The McWilliams Mission Fund
This Fund is set up as a point of gathering support and small donations for short term missions trips by Barry and Marianne McWilliams to Eastern Europe and East Africa. They will be used as support for upcoming and future mission trips by the McWilliams under International Messengers and Africa Christian Training Institute. Donations are also received into this fund from those who use Barry's VBS Materials available on line.
Donations should be sent to:
The McWilliams' Mission Fund,
1609 Lombard Ave,
Everett, Wa, 98201
Please write the checks payable to Barry McWilliams, and attach a note designating them for the McWilliams Mission Fund, specify the mission, if you desire.
Barry has a PayPal account: eldrbarry@gmail.com and funds can be sent to the mission fund through it as well.
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Current Fund Goals:
Barry's mission trips to Uganda seem to happen about every other year, but he expects his next trip will be sometime in 2010. Funds are now being accumulated for that trip.
Our daughter Sarah spent a number of years as an International Messengers missionary in Kaposvar, Hungary. While there she married and our two grandsons were born there. They came to the States in April 2008. and after a month in Hungary to settle their affairs in May 2009, Sarah, Bruno and the boys are are back in Everett to stay. And a grand-daughter is on the way in November.
Barry was invited to be a presenter at The Florida Chautauqua Assembly 2009 at the end of January. The theme was "a Journey to Africa" and Barry spoke about short term missions in Africa. Marianne went along and we gave some lessons in the African game, Oware as well.. He did not be draw from the Mission Fund for that trip.
- Barry raised support towards joining John Pickett and a team from University Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM on a mission trip to Uganda in October 29th - November 15th, 2007 . A revisit to Hoima and Western Uganda assisted the Presbyterian Church of Uganda in establishing a new church in Masindi, as well as strengthening the churches in Hoima, Mabaale and Kagadi, as we work towards a presbytery of churches among the Banyoro and Batoro peoples. We also did evangelism in Baganda villages in the Mukono area.. Barry needed to raise $3,500 in support. Praise the Lord, $3739.60 was raised!
- Our daughter Sarah delivered our second grandchild, Benjamin David (Benji) on August 3rd, 2007. So we made a trip to Kaposvár, Hungary in September, 2007. Barry went for 10 days, and Marianne, for about a month. We left September 10th. Though we did not consider this a mission trip - we were involved in ministering to Sarah and her family, as well as assisting some in her ministries there. Air fare was around $1200 for each of us. We did not draw from the Mission Fund to cover this trip.
Mission Activities of the McWilliams'
- Sarah asked Marianne to consider a Mission Trip to Hungary for their Discipleship English Camp in late June and early July, 2006. But with the California wedding of our son, we decided to forgo a mission trip in 2006. Sarah was home with Robi for a month in the summer, and we all went to San Jose, California for my son's wedding on August 13th, which Barry Officiated.
- Upon the arrival their first grandchild on October 21st, 2004; Barry and Marianne made a trip to Kaposvár, Hungary on November 1-12th, 2004 mainly a Support Trip for our daughter Sarah Balogh and household, But Marianne taught a quilt block at a Patchwork gathering and Barry contributed to a Bible Study in the gypsy street ministry. We did not pay for this trip through the Mission Fund.
- $3,500 was raised for Barry's Uganda Mission -- April 30th - May 19th, 2005. Ministry by this team from University Presbyterian Church in Las Cruces, MN was done in Hoima, Kinkiizi, Rwanda, Kampala and Kamuli. He taught in a number of conferences, as well as various preaching.
- We hosted our daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Bruno Balogh, and our grandson Robi, here in Everett from October 4th through January 1st, 2006. Sarah was raising support for her ministry with International Messengers in Kaposvár, Hungary while here.
- For more on Barry's 2001 and March, 2003 mission trips to Uganda; Marianne's April, 2002, and March, 2004 mission trips to Hungary, as well as our trip to Hungary in 2002 for Sarah's Weddings - see below.
Current Fund Balance: $638.59
Our thanks to those who have helped us, some in appreciation for using my VBS materials:
- Woodine Baptist Church, Pace, Florida (7/2009)
- St Mark's United Church of God, Sanford, North Carolina (6/2009)
- Falling Springs Church, Decatur, Arkansas (11/2008)
- Iberia Presbyterian Church, Iberia, Ohio [7/2008]
- Springfield Baptist Church, Columbia Crossroads, Pennsylvania [6/2008]
- Oakland Presbyterian Church, Weirton, West Virginia [6/2008]
- Normal, Illinois [06/2008]
- St. John's Lutheran Church, Westboro, Missouri [10/2007]
- First United Methodist Church, Armstrong, Iowa (8/2007, 9/2007)
- D. Wright, Quincy, Florida (7/2007)
- Living Hope Wesleyan Church, Madison, Wisconsin (6/2007)
- Campton Baptist Church, Campton, New Hampshire (6/2007)
Click for Response forms for Barry and Marianne
Barry is an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church of America. He served as an Assistant or Associate Pastor at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church over two decades. The McWilliams currently are attending Crosspoint Church (PCA) in Edmonds, Wa. Barry studied Missions at Covenant College, and received his theological training at Covenant Theological Seminary. He is currently the chairman of the Mission to the World Committee of the Pacific Northwest Presbytery (P.C.A.) where his "mission" is to encourage interest in missions. Barry is a capable and experienced preacher and teacher and storyteller. He has developed Vacation Bible School materials that continue to be used by many churches, made available through his extensive website.
He has made three trips to Uganda, and has been to Hungary twice as well. His ministry in Africa included teaching and preaching and door to door evangelism.
Marianne has used her skills and knowledge as a quilter on three ministry trips to Hungary doing Women's Patchwork conferences. Her Raggedy Ann sewing classes have been quite popular. Barry and Marianne both work in the grocery industry - Barry with 30 years at Safeway, and Marianne at Sno-Isle Natural Foods Co-op.
Marianne and Barry have been married 35 years and have two adult children, and three grandchildren.
Paul McWilliams, their son, after High School served in the U.S. Navy, then graduated from Everett Community College and then the University of Washington with a degree in Technical Communications. He is presently working for IBM at their Santa Teresa Computer Lab in San Jose, California. He married Brianne O'Fallon in August, 2006. Barry officiated at the ceremony in San Jose. Brianne got her diploma as a Doctor of Physical Therapist from Samuel Merritt University in May, 2009. We attended her graduation using the air miles accumulated from our trips to Hungary.
Sarah Balogh, their daughter, is an International Messengers missionary in Kaposvar, Hungary. 
She started her ministry there in the Summer of 2000 after attending IM's Mountainside Ministry Training Center in Libby, Montana. Married in the fall of 2002 to Bruno Balogh, a Hungarian national, who also worked with International Messengers - her missionary work there included English Second Language Bible Camps and Women's Conferences (which are staffed by short term teams from the US); Gypsy, children's and coffeehouse ministries; relationship evangelism and one-on-one discipling, etc. In the Spring of 2008, they came to Everett to live, and we have enjoyed having them close by. Sarah and Bruno have two boys, Robi, was born in Hungary in October, 2004, Benji was born there in August, 2007. A girl is on the way in November, 2009.
The McWilliams' long range Goals and Objectives:
With God's provision, we will . . .
- Go on Short Term Missions trips on at least an annual basis (either individually or together) to Eastern Europe and East Africa.
- With increased experience, we hope to recruit, prepare, and lead teams from the Pacific North West on Short Term Missions Trips to go with us.
- We will endeavor to pass on our practical experience, and to promote involvement in and support of missions in the PNW regional church.
- We will also explore the possibilities of further involvement in participating in, or supporting Short Term missions as a "retirement career".
The McWilliams' Missionary Adventures:
- Hungary and Uganda, March 2001 Marianne - Raggedy class at Kaposvár; Barry - Door to door, seminars, crusade preaching at Kajjansi.
- Hungary and Poland, April 2002 Patchwork Conferences in Kaposvár and Debrecen, IM Staff Converence in Poland. In preparation, there was a quite successful Quilt Auction and while in Hungary, Marianne gave a Gospel presentation using a Raggedy Ann Doll. The Team also took along 50 copies of Ultimate Questions by John Blanchard in Hungarian which were distributed and put to good use.
- The three weddings, Late Summer, 2002 While not a short term mission "per say" -- this was an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with Hungarian culture and customs.
- Uganda, March 2003 Conference ministry at Lweza, Mukono, KinKiizi and Hoima.
- Barry attended the ACTI board meeting in Atlanta, Georgia in December, 2003.
- Kaposvár, Hungary - March 15th-30th, 2004. Marianne taught at the Patchwork Conference, plus she brought encouragement to Sarah and Bruno in a difficult time.
- A trip to Hungary in November, 2004 was made, to greet our grandchild.
- Barry went to Uganda in May, 2005 as part of a team from University Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM. He did teaching and preaching ministry in Kinkiizi, Kajjansi and Kamuli.
The Sending Organizations
International Messengers does English Second Language and Sports Camps missions primarily in Eastern Europe. The camps and conferences are staffed by teams from the USA, as well as national Christians.
Africa Christian Training Institute facilitates short term missions trips by teaching and ruling elders to Uganda as partners of Ugandan churches in training and assisting their leaders in evangelism and church planting, and in teaching and conference ministries.
The costs of a mission trip to Hungary are about $1,800 per person;
and to Uganda $3,500 - about half of these cover travel expenses,
the remainder are for the costs of doing ministry.
Just some of Eldrbarry's Online Missions Resources:
P.S. on the origin of "Eldrbarry": Many years ago, a blind missionary to Peru and his seeing-eye dog spoke at the church. At a reception afterwards, Barry was introduced as "Barry, one of our elders," to which came the response "Elder Barry? . . . like strawberry or blueberry?" There is a berry that grows in the Northwest called the "elderberry". Anyway, the nickname stuck, and was later adopted as my internet "identification".
For more information or questions, please contact me at eldrbarry@eldrbarry.net..
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