Every Friday, Baptist Women in Ministry introduces a fabulous minister, and today we are pleased to introduce Brittany Garton.
Brittany, tell us about what your current ministry?
I serve in Bucharest, Romania! I moved here in 2011, the summer after I graduated from Bluefield College, where I earned a degree in business administration. I am currently the project manager for Project Ruth, and my duties include overseeing public relations, scheduling/coordinating teams that come to Romania to do a variety of activities, and coordinating our child sponsorship program. In addition, I am the field coordinator for a partnership between Romanian Baptist churches and Virginia Baptist churches.
What experiences have shaped and prepared you for your present role?
I grew up in a very missions oriented home. Both of my parents had been on mission trips within the United States and internationally. The summer I turned thirteen I came to Romania with six women to help with a week of Bible School. During that week, I felt God lay on my heart His plan for me. I never looked back. I graduated from college a year early so I could get back to Romania as quickly as possible and begin my ministry with the Roma (Gypsy).
Who has inspired you along the way as you have lived out your calling?
There have been so many people who have encouraged me along the way, including my family, friends, current and former pastors, the people at the Baptist General Association of Virginia and those that I serve with here at Project Ruth. My greatest inspiration, however, comes from the children of the neighborhood and their parents.
What is the best ministry advice you have ever been given?
I remember a former pastor taking me out to dinner just before I left for Romania–with my one-way ticket. He told me to take time for myself and to ask for and accept help from others. Sometimes we quickly become overwhelmed by the needs of those to whom we are called to minister. We want to try to “fix” everything. That kind of response, of course, leads to burn out, and then we are not effective at all. A whole loaf of bread cannot be eaten in one bite, and neither can one person solve all the problems that God has placed before you. By taking small bites and with the help of others, problems can become manageable.
To learn more about Brittany’s work, visit Project Ruth, and to support her ministry there, click here.