Over the last 12 months, a Rutherford County church of about 130 members has helped plant a church, establish a Bible college and construct a school building in South Sudan. This fall, the church will send a team to dedicate the school and continue training, celebrating the gospel impact accomplished through the faithful obedience of a group of believers.

In October, Lake Lure Baptist Church, a church of about 130 members in Rutherford County, will send its first team to South Sudan. For most participants, it will be their first international mission trip. For Pastor Anton Roos, it is the continuation of five years of ministry and missions.

For two weeks, they will conduct the second intensive module for the Bible college and host women’s and youth conferences. They’ll dedicate the nearly completed 10,000-square-foot school building.

The team includes Roos’ wife, Lilani, who will lead a training for pastors’ wives and women’s discipleship; a youth leader currently studying theology; and two women, both new believers in their late 50s and 60s. Neither had participated in a mission trip, even locally, before committing to this journey. With backgrounds in healthcare and banking, the two women have received training through Lake Lure to equip them to share the gospel. 

“They all have shown giftedness in the church to be able to teach,” Roos said. “So now it’s putting them there and standing and being a cheerleader to them, letting God do what God does.”

“Lake Lure Baptist Church is a family on mission,” Roos said. “We believe that every member is a minister of the grace of God, and that He desires to use each and everyone of us. This partnership is just an outflow of who we are.”

Supported and sent by faithful partnerships

Roos first traveled to South Sudan five years ago to train pastors. Since then, God opened doors to opportunities for him to share the gospel and build relationships.

In August 2025, Lake Lure began a partnership with Glory Baptist Church in Juba, South Sudan. In September 2025, Lake Lure voted unanimously to commit $40,000 to the partnership, to build a K-12 school and establish a Bible college. 

Within 12 months, more than $400,000 in funding materialized through support from local churches and partners in the United States. One congregation smaller than Lake Lure itself sent $60,000.

Last December, they planted a downtown Juba church with 12 members. Eight months later, attendance was averaging 45. Glory Baptist Bible College was registered with the South Sudanese government in February, and the first intensive pastor training module launched in June with 60 pastors in attendance. Since the beginning of the year, the partner churches have celebrated as 76 individuals professed faith in Christ. 

The school construction began in January. By August, two main floors housing 13 classrooms and restroom facilities were nearly complete.

Roos credited the faithful obedience of church members and unexpected generosity from partners across the country.

“Many churches view our number as a qualifier of how great the work we can do,” Roos said. “We just have to have the faith that God is the one who brings it about.”

“We desire to see God work in such a way that no one can reason away the miraculous nature of the work or take credit for it. Through God’s faithfulness, Lake Lure has disbursed $457,000 to local and international missions in the past 11 months. God can do great things through ‘small churches’ who trust a huge God.”

Eric Mullis, a Great Commission catalyst with North Carolina Baptists, walked with Roos and Lake Lure to connect them with strategic partners and help navigate complex international partnerships. 

Mullis’ own background in missions allowed him to leverage existing connections to help Lake Lure expand their impact. He connected Roos with other organizations that provide resources, grants and training for pastors. 

Mullis described Lake Lure as an example of what a “normative church can do when they get serious about global missions.”

“This is an incredible picture of God’s faithfulness and what can happen when a church chooses to be faithful in a really hard place and keep pushing. It shows what a 130-member church can be a part of accomplishing,” Mullis said. 

Serving neighbors locally

As the Lake Lure team prepares to go to South Sudan next month, they are praying for the gospel to saturate Juba; for provision to complete another portion of the school; and for more individuals and teams to join them in reaching South Sudan.

Roos also hopes that “‘other small churches’ like ours would look beyond their physical size and limited resources and trust that God has the resources to accomplish the miraculous through them, as they step out in faith.”

Lake Lure’s missions engagement includes local partnerships, too. The weekend after the team returns from South Sudan, the church will host a Baptists on Mission (BOM) mobile dental bus in October. Roos said BOM Executive Director Richard Brunson and Paul Langston, missions mobilization ministry consultant, have been vital partners in praying for and supporting Lake Lure’s efforts at home and internationally.

The mobile dental ministry is another tangible way to serve their community and demonstrate Christ’s care among their neighbors. 

Whether your local church is considering a first international partnership or deepening existing relationships, N.C. Baptists are committed to helping churches mobilize for missions. 

Connect with your regional Great Commission catalyst or visit ncbaptist.org/missiontrips to explore opportunities and discover how your church can take your next step in missions.