Samaria Update—July 2005

This periodic 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.

1,000 Churches Have Accepted the Acts 1:8 Challenge!

This month’s newsletter includes a special video message from Dr. Robert E. (Bob) Reccord, president of the North American Mission Board, marking 1,000 churches signing up to be a part of the Acts 1:8 Challenge. View the video:

30k Dial-up

100k Broadband

300k Broadband

500k Broadband

Download to Disk (right click on PC, ctrl click on Mac)

"Prepare"—Kick off your Acts 1:8 Focus with Missions Study

When a church embraces the Acts 1:8 Challenge, it is like saying, "We are committed to developing a comprehensive missions strategy." If you have not started preparation stages, now is a great time! Read and study the 2005 doctrine study from LifeWay, The Acts 1:8 Challenge: Empowering the Church to Be On Mission. Better yet, make plans for a study this fall as a kickoff to your focus on Acts 1:8. The study may be purchased at any LifeWay Christian Store, by calling 1 800 448-8032, or at www.lifewaystores.com.

"Learn"—Plan Now for Mission Education this Fall

More than 10,000 Southern Baptist churches use NAMB and WMU produced materials in their approach to mission education for all ages. Fall is a great time to implement a structured organizational approach to mission education in your church. To learn specifics about the following gender-specific mission education resources, visit the links below.
 
North American Mission Board
 
Royal Ambassadors
Challengers
Baptist Men on Mission

 

Woman's Missionary Union

 

Women on Mission
Acteens

Girls in Action

"Pray"—Unevangelized Groups in Your Community,
               State, and Country

People are hurting all around us—even in the United States. The answer to their problems is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Lead your church to pray for ways God can use it to reach unevangelized groups in your Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Your association office can help you identify groups in your community (your Jerusalem), your state convention in your Judea, and the  North American Mission Board in your Samaria.

"Give"—Increase Mission Awareness Throughout the Year

World Hunger Day— Increase hunger awareness and educate your church members on how they can meet the practical needs of millions worldwide by recognizing World Hunger Day, October 9.

The World Hunger Fund is a unified method for Southern Baptists to give money specifically for meeting hunger needs, and 100 percent of contributions are used to pay for food.

 

In 2004, Southern Baptist hunger ministries fed 3.9 million meals to the hungry in North America. More than 31,000 professions of faith were reported as a result of these hunger ministries. For more information about giving to the World Hunger Fund, visit www.namb.net/hunger.

 

E-ssentials— An excellent resource your church can use to promote giving year around is E-ssentials for the On Mission Church. E-ssentials is a dynamic video series designed especially for pastors, teachers, and worship
leaders available in VHS, CD, or DVD format. Each edition contains short clips with present-day applications of biblical truths—in addition to highlight features of Cooperative Program and Annie Armstrong-supported ministries. For
more information about E-ssentials, visit www.essentials.tv
or call (770) 410-6320.

 

"Go"—Churches Needed to Partner in Vancouver Focus Effort

Support of Southern Baptist churches is needed as Vancouver, British Columbia, comes the focus of Strategic Focus Cities efforts in 2006. Specifically, churches are asked to partner with Vancouver Focus efforts at one of three levels:
 
Pray (Level 1): Intercede regularly for one geographical region or people group in Vancouver/Victoria. Pray for leadership, churches, and new believers.

 

Participate (Level 2): Commit to pray for one region or people group and plan to send mission teams to serve alongside of local believers. Short-term teams or long-term co-laborers are welcome!

 

Partner (Level 3): Agree to pray, to send people, and to give financial resources toward larger mission endeavors, such as large outreach events, church property, or pastoral salaries.

 

Vancouver is a city of growth and diversity. Annually, more than 30,000 immigrants move to Vancouver and most are from the Pacific Rim. To reach out to so many diverse sectors of people, Southern Baptist churches are needed to work cooperatively by committing to pray and volunteer in this God-sized city-reaching initiative. The vision of Vancouver Focus is to see 100 new churches in Vancouver and Victoria by 2010.

 

Visit www.prayvancouver.ca to view specific prayer requests and to receive prayer newsletters and updates. E-mail info@vancouverfocus.ca to request a Vancouver Focus promotional DVD to show in your church.

 

"Tell"—Get Involved in ICE

ICE (Intentional Community Evangelism) is a strategy to get churches healthy in four areas: intentional witnessing, community ministry, prayerwalking, and intentional follow-up.  Designed to be implemented over a period of 12 months, ICE is a biblical strategy (see Acts 2:41-47) which can be contextualized in any situation or community. The strategy is reproducible and transferable for any size congregation. If you have questions or need assistance call (770) 410-6317
or e-mail vbenavides@namb.net.

"Send"—God is Calling Your Members to Service

Did you know that the Internet contains more than 10,000 pornographic and hate-promoting sites? That 1 of 5 teenagers have tried prescription painkillers to get high and raid their parents’ medicine cabinets to get the drugs? Now is the chance for your church to be part of the solution! Students are making a difference in the life of their peers.

 

Each year, more than 1,300 summer missionaries and 550 semester missionaries serve across North America and share their faith with a hurting world—resulting in 13,000 presentations of the gospel and 900 professions of faith. “You should always be on mission everywhere you go, but there's something different when you are new to the surroundings and you are in uncharted territory,”  said Emily Wright, summer missionary
at First Baptist Church, Burley, Idaho.

 

For more information about how your students can have
a positive impact on the world and influence other
students to do the same, visit www.answerthecall.net or
call 1 800 462-8657, ext. 6476.

"Multiply"—Participate in a GPS "Church Planting" Tour

If your church still does not know where to get connected in church planting, participating in a GPS (Growing the Kingdom, Planting New Churches, Seeing the People) Tour is a great way to start. Recently, a tour to Baltimore was conducted with great success. While other tours are already filled, many spots remain open. They include:

 

Rochester/Syracuse, N.Y.
Des Moines, Iowa
Milwaukee, Wisc.
Monongahela Association, W.Va.
Las Vegas, Nev.
Reno, Nev.
Los Angeles, Calif.

San Francisco, Calif.
Portland, Ore.
Seattle, Wash.
Wilkes- Barre/Scranton, Pa.

 

If your church would like to sign up to participate in a tour or needs more information, e-mail sponsorchurches@namb.net or call (770) 410-6283.

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