ATLANTA (ABP) -- The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and American Baptist Churches USA have agreed to co-sponsor two missions couples in mission fields in the United States and Haiti.

The missionaries are Marcia and Duane Binkley, who will be commissioned in June by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and Nancy and Steve James, who already serve with ABC's International Ministries.

Rob Nash, CBF's Global Missions coordinator, approved of the dual sponsorship, adding that such joint ventures “signal that mission engagement in the 21st century is about collaboration….”

As career field personnel, the Binkleys will receive financial support from CBF and ABC. As global missions affiliates, the Jameses are financially self-supported but will also now receive funds from the American Baptist association.

The Binkleys, who have served 15 years in Thailand, have been career missionaries to Myanmar refugees known as the Karen. A policy change that allows 60,000 Karen to leave refugee camps in Thailand means the Binkleys will now serve in the United States, working with refugees and equipping CBF and ABC churches to work with the Karen people.

The Jameses were commissioned by CBF in 2005.

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