Posts by "System Administrator"

You might say, “What a silly question! We have good water!” Unfortunately, that is not true in many areas of the world. Pure Water, Pure Love is a ministry of WMU that is a very practical and tangible way of channeling support to our missionaries who serve in places where safe water is not available. Based on missionaries’ requests, WMU seeks to provide the method of water filtration or water supply that best meets the need. Grants from this ministry have made water filtration systems to be installed in countries where drinkable water cannot be found.

How can you help?

*This project is great for church plants as a way of introducing missions to members.

*Small groups can make donations online or send a check made payable to WMU, PWPL.

*As your community groups meet weekly, encourage them to sponsor donating money to purchase a counter water filtration unit. Send the gifts to WMU, PWPL, c/o WMU, PO Box 830010, Birmingham, AL 35283-0010

*Children and youth can collect money too! Over a period of time you’ll be surprised at how it mounts up!

Pure Water, Pure Love is supporting missionaries in a tangible way! Go to www.wmu.org/pwpl for more information.

If you are looking for a new Bible study resources, I have several to recommend. Katie Orr has designed 4-week studies for women who crave more from their devotional time. The series is excellent for gifting or individual purchase.

Everyday Faith – will help women discover how to draw near to God as they explore Hebrews 11, the hall of faith.

Everyday Hope – explores the book of Romans and other passages to lead women to hold fast to God’s promises amidst feelings of hopelessness.

Everyday Love – will show how women can give witness to God’s purpose in their lives as they study 1 Corinthians.

Everyday Obedience - is a new study just released in summer 2017 and shows women how to walk purposefully in God’s grace.

Go to www.newhopepublishers.com to order these studies.

Christmas in August is a ready-made missions involvement opportunity! Go to www.wmu.org and in Search box type “Christmas in August.” You’ll find lists of supplies missionaries have requested to help their work. Complete with mailing addresses, the project is an easy way to emphasize missions and involve everyone in your church.

Wrap an open-top box with Christmas wrapping paper and place it in a central location. Make copies of the list of the missionary you’ve chosen and distribute them via the church bulletin or a display featuring the project.  Set a collection date and mail the unwrapped items. Be sure to budget for the package postage (ask for donations to cover that cost if there is no budget).

Help your church learn about the history of Christmas in August by using the information WMU provides online. Verbal announcements during worship services can create excitement in participating in something that will enable missionaries to teach children and students about God’s love and His Son Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

September is State Missions month, and “Reaching Indiana” is the theme for the 2017 offering. Materials will place a strong emphasis on church planting in Indiana, and resources are available online. A printed brochure with mission stories, facts, and prayer requests will be available through the state convention office. This year’s goal is $75,000, and gifts to the offering will be used in 3 key areas: church revitalization, church planting, and associational initiatives.  Associations  request funds to assist them with evangelism projects, church plants, leadership development, and training events. Your gifts to this important offering will be used to proclaim the good news of Jesus throughout our state.

This year’s promotional materials will include the mentioned brochure, offering envelopes, posters, and a series of age level ideas for informing everyone in your church about how Indiana Southern Baptists are working to reach Hoosiers with God’s love. These suggestions will be available as online downloads along with “Indiana Fast Facts” which contains fun facts about our state as well as more information about our mission efforts. “Reaching the Lost in Indiana” gives information by association about the spiritual needs in Indiana. A special article on how to promote the mission offering will also be online. Go to www.scbi.org/smo  to order promotional items and download information helps.

In a Nutshell:

1. Set a church goal.
2. Order offering envelopes, brochures, posters. (free!)
3. Plan to inform all age groups in your church about mission work in Indiana.
4. Put up posters announcing your goal and/or a display featuring missions in our state.
5. Determine an “in-gathering” day and schedule worship service time to emphasize giving and the importance of the offering.
6. Stand back and watch God bless our mission efforts in Indiana!

How about doing something different at Christmas this year? I know this seems early but for this ministry project advance planning is necessary. Read on!

Mississippi River Ministry celebrates its 25^th birthday this year and wants to provide more Christmas backpacks for children than it ever has before. You can help celebrate by being involved in the SEND Relief Christmas Backpack effort. The River Ministry and Appalachian Regional Ministry work with over 450 compassion ministry sites and church plants across 18 states to deliver backpacks filled with necessities, gifts, and goodies at Christmas time. Included in every backpack will be a copy of the Christmas story and the opportunity to join the Mailbox Club (an age-appropriate Bible study by mail).

This year’s collection goal is 65,000 backpacks. The backpacks must be delivered to a collection site no later than December 8. Kentucky WMU is participating in providing backpacks for Appalachia so you could deliver your backpacks at Kentucky’s different associations. The list is online at: www.kybaptist.org/Backpacks  If Louisville is the closest location for you here is the address: Louisville Regional Baptist Association, 960 S. Third Street, Suite 100, 502.645.0357. The backpacks need to be at a collection site October 16-20, 2017. Instructions for packing are online, including the Christmas story and Mail Box card downloads.

Packing information is available online. Go to www.kybaptist.org/backpacks for local information or to www.NAMB.net/Backpacks for details about mailing to the Mississippi River Ministry sites.

Why get involved in something so far away? Poverty threatens 17.3 million children in the U.S. You can help! One little girl last year was grateful for the toys and other stuff, “but she really liked the food best of all, because that’s all she had for Christmas.”  (Missions Mosaic magazine, July 2017, p. 11)

Pastors and mission-minded members will gather to attend missions-specific conferencing and to hear from IMB and NAMB missionaries. Leaders will be equipped for the upcoming church year to lead men, women, boys, and girls to be missional disciples. Children (Pre-K – 6^th grade) will experience a fun Kids on Mission Mini Camp. WMU members will celebrate missions together through their Annual Meeting.

“I left Missions Lifeline challenged by the testimonies, informed by the breakouts, and better equipped to help my church. I was super impressed and hope more people take time to join in this year!” Chris Conrades, Crosspoint Church, Richmond.

Please register by July 23. $5 for BBQ lunch; Kids are free! Information on specific workshops and registration is online: www.scbi.org/events/missionslifeline

Why begin missions education in the preschool years? Because the significance of a strong foundation based on biblical truths cannot be overestimated. It is important that preschoolers understand that God loves them and the world and that they can serve Him by caring and sharing. WMU provides great resources to teach preschoolers about missions through Mission Friends, an ongoing missions discipleship organization. To download a free Mission Friends starter pack and watch a helpful video, visit wmu.com/getstarted. There is a Leader Kit for persons interested in teaching preschoolers about missions and a take-home piece with songs, games, activities, and a note to parents. An additional enrichment piece, “First Step in Missions,” contains activities for interest areas, reproductions, bulletin board ideas, and more!

With summer just around the corner, now is a great time to schedule some fun activities for families in your church. Here are some ideas that might work for you:

1. Work with older elementary kids and teach them how to make girls’ dresses from pillowcases. Easy patterns are available on Pinterest.
2. Package health care kits for the homeless and go on a field trip to deliver them to a facility that ministers to the homeless.
3. Children can lead your church to donate canned food for a local food ministry. Collect the food for several weeks and then take it to the ministry center.
4. Make and distribute sandwiches for inner city homeless.
5. Provide a birthday-in-a-box for children living temporarily in a shelter for abused women and children. Since many leave home with nothing, provide a cake mix, canned frosting, candles, paper goods, and a banner to help a child in transition still celebrate his/her birthday.
6. Help children make bookmarks for a mission team from your church to use. Other items may be needed; see if children can collect these and set a time when they can be presented to the team (perhaps in a worship service?)
7. Hand out water bottles and collect change  for water purification units for missionaries (Go online: www.wmu.com/PureWaterPureLove for more information).
8. Involve children and families in promoting Christmas in August (collecting supplies missionaries need for their work). For a list of supplies and mailing addresses go online to www.wmu.com/chirtmasinaugust. Lists can also be found in missions magazines published by WMU.

Summer is a great time for relaxing and doing things you normally don’t have time to do. And…mission activities can make the warm days seem even brighter when your church participates in sharing the good news of Jesus with others in your community and around the world.

If you are interested in beginning or strengthening missions education in your church, call Linda Clark for a consultation. Or…text. Or… email. Linda is prepared to help you assess the missions education needs of your congregation and determine how you can introduce men, women, students, children, and preschoolers to the excitement of mission involvement. Call this week! 502.595.8473 or email at lclark1213@hotmail.com  

With summer just around the corner, now is a great time to schedule some fun activities for families in your church. Here are some ideas that might work for you:

1. Work with older elementary kids and teach them how to make girls’ dresses from pillowcases. Easy patterns are available on Pinterest.
2. Package health care kits for the homeless and go on a field trip to deliver them to a facility that ministers to the homeless.
3. Children can lead your church to donate canned food for a local food ministry. Collect the food for several weeks and then take it to the ministry center.
4. Make and distribute sandwiches for inner city homeless.
5. Provide a birthday-in-a-box for children living temporarily in a shelter for abused women and children. Since many leave home with nothing, provide a cake mix, canned frosting, candles, paper goods, and a banner to help a child in transition still celebrate his/her birthday.
6. Help children make bookmarks for a mission team from your church to use. Other items may be needed; see if children can collect these and set a time when they can be presented to the team (perhaps in a worship service?)
7. Hand out water bottles and collect change  for water purification units for missionaries (Go online: www.wmu.com/PureWaterPureLove for more information).
8. Involve children and families in promoting Christmas in August (collecting supplies missionaries need for their work). For a list of supplies and mailing addresses go online to www.wmu.com/chirtmasinaugust. Lists can also be found in missions magazines published by WMU.

Summer is a great time for relaxing and doing things you normally don’t have time to do. And…mission activities can make the warm days seem even brighter when your church participates in sharing the good news of Jesus with others in your community and around the world.