"When Richard Brunson (executive director of N.C. Baptist Men) asked us about assuming this post in partnership missions, Shirley and I could not dismiss it lightly."

Roy A. (not to be confused with Roy J., the retired executive director of the Baptist State Convention) and Shirley are both natives of South Carolina, but they have been in North Carolina long enough it feels like home.

Shirley Smith shows genuine interest in the South Africans. The baby is the daughter of "Jerry," who made a profession of faith on Oct. 25.

Roy spent about 15 years in textile management before he answered the call to the ministry. He attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and served on the staff of Raleigh's Crabtree Valley Church.

Later he served on the staff of Raleigh Association, before becoming director of missions in Sandy Creek Association.

When the invitation came from Brunson, Smith called the associational leadership together to discuss the possibility with them. They had a time of prayer together.

The Smiths accepted a commitment to work in the Southern Africa partnership through 2000, which meant they could not take a leave of absence from Sandy Creek Association. That would be too long to be gone, and the Sandy Creek work would suffer.

So, Roy and Shirley took a step of faith. They accepted the position, and sold their home in Sanford and most of their possessions. A few items they did not want to give up were put in storage.

Shirley had a good job outside the home, but she resigned the position to become a team player with her husband in the mission project.

"I couldn't do the job without her," Roy quickly admits. "She is vital to our successful ministry."

Roy and Shirley have adjoining offices in the Baptist International Mission Services building in Johannesburg. Technically, they are joint missionaries of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board (IMB) and the N.C. Baptist partnership.

The Smiths live in a home owned by the IMB and previously used by Sonny and Deen Sweatman, who are serving as missionaries-in-residence at Gardner-Webb University while on furlough (now called stateside assignment). The Sweatmans helped get the partnership started.

The Smiths arrived in Johannesburg last April, and in a few short months developed strong relationships with Baptist leaders in Southern Africa, while disciplining themselves to learn everything possible about the history and culture of the area.

"What will we do when this assignment is ended?" Roy asks rhetorically. "We don't know, but we are confident God will open another door of mission opportunity somewhere in the world."