Thanks For Your Gifts!: Another Donation to Turn on the Tap

After some time collecting pocket change and donating it into the "Turn on the Tap" program bottle at the back of the church, today Goshen donated that money (totaling $35) to Franklin Graham's Samaritan Purses Turn on the Tap.  Below are some resources explaining what the program is and why we, in this small way, support this program.

And starting Sunday we will begin collecting again.  Bring your pocket change!











We also participate in the Samiritan Purses Operation Christmas Child (what we have called Joy Boxes). We are beginning those with more information to come in the coming weeks.

The Year in IMB Giving: The Results Are In

As the annual Southern Baptist Convention begins to kick off this week, the Internation Mission Board (IMB) has released its annual giving.  Though there is a lot to rejoice in, there is a little disappointment.  I realize that we are in a recession, but lets be honest, we still eat out and many of us, though are belts are a little tighter, have cut back on things that have eternal consequences at the cost of temporal entertainment.

The numbers are reported as follow:

RICHMOND, Va. —“Will Southern Baptists be found simply marching around our denominational parade grounds, flexing our muscles and polishing our medals, while across this globe souls are being ravaged and hell gapes wide and eager?” asked IMB President Tom Elliff.

“God forbid!”

Elliff challenged Southern Baptists to greater missions involvement following the results of the 2010 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Doubts about the strength of America’s economic recovery and rumors of a double-dip recession didn’t stop Southern Baptists from giving $145,662,925 million in 2010 to tell the world about Jesus Christ. Every penny of the offering is used to support the nearly 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries serving around the world through IMB, providing housing, salaries, medical care and children’s education. The cost averages $46,700 annually per individual missionary.

In 2009, that support enabled missionaries and their national partners to baptize more than 360,000 people and start more than 29,000 churches.

Some good news here.  360,000 baptisms is a great number but not enough.  29,000 newly planted churches is great, but let us pray for more.  It concerns me that we we haven't raised as much as we need for our many missionaries.  This year I want us as a church to focus on giving to the cooperative giving.  I am convinced (and my leadership has been lacking) that we do not care about the lost and dying around the world and it is clear by the fact that we do not care about the lost and dying in our own community.

This year, lets change it.


IMB - Lottie Moon offering tops $145.6 million in 2010  

May 23, 2010 - Matthew 6:1-4 - Camoflauged Gold: Why Christians Should Give in Secret

Here are the audio and notes from Sunday mornings message.  Sorry it has taken me a few days, but I haven't had much of a chance to post anything.  Here is the description from Matthew 6:1-4:

Which is easier:  to play the righteous man or to be the righteous man?  There are many in our churches who great actors, but hypocritical believers.  Many of us are playacting, assuming a role to impress an audience.  Jesus doesn't fall the mask and has condemned it.  He begins by looking how Christian impostors give and how true Christians ought to give.  Righteousness is rooted not just in our actions, but in our motivations for those actions and that is clearly revealed in our heart for charity.

Audio
Notes



For more:
Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5 
January 17, 2010 - Matthew 5:1-12 - If Your Joyful and You Know It . . . 
January 24, 2010 - Matthew 5:13 - Stuck Between Salt and Manure:  The Call to Preserve the Gospel 
January 31, 2010 - Matthew 5:14-26 - Its Dark in Here:  The Call to be the Light of the World 
February 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Medium Rare is Unbiblical or What Do Christians Do with the Law
February 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:21-22 - I Am a Murderer . . . And So Are You 
February 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:23-26 - Resetting What Was Broken:  The Necessity of Reconciliation
February 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:27-30 - America's Pastime: Our Lust for Lust 
March 7, 2010 - Matthew 5:31-32 - The Gospel and Divorce:  What Does the Bible Say?
March 14, 2010 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Allergies to Toast, the Gospel, and Integrity
March 21, 2010 - Matthew 5:38-42 - I Surrender!  I Surrender!
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:43-48 - Love God as He Loved You