There are several church plants in our association, and there are many things you can do to demonstrate your support of the work that is being established. Church planters have accepted the challenge to reach others for Christ in southern Indiana, but our help is needed. Here are several steps to take when considering supporting one of our local planters:

• Choose a plant. You can get the most current contact information through the SEIBA office. Pray that God will direct you to the one He wants you to help.
• Contact the planter and tell them of your desire to help. Be certain you (and your church) are ready to make a strong commitment to the church planter and his family.
• Talk to the planter about his vision for his work. Invite him to lunch or his family for a meal and begin to form a relationship. Get information about children’s ages, family embers’ birthdays, etc.
• Develop a prayer plan for the church start and ask for specific prayer requests. Do a prayerwalk around the area where the new church plant is.
• Help with the actual work that needs to be done. This might be a survey of the surrounding neighborhood, work on a building or teaching in Vacation Bible School.
• As you find out about specific needs, try to meet them. This may be supplies, equipment, or other materials.
• Make your church aware of the growth and progress of the new church. This will help sustain the support you are providing.

Planting a new church is often stressful and frequently frustrating! Your church’s support may be exactly what the planter and his family need to encourage them to continue working.

Consider these seasonal mission projects for community groups or the entire church:

1. Show love in February – Bake love cakes and deliver to shut-ins who are not able to attend church. Rather than delivering cakes to church members only, ask for the names of individuals who are not part of any church.

2. Contact Pearl Street feeding ministry personnel here in our association and offer to provide a hot meal during the cold winter months. You might make chili and take crackers or cornbread for a hearty meal. Volunteers for this ministry are always needed. Contact information is available through SEIBA’s office.

3. Ask community groups to donate mufflers, gloves, and hats for the Louisville mission. Information is online for how to deliver your donations.

One of the best kept secrets is Children’s Missions Day observed in February of each year. Over its 12-year history, thousands of children have showed God’s love in their communities. This year’s theme is “We’re Telling!” Children in grades 1-6 participate in the outreach event designed specifically for them. Develop a project that will not only meet a need in your community but will also inspire children to serve others. To learn more about participating in Children’s Missions Day visit www.wmu.com/cmd   

Many people don’t know about the fair-trade ministry called WorldCrafts sponsored by Woman’s Missionary Union. WorldCrafts is making an eternal impact on the lives of artisans around the world as it embraces its mission to develop sustainable, fair-trade businesses among impoverished people around the world. One way to support this ministry is to purchase your Christmas gifts through WorldCrafts! Items include gifts for women, children, and men as well as home décor handmade crafts. Christmas products are very popular for nativity collectors, ornaments, and stockings. The WorldCrafts Support Freedom campaign actively empowers customers, buyers, and artisans by supporting those groups working to free women involved in or at risk of human trafficking. Go to www.worldcrafts.org to view the catalog and place your order.

Southern Baptists focus on world hunger during the month of October. There are several ways your church can participate alleviate the needs associated with hunger. Pray for those working around the world to prevent hunger and malnutrition and for those who live with food insecurity. Pray for rain and abundant harvests! Encourage your church to give to the World Hunger Fund. 100% of your donations goes directly toward meeting hunger needs. Explore ways you can engage in hunger relief in your community such as kids’ food backpacks and food distribution. Host a churchwide Global Hunger Event using the downloadable resource from Woman’s Missionary Union for $9.99.

Bring the Unshakable Pursuit theme to life with activities, posters, and a circus event. By using a circus theme, help your children unpack what it means to have unshakable faith. As they study Bible stories about unwavering faith, they will develop a stronger spiritual understanding of what they believe and why they believe it. Resources for Children in Action are available through Woman’s Missionary Union at www.wmustore.com  

Here are several great ways to involve the entire family in missions this fall! Promote them in your church newsletter or bulletin. Print the ideas on sheets for distribution through Sunday School, community groups, or out of your media center. Have a brief fellowship time after worship to introduce the Candy Apple Bar idea. It might encourage families to adapt the get-together in their own neighborhood.

Neighbor Welcome – Is there a new family in your neighborhood? Volunteer to help unload the moving truck, unpack boxes, or collapse boxes for the trash. Let them know you love them because Christ loves them. Invite them to dinner after their hard day’s work or take drinks and easy-to-eat finger food since their kitchen isn’t open yet. Be sure to tell them about your church and what is offered for children and youth.

Candy Apple Bar – Provide apple slices on skewers, bowls of caramel, and toppings such as nuts, candy corn, mini chocolate chips, etc. Dip the apple slices in the caramel and then in the toppings of choice. If you do this in your neighborhood, invite other families with children of similar ages.

More than Enough – Help your children go through their closets and choose gently worn clothing and toys to donate to a ministry center. Choices Resource takes limited items.

Christmas is just around the corner! As you make plans for fall activities, why not schedule a WorldCrafts party for everyone or for a woman’ group? Since everyone will be purchasing Christmas gifts, why not purchase items that help women around the world earn a livelihood for their families. WorldCrafts and its local partners develop fair-trade businesses that provide sustainable income while offering eternal hope through Christ. WorldCrafts products represent a life changed by the opportunity to earn an income with dignity and hear the gospel message.

Items vary from accessories, Christmas gifts, home décor, jewelry, and stationery. You can shop by artisan or by country. Hosting a party is a fun way to teach people about how missionaries are working with groups of artisans, some of whom are at high risk for human trafficking. Go to https:www.worldrafts.org/share for all the resources you’ll need to share WorldCrafts with others. There are free downloadable cards, prayer calendars , and all the resources you need to set up a WorldCrafts display. There is a Fall/Winter 2018-2019 Display Set to help you create a market and teach preschoolers through adults (set includes recipes, poster, flyers, etc.). This website is newly re-designed so check it out!

August is the month Southern Baptists demonstrate special support for our North American Mission Board missionaries as they serve across North America through a wide variety of ministries. It’s not too late for you and/or your church to participate by purchasing items the missionaries have requested for their projects and ongoing ministries.

Lists of items can be found on Woman’s Missionary Union’s website. Go to www.wmu.org and in Search type “Christmas in August.” There are missionaries’ lists for every age group. Choose a missionary and then print their list of requested items. Do not purchase any items not on the list. You don’t have to buy all the items though! Publish the list in your church newsletter, bulletin and on your church website. Set a Christmas-decorated box in a high traffic spot in your church for the items church members will bring. Box the unwrapped items and attach the mailing address label to the outside of the box. Include a self-addressed stamped postcard for the missionary to acknowledge your gifts.

Christmas in August is an important way to encourage our missionaries in their efforts to tell others about Jesus and his love.

While children are out of school, it’s a great time to take them to visit local nursing home or care facilities. Spend time listening and talking to residents. Pray with them; write letters for them; and share Jesus with them. You could include some of these activities:

• have monthly birthday parties (check with facility about diet restrictions)
• provide music (piano, instrumental, vocal)
• plan a weekly or monthly worship service
• host holiday parties (July 4^th, Christmas)

Want more ideas? Order Across the Street and Around the World by Diana Davis. Visit wmustore.com to order.