Samaria Update—April 2005

This periodic update is designed to help churches that have    embraced the Acts 1:8 Challenge be aware of resources that will help them reach their Samaria. It is designed to make you aware of resources from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) that will help your church plan and implement its strategy to be involved in reaching North America for Christ. To remove yourself from this list, please note instructions at the end of this e-mail.

"Prepare"— Become a Worldwide Mission Center!

It is the responsibility of the Acts 1:8 Challenge leadership team to mobilize church members for specific kingdom-growing responses to the Great Commission (prepare, learn, pray, give, go, tell, send, multiply). The team should seek to ensure the mission strategy is both churchwide and year-round. Embracing the Acts 1:8 Challenge: A Leadership Guide , suggests five steps to follow to get started: 1) Pray for a fresh, clear vision of God's heart for the world; 2) Establish a Mission Leadership Team; 3) Communicate the vision; 4) Coordinate budget and calendar; and 5) Evaluate the process. For more information on "Prepare," refer to your leadership guide or download a copy under Resources at www.ActsOne8.com.

"Learn"—Bring Mission Awareness to Your Entire Church

Home Run Dads for Father's Day! With Father's Day approaching, you have a tremendous opportunity to speak to the hearts of the men in your congregation and challenge them to be the spiritual leaders that God has called them to be. The Mission Education Team of NAMB offers free online resources to help your church celebrate Father's Day 2005 and to challenge dads to step up to the plate for the sake of their children. You will find a compelling sermon written by NAMB president Bob Reccord and other resources to help you plan, promote, and implement the Father's Day emphasis in your church at www.bmen.net. As a gift to your men and a way to help solidify their commitment to be spiritual leaders, consider giving them copies of Sons of Virtue , a 10-week father and son guided exploration of biblical virtues and godly character. For more information or to order, visit www.namb.net/catalog.

 

Mission Education for Men and Boys— Does your church have a growing and dynamic Mission Education organization for men and boys? If not, consider using the Father's Day emphasis mentioned above to start Baptist Men On Mission (BMEN), Challengers (for youth), and Royal Ambassadors (for children, grades 1-6). To get started, visit the following Web sites: www.bmen.net; www.challengers.cc, andwww.royalambassadors.org. Leader materials and annual planbooks are available at www.namb.net/catalog.

Doctrine Study Resources Available— If your church has not done the 2005 Baptist Doctrine Study, The Acts 1:8 Challenge:Empowering the Church to Be on Mission ,  now is an excellent time to do it as a part of your commitment both to "Prepare" and to "Learn."  In recent weeks, downloadable PowerPoint and video resources to assist your church in conducting the study have been posted on the ActsOne8.com Web site. The study provides a biblical view of the Acts 1:8 Challenge and is an essential resource for every church that wants to implement an Acts 1:8 Challenge vision. The study may be purchased at any LifeWay Christian Store, ordered online at www.lifeway.com, or through the catalog store by calling 1 800 448-8032. The study includes a leader's guide and student workbook (purchased separately).

"Pray"—Ask God for a "Kingdom Perspective" for Your Church

When God's people pray earnestly for missions and missionaries, they can expect great results. Prayer has a way of opening our eyes to mission fields around us. Lead your members to pray for revival and spiritual awakening in North America through a weekly prayer focus. A daily prayer guide, inspiring articles, and current stories about what God is doing is available at www.oneinamillionprayer.com.

"Give"—Support the Mission Cause through Giving

While many Southern Baptist churches observed the North American Mission Emphasis in March, your church can still get involved. Resources available such as videos, studies, clip art, and promotional helps at www.AnnieArmstrong.com are not dated and can be used any time during the year. Your giving supports the work of more than 5,000 missionaries across North America!

"Go"—Opportunities for Summer Mission Experiences    

Numerous opportunities for service this summer and fall are available to your church as your seek to fulfill the "Go" commitment in your Samaria. They include:

World Changers and PowerPlant—Opportunities for junior high and senior students are still open through World Changers and PowerPlant. World Changers projects, located at various locations across North America, focus on changing the world of the participants by giving them a hands-on mission experience. PowerPlant is a weeklong student mission project that seeks to educate and involve students (middle school, high school, and college) in church planting and evangelism. Space is still available at PowerPlant projects in Reno, Kansas City, and Toronto. For more information call
1 800 462-VOLS or visit www.studentz.com/wc .

Paint the Town— Volunteers are needed to join with others from around the country and the metro New York City to paint 20 metro-area schools, conduct 20 free sports clinics  for kids, and celebrate the completion of each project with a community-wide block party.  The project is coordinated through the New Hope New York Strategic Focus City initiative of NAMB. Paint the Town projects will run from July 5 until September 4. The week of July 25-31 is designated as a week for college students to participate. For more information or to register your group for Paint the Town, call 1 212-580-0655, ext. 35 or e-mail paintthetown@newhopenewyork.com.

The Bridge—If you are a volunteer or mission team leader, you can find information about hundreds of projects requesting adult and student mission teams and individuals through The Bridge at  http://thebridge.namb.net. The Bridge is an electronic information system where volunteers and ministry projects connect. Projects include construction, painting, Vacation Bible School, prayerwalking, telephone evangelism, sports camps, block parties, performing arts, and a host of other possibilities. For more information, e-mail volunteers@namb.net or call 1 800 462-8657, option 1.

"Tell"—Involve Your Members in Intentional Evangelism

Equip believers in your church to be effective witnesses in one day or as little as one hour. The One-Day/One-Hour Witnessing Workshop contains all the materials you need to help your church members develop the skills necessary to share their faith with confidence. All teaching materials are free and may be downloaded at www.namb.net/onedaywitness.

" Send"—April 20 Deadline for Summer Missionaries

A life-changing experience awaits high school and college students who commit to serve as summer missionaries and fulfill the "Send" commitment. Applications are being taken now until April 20. Opportunities include:

Sojourners— High school students who work with missionaries and churches in evangelism and church planting projects in the United States and Canada. Ministry settings vary from inner city to the beach. Sojourners serve with other student missionaries and/or career missionaries.

Summer Missionaries— Students who work to assist local churches, campus ministries, and NAMB missionaries with evangelism and church planting. Their work concentrates on helping in community ministries, ministering to teenagers, working with campus ministries, or assisting in church planting.

Innovators— Students who work at a secular job (usually 40 hours a week) while assisting local missionaries (8-10 hours a week) in evangelism and church planting. Supervision and mentoring are provided by the place of service.

If you are a student or know a student interested in being a summer missionary, visit www.answerthecall.net or call 1 800 462-8657, ext. 6476, for more information and application.

"Multiply "—Lostness Tours Planned Across North America

A great way to get your church active in its "Multiply" commitment to church planting is by participating in a Lostness Tour organized through the Church Planting Group at NAMB. Tours are currently being planned in dozens of locations in North America. For more information on how your church can participate, contact Fred Hewett at (770) 410-6218 or e-mail fhewett@namb.net.

Revised Acts 1:8 Challenge Web Site Coming Soon

A revised Acts 1:8 Challenge Web site www.ActsOne8.com will be launched soon. The new site will feature improved navigation and access to essential resources such as articles, videos, and other content. Recent updates to the Acts 1:8 Challenge Web site include the posting of the Spanish translation of the Embracing the Acts 1:8 Challenge: A Leadership Guide and new resources to support the 2005 Doctrine Study (mentioned above).    

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