This update is designed to help churches that have embraced the Acts 1:8 Challenge be aware of resources from the North American Mission Board (NAMB). Use them as your church plans and implements its strategy to be involved in impacting lostness in North America. Previous editions of the Samaria Update are available here.

Featured Response: Give                                                                        

Hunger Relief: Join the 'Souper Bowl of Caring'

The Souper Bowl of Caring has become an annual tradition among many churches across the country. On or near the Sunday of the Super Bowl football game (Feb. 4), dollars are collected in soup pots to help hungry and hurting people in local communities. 

The Souper Bowl of Caring has experienced explosive growth since beginning in 1990 in a South Carolina church. In 2006, 11,700 groups from all 50 states and several countries generated $5 million for charities. This youth-led effort has generated more than $33 million since it became a national effort in 1993. 

How to Participate: Churches and youth groups can register at  www.souperbowl.org and receive a free resource kit to help make their Souper Bowl event successful. More than 1,000 Southern Baptist churches have already registered to participate in 2007. Churches announce to their congregation that they'll be collecting $1 from each person on or near Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007. Contributions are collected in soup pots on this date, and then sent to a charity of their choice such as the North American Mission Board's  Hunger Relief Ministry .

The Hunger Relief Ministry assists churches, associations and state conventions, so that in the process of distributing food, the gospel can be shared with people in need. Please consider World Hunger funds as a recipient of your Souper Bowl collection. Hunger Relief Ministry donations may be sent to: NAMB World Hunger Fund, Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543. Please designate to "World Hunger."

After the event, churches are encouraged to report collections to: www.souperbowl.org or call 1-800-358-7687, so they will be counted in the national totals.

                                                                                              

Each Samaria Update highlights key Acts 1:8 Challenge Kingdom-growing responses to assist your church in fulfilling its Acts 1:8 Challenge commitment.

Multiply - 'Start a Church Sunday' March 25

Make plans now to participate in what God is doing throughout North America in church planting by leading your church to participate in On Mission Start a Church Sunday March 25.

"The intent of the day is to help Southern Baptists become more aware of God's activities to reduce lostness and reach all peoples through church planting and to provide individuals and churches an opportunity to become involved in church planting," said Steve Canter, planter and partner enlistment manager at NAMB.

The 2007 theme is, "Ignite...Start Something New" from Isaiah 43:19. Promotion resources such as a bulletin cover, adult Bible study materials, Sunday School lessons, videos, sermon outlines and thematic skits will be available online after Jan. 31 at www.DiscoverChurchPlanting.net or a CD-ROM available by contacting Steve Canter at scanter@namb.net  or 770-410-6225.

Go - Engage Through Short-Term Missions in 2007
 

World Changers and PowerPlant 2007 - Be a part of one of the most exciting missions experiences ever by signing up now for World Changers or PowerPlant in 2007!

More than 24,000 participants were Jesus' hands and feet through World Changers and PowerPlant in 2006. Students from across the nation gave a week of their summer to gather at almost 100 project sites to share the love of Christ. What's more, they shared the gospel with 12,000 people resulting in 1,150 professions of faith. Students gave $203,000 to missions and to help mission churches.

Don't miss this opportunity to get your students involved in missions! For more information or to register in 2007, visit www.world-changers.net  or  www.powerplant.studentz.com.
 
Families on Mission 2007 - Six Families on Mission projects are scheduled in 2007. Two projects are set for New Orleans, La., two in East St. Louis, Ill., and one in Lynch, Ky. An additional fall trip is planned in Mobile, Ala., for home schoolers. For more information or to register families in your church, visit www.namb.net/fom.

Learn - Educate Your Members to God's Mission

Gear up for God's mission through drop-in, experiential and organized mission education components. The NAMB Mission Education Team has released four new object lessons (that teach Cooperative Program and Great Commission principles) to the free online resource Back Pack Missions. 

Other free resources include On Mission Youth Bible Studies , which is a series of 72 lessons that examine men and women who committed their lives to be on mission with God. 

Men@WORK is an eight-session resource that helps men tackle home improvement projects and facilitates discussion of work, family, church, and life. For addition ideas and resources, visit www.sbcmissioneducation.com. 

And, don't forget that Feb. 12-18 is Focus on Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) Week. Visit www.wmu.com for more details.

Check Out Other 'Kingdom-Growing' Responses

Be sure to check out the other Acts 1:8 Challenge commitments or to obtain more information about your church's Samaria response. For questions or comments about the Acts 1:8 Challenge e-mail tyarbrough@namb.net or call 1 800 4 ACTS 18 (800-422-8718).

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