In the November issue of Missions Mosaic magazine, SEIBA’s own Rhonda Wilkinson has written an article about her work in Hispanic church planting in our area. She relates stories of how God is working through Hispanic church planters and their families and about her work at Choices with Spanish-speaking clients. Her article is on page 10. Send her a note or email of encouragement of the great work she is doing!  

Six words can be used to describe the purpose of missions education in individuals’ and churches’ lives. These 6 words can enrich your church’s missions life!

Learn – about missions with biblically sound and age-appropriate curriculum for all ages. Go to www.wmu.com/getstarted for information. Gain a deeper understanding of tough topics like orphan care, depression and more, and see how you can make a difference: www.newhopepublishers.com  Find simple, effective ways to reach the community and the world for Christ: www.justmissions.com

Pray – for missions by cultivating a deeper prayer life. Find books on prayer at www.wmustore.com/prayer  Pray for Southern Baptist missionaries all over the world: www.wmu.com/prayercalendar

Develop - spiritually toward a missions lifestyle. One way to do this is to discover and develop leadership gifts and skills through the Christian Women’s Leadership Center’s learning experiences via online courses. Go to www.wmu.com/cwlc to register.

Support – Make a difference in the lives of human trafficking and disaster victims when you give. Be an active part of missions work around the world by giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering: www.wmu.com/support  WorldCrafts is a ministry that changes the world as it gives hope to the hopeless by teaching women and men about God’s love and helps them develop a sustainable income. See fair trade products at www.worldcraftts.org

Participate – in the work of your church and denomination by helping your church further the kingdom when you give through the Cooperative Program. For resources go to www.wmu.com/cp

Engage - in mission action and witnessing through a variety of mission activities supported by resources available through WMU. Christian Women’s Job Corps, Baptist Nursing Fellowship, and Pure Water, Pure Love are 3 ministries designed to encourage believers to use their talents and skills to serve God and proclaim the good news of His  Son. See www.wmu.com/jobcorps and www.wmu.com/bnf and www.wmu.com/trips as well as purewater@wmu.org

These six words can change your life, your church, and the world!

….if you missed the annual Missions Lifeline event, you really missed a blessing and adventure! The one-day event held at Calvary Baptist Church in Greenfield was attended by more than 125 adults, youth, and children and began with a “Reaching the Lost” speed breakouts.  A lively kick-off rally led to breakouts that covered WorldCrafts ministry, Disaster Relief, church planting in Indiana, special sessions for pastors, how to enlist senior adults in missions activities, and working with women with a heart for missions. While adults attended the breakouts preschoolers and elementary children learned about mission work in Russia, complete with borsch and crafts! A bar-b-que lunch was held under the church’s outdoor pavilion along with popcorn, cotton candy, and a bounce house. Another adventure waited those who learned about disaster relief by touring the shower and cleanup units that were parked in the parking lot. What more could anyone want from a $5 registration?

Begin now to plan to attend next year’s event. Set aside Saturday, August 7 for Missions Lifeline 2018!

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!

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

During this time of focusing on Southern Baptists’ mission efforts in North America, it is good to know some basic facts about the ministries whose purpose is to reach over 169 million lost persons in our nation and Canada. Over 5,000 missionaries faithfully serve in a variety of ways to reach out to unchurched individuals. Through a strong church planting emphasis, efforts are being made to evangelize North America using youth projects, inner city outreach, and establishing one-on-one relationships. As our missionaries share Christ in apartment complexes, store-front facilities, resort areas, and metropolitan neighborhoods, they are fulfilling Christ’s command to “make disciples” as you go.  Support these ministries with your prayers and through your generous giving!

Woman’s Missionary Union’s ministry, WorldCrafts, is a member of the World Fair Trade Federation and is committed to continuing holistic,  fair trade practices that offer dignified income, support, and hope to those in need around the world. WorldCrafts will join other Fair trade groups to celebrate fruitful ministry on May 13. Help WMU WorldCrafts by purchasing items made by artisans around the world. Visit WorldCrafts.org for more information about fair trade and to order from the exciting variety of handcrafted products. Consider using the ideas for a WorldCrafts party!

It’s not too early to circle Saturday, August 5 on your calendars! “Missions Lifeline” will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Greenfield, and this is an event you don’t want to miss! The day will be filled with missionary speakers, missions-related breakout sessions, and a mini Kids on Missions camp for children PreK – 6^th grade. Breakout topics on missions education for children, students, and adults, how to reach your community for Christ, planning missions trips, and lifestyle evangelism (among others) will be offered at the event. This event has been designed for all missional leaders! Register on line by going to www.scbi.org and click on Events.

Now is the time to begin planning for summer mission activities for youth in your church. Woman’s Missionary Union has a great resource that will help you provide missions involvement opportunities during the summer months. “e-4” units are missions education units designed for small churches, church plants, home-school families, and small groups. They are developed around Engage, Expand, Explore, and Experience. There are currently 4 units ready for you to use with your students: Poverty, PTSD, Disaster Relief, and Live Like Jesus.

The units can be downloaded for $3.99 each. Involve your students in missions this summer! Go to www.wmustore.com to order.

Oh! Guess What? !

There are “e-4” units for children too! These drop-in missions activities cover such subjects as: Chaplaincy, Church Planters, Hunger, Homelessness, and Disaster Relief. Download for $3.99 each from: www.wmustore.com.