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 reaching North America for Christ. Previous editions of the Samaria Update are available here.

Featured:                                                                                                  

'Hope' Comes to Ohio Church

The baptismal pool swirled continuously as more than 160 people came forward during services at Cuyahoga Valley Church in Broadview Heights, Ohio.

The presence of the Holy Spirit was strong as people kept coming forward on August 20 - long after the 85 planned baptisms.

"They had no towel or change of clothes, but they had radically obedient hearts," said Brendon Collins, a 707 young adult ministry staff member, about the evening baptisms.  "They kept coming and coming."

Cuyahoga Valley Church (CVC) is a key component of the Cleveland Hope campaign, one of the North American Mission Board's Strategic Focus Cities for 2006-2007. Dozens of prayer partners and volunteers from CVC are supporting Cleveland Hope.

For information about how your church can get involved in Cleveland Hope contact Kim Edwards at 216-281-7919, ext. 207 or e-mail kedwards@clevelandhope.com. Also visit www.clevelandhope.com.

Each Samaria Update highlights key Acts 1:8 Challenge Kingdom-growing responses to assist your church to fulfill its Acts 1:8 Challenge commitment. Today's featured responses are  Learn  and Go.

Learn - Personalize Missions in Your Church

Personalize your church's involvement in missions through the use of video. Two excellent resources are:

• Missionary Moments Video Vignettes, Volume 5, produced by the SBC Executive Committee. Learn more at www.cpmissions.net.
  
• Church Media Link, a Web site shared by NAMB and IMB that offers free downloads; visit www.churchmedialink.com

Learn about missionaries by reading about, praying for, writing to and perhaps visiting missionaries. Locate North American missionaries at www.namb.net/missionaries .  You can look up a missionary by name, state/province, and/or birthday. The www.namb.net Web site provides a series of Missionary Spotlight stories highlighting the work of North American missionaries.

Men@Work can help men learn about ministry and missions. This eight-session, small group resource helps men tackle home improvement needs while discussing the important issues all men face such as work, family, church and life.  Go to www.bmen.net   and download free under "Resources" tab.  A printed version is available for $8.99. Call 866-407-6262 to check availability.

Go - Help Rebuild New Orleans Through Noah
 

A tidal wave of volunteers is needed to help rebuild New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Operation Noah Rebuild www.OperationNoah.net is a two-year service project in the New Orleans area that is using volunteer labor to rehabilitate more than 1,000 homes and 20 churches. It is a partnership project between NAMB, the Louisiana Baptist Convention and New Orleans-area associations and churches. E-mail Operation Noah Rebuild at  noah@namb.net or call 877-934-0808.

World Changers and PowerPlant Opportunities for 2007

Be a part of one of 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 this past summer. 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.

For more information or to register in 2007, visit www.worldchangers.studentz.com or  www.powerplant.studentz.com.
 
Families on Mission Opportunities for 2007

The 2006 Families on Mission pilot project was a great success, prompting six projects to be scheduled in 2007. Two mission trips are available in New Orleans, La., two in East St. Louis, Ill., and one in Lynch, Ky. An additional trip is planned for home schoolers in October. For more information or to register families in your church, visit www.namb.net/fom.

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 800 4 ACTS 18 (800-422-8718).

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