First Baptist participates with the Baptist Missionary Association (BMA) of America, the BMA of Texas and the Dallas County BMA to promote and support missionary activity in various regions of the world. (Access “Links” in the menu for more about these.) In addition to budgeted support of these entities, FBC has taken special interest in certain missionaries or mission projects over the years. Currently, we give special attention to a couple of families that are missionaries to the Asia-Pacific region. The ROBERT & CONNIE MURPHY Family The Murphy family moved to the Philippines in April, 2002. Robert and Connie have two sons: Jamin and Jesse. God is blessing their ministry in powerful ways to plant churches and make disciples on several Philippine islands. Cebuano speaking people make up nearly one quarter of the people on the Philippine Islands. Robert’s vision of planting multiple churches through ordinary people who have been touched by God and equipped to reach others with the Gospel is being fulfilled. FBC adopted the Murphys for special support in 2009. Read more about them and their mission at www.cebuanomissions.org. The MIKE & RACHEL CROSS Family From our own membership, Mike Cross was elected as a missionary to Scotland in 2009. But as is often the case, it seems God had different plans. When doors of opportunity seemed to close in one place and open in another, Mike, Rachel, Michael, Caleb and Raelyn stepped up, and stepped through the open door. In April 2010 a field change was approved by the Baptist Missionary Association of America, so that the Cross family will be leaving the States as missionaries to the Asia-Pacific region in June 2010. Their first stop and temporary headquarters will be the Philippines where they will work initially with Missionary Robert Murphy.