Partnering to Reach the World

"We realize we can't do everything and be everywhere, so we look at the opportunity to partner with others as an opportunity to expand and go where the Lord has told us to go and do what He's told us to do."

This realization and plan is what has enabled Pastor Bartholomew Orr and Brown Missionary Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi to build a church, a school, and a medical clinic in Ghana, and plant a church and help orphaned children in Botswana. Brown Missionary Baptist also helps their local community with business development, career opportunities, a clothes closet, and food pantry. They also minister in prisons, nursing homes, and to the homeless.

This desire to partner with people to share God's Word with the world is also why they partnered with Faith Comes By Hearing. Pastor Orr says, "Upon hearing what Faith Comes By Hearing was doing, we thought it would be an excellent opportunity to partner with people who have put the Word of God into audio and are reaching people around the world."

Brown Missionary Baptist participated in You've Got The Time and funded the entire Audio New Testament recording for the Lyélé people of Burkina Faso. They also provided Military BibleSticks for service members in the military. Pastor Orr says, "Since we're always looking for ways to partner with people and get the Word out, what better way than by combining patriotism, praying for our military, and providing the Word of God to them? It's the best of all worlds." Pastor Orr's brother is retired from the military and several of the young people in their church are currently serving.

Pastor Orr has been preaching since he was 11 years old. By the age of 19, he was Senior Pastor of the historic Brown Missionary Baptist Church, founded in 1882. Brown Missionary Baptist has a profound history—founded by former slaves, there are grandchildren of the original founders who are active members.

Pastor Orr also shared, "In these hard economic times where everyone is thinking about how they can trim budgets, it's important for us not to cut back on that which is going to have the most lasting, eternal difference in building the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. We should focus on what we as churches can do in terms of giving even more in these times. Like the Macedonian Church—they gave out of their poverty in the midst of their affliction, and still abounded in the riches of their liberality (II Corinthians 8). As churches, this is not the time to cut back. The darker the night, the brighter any light will shine. What Faith Comes By Hearing is doing, trying to be a blessing to others, is a great example."