Missions:
It was a joy to be invited to be with the First Baptist Church of Matthews on World Missions Sunday and to also be able to join them for the Camp Garwood Breakfast Fundraiser that Saturday. It was a blessing to see several from other churches, even as far away as St. Charles, attend the breakfast which raised $1,704 for camp.
My wife and I enjoyed the fellowship and hospitality of the folks at Matthews and were impressed with their generous support of Missions as they gave their entire offering that day to BMA of America Missions.
I also had the privilege of attending the meeting of the Meramec Association missions committee at Westview Baptist Church in Jefferson City February 29th. Host Pastor Mike Hearst and the entire committee made me feel welcome and asked me to give an update on BMAMO Missions and the Missouri Missionary Baptist paper.
One thing that has been very noticeable as I have visited these meetings and filled pulpits over the last few weeks is there seems to be an increased interest in reaching others with the Word everywhere I go. Especially is this evident in various meetings among our churches in Missouri.
It was encouraging to sit in an impromptu meeting following the Meramec Association meeting in Jefferson City, about the possibilities of Bro. Matt Barker being led of God to plant a new work within our state in the near future.
Perhaps this is the year we will see a vibrant new work in our state! Everyone seems ready to see this become a reality.
In view of this, I encourage Pastors and Staff Leaders to make plans to attend the Renewal Retreat at Camp Garwood March 27-28, and the Missions Symposium and Mid-year meeting of the BMA of MO at New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan May 15-16.
Each of these meetings can and will be used of God to increase our interest and burden to do more for God!
These are challenging yet exciting times in which we live and we should cultivate an attitude of joyfully serving God and looking forward with excitement about what He is doing in and through His churches around the world. Please pray that we will experience a revival among our churches and departments that will have a God-honoring effect in our State and bring glory to God for years to come!
The Missouri Missionary Baptist Paper:
When invited to speak about the paper at the meeting in Jefferson City I shared that our finances continue to be a great concern, but 3 different experiences this past month have given some encouragement.
• A church that has been without a pastor for a couple years sent 2 checks: 1 to missions and 1 to the paper. Each check was marked “offerings for 2018-2019. They had been setting aside their offerings while having no pastor and since they now have one they sent the entire 2 years at once!
• Another experience was a couple that live in the northern part of our state for the last 17 years, where there are no BMA churches, noted that they had not renewed their subscription since 2003 and sent a check for $170 to cover the 17 years they were behind.
• The special offering of the Meramec Association, for which I am deeply grateful, was another encouragement.
When I told this story using the first two experiences at the meeting in Jefferson City I ended it by saying, “Go thou and do likewise!”
I appreciate all the support that keeps this ministry going Thanks for supporting with finances, prayers, and actions!
