The goal for the 2005 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is $55 million.
I work with 32 churches in our association providing guidance on how to be on mission churches reaching their communities for Christ and branching out with an Acts 1:8 vision for reaching the lost. I also consult with these churches on how to develop unity, deal with conflict and organize. The association has the potential to reach the bohemian population who are involved in New Age beliefs as well as the Hispanic immigrant and second generation Hispanic populations growing in the area. Pray as we seek God on bridging the cultural divides.
Phil and Judy Langley, Director of Missions, Continental Divide Association, South Fork, Colorado
In the Wasatch Front of Utah there are about 1.5 million people but only 33 Southern Baptist churches. Thats one SBC church for every 45,450 people. The LDS (or Mormons) have a ward (their local congregation) for every 200 to 800 people. We are always looking for ways to open the door for ministry to the population involved in the deep-seated LDS culture. We are in desperate need of new works. Contributions to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering help us start new works and support church planters.
Dan and Sherrie Walker, Salt Lake Baptist Association, Salt Lake City, Utah
Giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering allows all Southern Baptists to be on mission with us and with the rest of the Southern Baptists in Metropolitan New York in doing evangelism, discipleship and ministry among the 20 million people in the area, where at least 191 nations are represented. Church planter Scott Rourk recently launched The 411a church reaching out to artisans, actors, business owners and urbanites living and working in the theater district and nearby promiscuous neighborhoods. The church averages in the forties on Sundays and has six small groups that meet during the week. The 411 recently baptized two new members.
Romy and Loida Manansala, Strategic Focus Cities Missionaries, New York City
If it were not for the giving of our many Southern Baptists, thousands of individuals here in the inner city of Detroit would not have a place to worship, a place to receive hygiene kits, a quiet and safe place to sit and have a cup of coffee, a place to have a hot meal, a place to get a change of clothes or a place to have their mail delivered. Many of the children would not have a safe place to come and hear about Jesus or to spend a summer day or be part of a week at a camp that helps them learn how to live for Jesus. I am eternally thankful to all the members of our churches who support the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.
Dan Bishop, Church and Community Ministries Missionary, Detroit, Michigan
The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering helps me be available to minister to 10,000 international seafarers from 70+ countries each year. It also enables me to recruit and train other ministers who visit seafarers on their ships. Recently, Christopher Dale, a US/C2 missionary who works with me, met a young Filipino named Raje aboard the Eagle Anaheim. Christopher was able to lead him to Christ. Without the AAEO supporting ministries like the Seaman Center, men like Raje who are out to sea most of the time might never hear about Jesus.
Jim Putman, Church and Community Ministries Missionary, The Seamans Center, Freeport, Texas
In just over three years time in the buckle of the Bible belt known as Montgomery, Alabama, God has blessed Project Hope with more than 4,000 salvations and 50 geographical sites where the word is being preached and churches are being planted every week. NAMB has played a vital role in this through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Unchurched people are beginning to learn that Southern Baptists, with help from the offering, had a hand in bringing the gospel to them. They praise the Lord for the mission volunteers who have introduced them to the life-changing Savior!
Neal and Mary Hughes, Church Planting, Montgomery, Alabama
The goal for the 2005 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is $150 million
Guadalupe thanks you. She attends a Bible study on Thursday afternoons in a mission church that doesnt have a door or roof but has five adults and 40 children hearing the good news of Jesus Christ. Sergio thanks you. He encountered a team from Oklahoma on a prayerwalk and was able to find a way to bring Jesus to the neighborhood where he lives. He is now working with us and is excited about seeing the gospel spread to this city where he has lived for only one month. The two existing churches and other Great Commission churches of Celaya thank you. They are being trained in leadership, church planting and prayerwalking to spread the good news to the 500,000 people of Celaya. As we consider the harvest in Celaya, Mexico, thank you for allowing the grain of wheat of your Lottie Moon Christmas Offering to fall to the ground of Mexico and die that there might be much fruit (John 12:24).
Craig and Lori Clayton
Our national team members had been telling chronological Bible stories. One man, a prominent figure in the community, received Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord and received his own copy of the Bible. Then he said, Thank you, thank you, thank you all so much for telling us about Jesus and for giving me His Book! I had heard about such a thing, a book with Gods Words but had never held or even seen one until now. Thank you, thank you, thank you! The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is enabling our team of missionaries and nationals to begin to see a harvest among the Pogoro people. From January through June 2004, more than 250 new believers emerged from this people group, with more to come. They are now being discipled to share the gospel with others that we will never have a chance to reach. On behalf of the Pogoro team, the new believers, and those yet to come into the kingdom of God, I echo the words of our new brother in Christ: Thank you, thank you, thank you for your faithfulness in prayer support and giving through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
Dan Johnson
Fatima* learned of the love of Jesus through radio broadcasts. Shortly after announcing to her family that she would follow Christ, she was jailed for many months on false charges. Only by a miracle from God was she released and allowed to go free. Abdu* shares his faith as frequently as possible with his co-workers, though he has already experienced great discrimination at work because of his faith. Recently, one friend asked suspiciously if he was a missionary, to which he replied, All of us Christians are missionaries! George* is discipling some of the newly baptized believers, though he himself is constantly watched by the secret police. In the middle of this desert land, there are oasesthose who are offering the Water of Life to a spiritually thirsty land. As one who gives and prays, you are a partner in the gospel in this dry land. Were looking forward to fellowshipping with you one day before the throne of Christ, along with our North African brothers and sisters! May God bless you for your faithfulness to respond to His call to give!
A worker in the Last Frontier
Lottie Moon is still serving Asia because of your generosity in supporting the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Her legacy lives on, and many lives are being changed as a result of Southern Baptists collectively working together to provide support for field personnel. If not for your giving, Angela, Lynn, Samantha and Vicky might not have come to know Jesus personally. Because of an age-appropriate video, more than 200 students now know about a God who loves them and wants them to know Him. Mr. Lin might still believe that all religions are the same if we were not able to give him Gods Word. Bobson would still believe that going to church saves you if not for a bilingual copy of Christianity Explained that helped him see his need for a personal relationship with Christ. Many homes would forever remain without a Bible because they are too expensive, but I am able to give them Bibles because of you. Thank you for giving so more will hear, more will share and more will escape a Christ-less eternity. Thank you for giving as if someones life depends on it!
Taiwan worker
Thank You in the language of the place we live is literally translated receive love. One recipient of love is Sunny*. Before studying about Jesus, Sunny had no peace in her life. Islam, her religion, wasnt helping her to cope with lifes problems. Two years ago, she began to meet with my wife for Bible study. Through the study of the Word and after a miraculous encounter, Sunny came to trust Jesus as her Savior. Since that time things have been different. She still lives in the same place, still faces many of the same problems and even has added pressure from those who oppose or do not understand her faith in Jesus. The difference is the presence of God in her life, which everyone notices. And now she shares her new-found hope with all who are open to listen. Actually, she has said, I cant not share His love. Your sacrificial giving is impacting the worldits impacting the lives of people like Sunny who now have hope and peace. Thank you, Southern Baptists! Many who were in darkness but are now in light have received love from you.
Recently someone in the States contacted the International Mission Board about a woman they had heard about in our city in South Asia. This woman was from a Muslim background and had been experiencing visions of Jesus. As a result, she decided to put her faith in Jesus but didnt know any believers who could show her the way to follow Him. Someone from the IMB contacted us, and we were able to connect national Christians with this woman who had come to Christ. She is now fellowshipping with other believers and will continue to grow in her faith. Just a short while ago, Southern Baptists didnt have personnel in this city of more than 8 million lost people. But because of your vision for the nations and your support, our family is now serving in this city. God bless you as you continue to stand with us in this work so that we can see more changed lives in this place.
Worth and Aleta Ballinger*