Church of Kinshasa. Jill is very involved in youth ministries there, while Mike currently is serving as pastor of the church.
Katherine and Wayne Niles – They serve as seconded missionaries to Interchurch Medical Assistance in Democratic Republic of Congo. Both are involved in full time service with IMA/ECC affiliated health and development activities in Congo, serving as liaison officers for IMA in matters related to HIV/AIDS and Maternal Health projects throughout the Africa Continent. In addition to serving as in-country liaison officer with IMA for financial and account matters, Wayne has been helping Congolese people through development projects to grow more food. Katherine works with a group of Congolese Christian professionals in training community leaders, urban and rural, to be promoters of health in their communities. A church related health center in Kinshasa is also using Katherine’s expertise in making their medical ministry more holistic as they care for urban poor people.
Judy Suttlerlin – Serving with Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, where she teaches general, Biblical and Theological English. As faculty and students improve their English skills, they gain access to additional Bible study resources, increasing their ability to dialogue with Christians from around the world, acquiring proficiency that can enable them to lead English outreach ministries now existing in some city churches. In addition, Judy continues to help with the orientation and care for the Amity Foundation’s English teachers and serves as liaison to Amity projects that International Ministries supports, including support for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS related loss of their parents and support for remote village clinic work.
Debbie Mulneix – Debbie serves as the liaison of churches in India and Nepal, and the US enabling them to develop volunteer service and mission trips opportunities. This ministry involves an effort to help the churches of both sides to understand the culture, needs, and resources of each other. Debbie will provide consultation and training to equip individuals and churches of both sides to develop mutual understanding and respect, and cooperative effort to provide personnel, financial and other resources to each other via volunteer service and mission trips. Programs developed include, but not limited to, pastoral and management training, lay preacher training, women’s and youth ministries.
