Listening to stories of Australia’s Aboriginal people. Working on a team to translate the Bible into more languages. Awaiting a medical ministry ship coming to shore. It’s all been part of Carl Baird’s life over the past two years.
The New Palestine native works with the Youth With a Mission base in Cannonvale, Queensland, embarking on at least two years there after a two-year stint at a different YWAM base in Northern Queensland.
Baird recently took time for an email interview about his role in the ministry.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Describe what you’re doing there — your role, the timetable, where you stay, etc.
The past two years I was previously working with YWAM Townsville, based in Northern Queensland, but I am moving three hours south to YWAM Whitsunday based in Cannonvale, Queensland, Australia.
My commitment there is only two years, but God might call me there longer; right now I’m playing it by ear!
While I’m there, I will be helping lead the Evangelism Ministries (working with backpackers, starting a pub ministry). I’ll be working with the marketing and media team, also working with the public relations crew (so, working with the government side of things on the campus), helping lead local outreaches, and helping run Discipleship Training Schools.
What might the average American not know about daily life there?
A. Living in Australia, it’s always sunny and always hot (at least in Northern Queensland). Being someone who doesn’t get (sun) burned, even after being stranded in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico for eight hours, I don’t get burned. But, in Australia, I got burned almost once a month. So you MUST wear sunscreen; also, it is not possible to find anything less than 50 SPF. The sun is that bad. Queensland is known as the Skin Cancer Capital of the World.
B. The Aboriginals were treated very poorly, similar to how the American Indians were treated. All of that happened around 50 to 80 years ago. Being a white Christian talking to Aboriginals … they have a lot of hate toward us. But when you sit down and hear their stories, and actually listen to them, you can show them that we do actually care. And just by doing that, I have seen God work in so many different ways, touching the local Aboriginals.
What have you learned so far from this experience? What have been the spiritual lessons?
Over the past two years, living in Australia and working in Papua New Guinea, I had learned so much more than I could have possibly thought possible.
Six years ago, God had given me a mission statement: “Change the world one town at a time.” That is something I have been trying to figure out. How is it possible for me, a guy from New Palestine, Indiana, to leave a footprint on this earth?
But something I was taught was that it’s not going to be me; I’m just the one to start the snowball rolling down the hill. But it will be everyone I come in contact with — those are the people who will change the world!
This was a huge lesson for me because I realized that I can’t be quiet; I need to go out and make friends all over and start discipling them, so they can go and teach and disciple others.
It’s just like it says in Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
But this is something that has been a recurring theme through my time in Australia and Papua New Guinea, and it is something I will continue to strive toward!
How can people support you?
There are a couple of ways someone can support me during this time.
Online: There is a link where you just fill out the info you need to for financial tax-deductible support: https://ywamtyler.org/funddonation/?uid=FCFC6A12-EF13-4C66-BB76-DA88B5273608
Mail: YWAM, P.O. Box 3000, Garden Valley, TX 75771-3000. Do not put my name anywhere on the check if you choose to do this way.
Paypal: PayPal.me/carlbaird
Venmo: CWBa1rd
Prayer: Prayer is so important! When I have a team of people praying for me, I am able to do so much more. So many more doors will open for the ministry God has called me toward, and honestly, it’s because of all the prayer I receive. Prayer is what helps my ministry grow and my ministry thrive. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this if it wasn’t for all of the prayer I receive.
