Bro. James Hoffmann has resigned as editor of the Missouri Missionary Baptist after serving in this position for 33 years. He was unable to attend the Annual Meeting due to a death in his family but sent this as his final report to the Association.
Missouri Missionary Baptist Editor’s Report
I began serving as editor of the MMB Paper in the late part of 1989 after serving a short time as the editor of the Meramec Banner and following a few years as editor of the Midwest Banner in Michigan before moving back to Missouri.
I truly appreciate all the encouragement I have received over the years as people have read our publications. Some of the most encouraging things have been the comments of appreciation from our senior citizens who are no longer able to be active in their church or have moved out of our area to be with family. Many of them look forward to receiving the monthly news about what is happening in our churches across the state.
I am also thankful for the cooperation of our department directors who keep us informed by sending news items and announcements. We have some great people in our churches who serve as reporters and send monthly articles for print. Your help has kept us going over the years.
The publishing ministry is not always easy, and it takes a lot of patience and courage at times to get the job done. I could write a book about the experience of being a religious editor, and the stories would show how God has worked to keep us going when it looked like our ministry was finished! God has been faithful to make sure we had the support needed in so many instances.
I also want to thank my wife, Mary, for all her encouragement and help she has given over the years. She has put in many hours proof-reading, searching for material, and running errands when there was a deadline to meet! Her assistance was necessary, and has been appreciated over the years!
It is now time for me to step down and slow down. Health issues and other factors have shown me that someone else needs to take over, and I believe we have an assistant editor that has already shown his capability. Pray for him as he serves the Lord and His churches.
