The Samaria Update is designed to help you identify resources available through the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as your church plans and implements a strategy to reach our continent for Jesus Christ. Previous editions of the Samaria Update are available here.

Featured Resource                                                                            

The Acts 1:8 Challenge Podcast is Here!

The last words of Jesus are the first priority for today's church! Keep up with ways pastors and missions leaders are leading their churches to become worldwide mission centers by listening to the Acts 1:8 Challenge Podcast! The Podcast features interviews and advice from a variety of local church, association, state convention and SBC leaders.

There are a number of ways you can access the new Acts 1:8 Challenge Podcast. If you are an iTunes user, simply go to iTunes Podcasts and search for "Acts 1:8 Challenge" direct link .

If you are using another tool to access Podcasts, an RSS feed for the Acts 1:8 Challenge Podcast is available on the Acts 1:8 Challenge website .

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

Prepare - Participate in CP and SFC Vision Tours!

Church Planting Vision Tours provide churches committed to an Acts 1:8 paradigm of ministry the opportunity to develop strategic church planting partnerships in North America.

Participants usually spend two days in a city or region in North America which has a clear need and strategy for reaching lost people with the gospel through church planting. While in that location they meet key leaders, tour the community and identify specific ways their church can enhance that regions church planting capacity through the establishment of a strategic partnership.

Areas scheduled for tours this fall include: Fredericksburg, Va., Washington D.C., Madison, Wis., New Orleans, La., British Columbia, and Fargo N.D.

For more information contact John M. Bailey at (770) 410-6236 or email JMBailey@namb.net .

Vision San Diego www.visionsandiego.com is part of the North American Mission Board's Strategic Focus Cities (SFC) initiative, an effort to reach urban areas through focused church planting and evangelism.

San Diego is home to more than three million people and hundreds of distinct cultures. The change and movement that surrounds San Diego is reflected in the diversity of its residents.

Seeing and Serving Vision Tours are designed for pastors and church leaders who want to know more about ministry in Greater San Diego. You’ll meet with pastors and church planters, as well as those ministering through city-wide outreaches, all in the hope of connecting you with a way you can be involved in San Diego.

Upcoming tour dates are:

September 17-19, 2007
October 15-17, 2007
November 5-7, 2007
January 28-30, 2008
February 25-27, 2008
March 24-26, 2008

For more information or to register for a Seeing and Serving Vision Tour, contact Anne Decker at (877) 817-4777 or email adecker@visionsd.org .

Learn and Pray - Be a Missionary Encourager!

Everyone loves to cheer for the home team! Your "home" team is your North American Mission Board missionaries. More than 5,300 missionaries are in the game and are serious about and committed to winning North America for Christ!

Our North American missionaries need your encouragement! Your church can be a Missionary Encourager by offering:

• Prayer support - develop a plan to pray for a missionary regularly
• Notes of encouragement - send emails, notes and letters
• Care packages - send items a missionary and family enjoys
• Partnership - send volunteers/mission teams to the missionary's field of service
• Speaking invitations - include them in mission fair/conference or Annie Armstrong Easter Offering/North American Missions Emphasis

Consider leading your Sunday School class or other group in your church to become a Missionary Encourager today. More information is available by contacting Carol Baker at (770) 410-6357 or email missionaryencourager@namb.net.

Give - Promote World Hunger Day

Now is the time to start planning promotion for World Hunger Day on Sunday, Oct. 14.

Domestic hunger funds provided through this emphasis assist churches, associations, and state conventions in distributing food and the gospel to people in need. By meeting someone’s physical needs, opportunities are created to address spiritual needs. 

More than likely, someone in your state, and perhaps your association, benefits directly from these hunger funds.

In 2006, more than 2,200 hunger ministries in North America were assisted with domestic hunger funds. Additionally, 3.5 million meals were provided, and more than 30,000 professions of faith were reported through hunger ministries. Requests for funds for 2007 have already exceeded $1.3 million. With your help in promoting World Hunger Day, it is anticipated that donations will allow for all requests to be met.

More information and promotional material for World Hunger Day is available at www.namb.net/hunger .

Tell - Summer Missionary Stories that Inspire!

Some of the most effective evangelists are students! Stories from reports submitted by student missionaries who shared Christ while serving with other students from across North American are available online now. These stories are great to use during a special "missionary moment," in Sunday School or in a variety of other ways in your church. Summer missionary stories are located at www.answerthecall.net . Click on "Resources," then go to "Trailnotes."

Be sure to pray for students who have given their summer to be used by God on the North American mission field. Many left their comfort zone in obedience to God's call and gifting in their lives. Many crossed cultural, geographic or other barriers to proclaim the gospel and live out a Christian witness in obedience to the Great Commission. They invite you to join them in  discovering the North American mission field.

Explore Other 'Kingdom-Growing' Commitments

Be sure to check out other Acts 1:8 Challenge Kingdom-Growing commitments here. Additional information about your church's Samaria response is available here. For questions or comments about the Acts 1:8 Challenge, email tyarbrough@namb.net or call 1 800 4 ACTS 18 (800-422-8718).

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