This page shares the experiences of congregations and individuals with Operation Inasmuch.  After reading these testimonials, you may want to contact the source to get additional information or to dialogue with them further about their experience.

First Baptist Church, Greenville, SC

April 1, 2006, was no April's Fool's Day for Greenville, SC.  It was a day of amazing mobilization of hundreds of believers being the hands and feet of Jesus through Operation Inasmuch.  First Baptist Church had about two-thirds of their regular Sunday attendance--nearly 500--to participate in Operation Inasmuch.  Members have described it as one of the most exciting things to happen in the church in a long time.  A video testimonial can be seen of this event by cutting and pasting the link below on your browser (the song in the video was written by Bootie Cothran, Media & Technology Coordinator at First Baptist):

http://www.firstbaptistgreenville.com/media/video/2006Inasmuch.wmv

Women of Ontario/Quebec, Canada

As part of a larger women's convention of Baptist women in eastern Canada, 50 women participated in the first ever Operation Inasmuch in Canada.  The 50 women were from 31 different Canadian Baptist congregations.  The conducted 6 projects including serving 200 hamburgers to street youth at the Oasis Drop-In.  One participant who served in this project said she'd lived in that community for 26 years and did not know such a ministry existed there.  She was deeply touched by what she saw as she intereacted with the street teens and shared about her experience with tears in her eyes.

Another project was the preparation of a kitchen garden at the Working Center, a ministry to persons presently unemployed.  The clients and staff at the Working Center were thrilled to have 5 volunteers helping them on the day of Operation Inasmuch. 

One participant from Avenue Road Baptist Church, Cambridge, Ontario, said she can't wait to get her church doing Operation Inasmcuh in their community.  Others came away from their first experience with Operation Inasmuch with similar comments.

Kim Wyatt

Missionary to Internationals

Toronto, Canada

Burton Latimer Baptist Church

Burton Latimer, England

On May 1 Burton Latimer Baptist Church, a small community about 50 km east of Coventry, England, conducted their 3rd Operation Inasmuch.  Thirty members were involved in 27 projects.  Pastor John Tattersall says "Inasmuch is now a definite part of our church programme."  He reported from one of their earlier experiences that a woman joined their church as a result of learning of Burton Latimer's involvement in the community. 

In 2001 members of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC, traveled to England on a mission trip.  One of their projects was to teach the congregational leaders of Burton Latimer how to do Operation Inasmuch.  Four years later, the results are clear:  not only is the Burton Latimer Church sold on Operation Inasmuch as an effective outreach into their community, but they are also talking about drawing in other local congregations into this ministry

John Tattersall, Pastor

Burton Latimer Baptist Church

Burton Latimer, England

Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship

Lexington, South Carolina

Emmanuel Fellowship is a new church start with 55 members.  They held their second Operation Inasmuch on August 5, 2006, with 35 members participating.  Twelve painted nine rooms at an interfaith community services building.  About ten adults and children made blankets for homeless persons.  Ten others worked through the local DHEC to provide car seats to Hispanic families at the farm where they were working, explaining the proper ways to use them.  The youth made lunches and personally delivered them to homeless persons in Lexington.  Church member Sandy Light says:  "I think we had good representation for our size church and it was a very positive experience. We did this last year, but this was MUCH better. We learned a lot the first go round. The whole vision of Inasmuch really works! And it is so do-able!"

Harrisonburg Baptist Church

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Our first Operation Inasmuch was October 15, 2005.  We had more than 200 people participating (about half our active congregation) and we conducted 23 projects.  Some of the projects were landscaping yards, building and repairing trailer ramps, repairing front porches, cleaning yards for handicapped families, stocking the supply closet for a pregnancy center, entertaining residents in a nursing home, children singing and providing artwork for homebound persons, and collecting clothes for a clothing drive.  Several families were taken to the grocery store for their monthly grocery shopping trip which began a budding relationship with church members.  A bake sale was held to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims and a water and rest station was provided for an annual community craft fair.  Since Operation Inasmuch is a ministry for people from 2 to 92, we planned projects for all ages and we met that goal.

As one lady said after a crew had landscaped her yard, "Your pastor must have preached a powerful sermon about missions to get you to come to my house.  Tell him it was sure appreciated and an answer to my prayers."  Another resident sent word that "it was the best activity I have seen to bring different races and cultures together in love.  Praise the Lord."

Hank Bowers

Harrisonburg Baptist Church

First Baptist Church

Corbin, KY

Our first Operation Inasmuch took place in April, 2005.  We ordered an Operation Inasmuch manual which guided us throughout the planning and implementation of this effective ministry. 

We could not have had worse weather or a better response to this effort.  It was a cold and rainy day.  We had about 150 people involved, 16 teams and 13 projects.  A Boy Scout troop/Cub Scout pack and their parents joined in the effort swelling our numbers even more.  The scouts cleaned and prepared a soccer field for the city Recreation Department.  Two OIAM teams did yard work for elderly residents.  The "Flower Power" team cleaned flower beds in a roadside park in partnership with a local garden club.  A team sewed lap blankets and walker bags and delivered them to area nursing homes.  Another team led a kids club at Vermillion Village.  We also had a prayer team, a lunch prep and delivery team, and a transportation team.

Comments include:  "This is the best thing we've done in years."  "I'm so proud of our church.  We have a good church."  "We made friends."  "We need to do this twice a year--spring and fall."

Susan Allen

First Baptist Church

Corbin, KY

Home | About OIAM | Ideas | Manual | Training | Contact