By By MICHELE GERLACH – Publisher
Today, Jack Fitts isn't in his regular pulpit at First Baptist Church of Brewton.
Instead, "Brother Jack," as he is known to his congretation, is preaching in the Church of the Oasis in Reynosa, Mexico.
Although Fitts speaks "rusty" Spanish – he's a former Spanish teacher – he'll have an interpreter for today's sermon.
Early Friday, Fitts, along with 25 other adults and five children, left First Baptist for a mission trip to Big Heart Orphanage in Reynosa.
During their week in Reynosa, those participating in the mission will work on the orphanage buildings, conduct Vacation Bible School, and do some street witnessing, he said.
Mickey Flowers, who helped organize the trip, said the group also planned to brighten up the orphanage.
First Baptist has a long relationship with the Big Heart Orphanage and has organized a number of mission trips there, including a medical mission trip earlier this year.
Many of those participating in this week's trips are veterans, while the trip also drew a number of new volunteers this year.
Brewton City Schools superintendent Lynn Smith was one of the newcomers.
Smith, who drove the church bus, was joined on the trip by his daughter.
Jane Turner said she had always been interested in a mission trip. After her husband died last year, she mentioned her interest to her granddaughter Lacey.
George and Carolyn Grover also were accompanied by grandchildren – four of them. Some of them have been before. George Grover helped coordinate the trip, his seventh mission trip to Mexico.
The group left Brewton at 7 a.m. Friday and planned to take I-10 to Houston, where they were to spend Friday night before driving south to Reynosa.