Neighbors & Nations April 2025

As we highlighted in last month's newsletter, Parkway has had a longstanding relationship with the Ibero-America Region of The Wesleyan Church (Central and South America). Over the years, we have joyfully supported some of their churches and leaders through pastor trainings, ministry trips, prayer, and encouragement. Their leadership has developed a growing burden for discipleship and global missions. Because of their desire to participate in outreach, the National Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church of Panama invited us to explore another area of the country that has three new church plants.

Last week, our team took a small plane from Panama City to a more remote area called Changuinola.  Surrounded by jungle and banana plantations, we found ourselves in a small community named "La Gloria".  A young pastor with little training had been given space in an abandoned church building among the Ngobe tribe.  We were able to spend about an hour in the church with the children from the community, and then God gave us a beautiful surprise!  At the school across the road, the students were practicing their traditional tribal dances for a school dance competition.  We got a glimpse into their culture as they moved to the beat of maracas and a horn made from a seashell.  Each dance was named after a different animal, which demonstrated their people's deep connection with nature.  As spectacular as the dancing was, we were struck with their need to know that there is one true God and Creator, and He desires a relationship with them.  
Because of this great need, we are praying about how we can partner with the established churches to help them educate and train the young pastors in Changuinola. They have the desire to be equipped to make disciples who make disciples.  We are praying that God might open doors for future Parkway teams to minister in this area!

BIBLE TRANSLATION
Parkway is part of a group of seven churches in Roanoke working together to reach an unreached people group with the Word of God.  The "Baker" people are a community of 166,000 people living on a river in Southeast Asia.  They are traditionally Muslim, and have only 50 believers among them.  There is currently no church in their community, and the Bible has not yet been translated into their heart language.  The Roanoke Bible Translation Coalition is partnering with Pioneer Bible Translators to support and pray for the translation of the Bible to be completed in the Baker language.  The team on the ground has completed the Book of Luke, and are working on Acts and Genesis.  This is a project that could take decades to complete. We are praying that as people gain access to the scriptures in their language, their eyes and hearts will be opened to Truth, and a multiplying movement to Christ will emerge within the Baker people.  Your missions giving contributes to the funding of the translation of each verse!  (photo above is one of the fish markets in the Baker community)

Recently, the REMIX Group volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House to cook a meal for the residents there.  REMIX is a relatively new Group, but they are serving our community right out of the gate! Our goal at Parkway is for every Group to serve the community together at least once per semester.  Groups are one of our primary forms of discipleship, as we gather to study the word, grow in our faith, be accountable, and make other disciples.  As we do that in unity, the Word is clear that our Christian community must be missional.  We desire for the gospel to reach our neighbors and the nations, so we serve together while playing a part in the Great Commission!  If you want to learn more about the Remix group, reach out to Pastor Mike Lauridsen. 

Vicki Masters and her husband Eric are always willing to lend a helping hand.  Whether it's packing Snack Packs for Preston Park Elementary students, or delivering items to a family in need; Vicki and Eric are ready to serve.  On our recent service trip to World Help in Forest, VA, Vicki and Eric spent the day sorting and packing clothing headed to a community in crisis in the Middle East.  We are so thankful for this couple that has such a heart for our neighbors and the nations.  They do what they can to play their part in God's global mission!