United States and Puerto Rico churches and individuals gave more

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1 How 2010 World Mission Offering Dollars Are Being Used You are invited to copy the item below and distribute it to your congregation. Thank you for your 2010 WMO gifts of more than $3 million! WORLD MISSION OFFERING Live the Word Proclaim the Word Be Transformed How the World Mission Offering was Invested in (general and directed giving) Global Christian Partners and Programs $470,000 Total Annual Missionary Cost $6.8 million A Portion of Missionary Support $2,570, Leader s Guide New! Highlights of 175 Years of Our Mission in North East India pages Worship Service Resources pages 3-9 How 2010 World Mission Offering Dollars are being Used back cover United States and Puerto Rico churches and individuals gave more than $3 million last year to support the work of the Lord through American Baptist International Ministries World Mission Offering (WMO). The largest portion, $2,570,000, was used to support more than 100 IM missionaries serving in countries around the world. Funding through the World Mission Offering is very important. The vital combination of WMO giving, PLUS giving to IM for the personalized support of missionaries, covers IM s total annual missionary cost of $6.8 million dollars. Your missionaries are able to carry on the work of the Lord thanks to you. And they are encouraged through your prayers and generous support of them through the World Mission Offering. The remaining $470,000 is being used this year to provide support for IM s global Christian partners and programs, including schools, seminaries and colleges health clinics agricultural projects, peace initiatives and anti-human trafficking programs. IM s partners thank you for remembering the poor, the sick, the homeless and the heartbroken through your gifts to WMO. Thank You! Heal the sick who are there and tell them, The kingdom of God is near you. Luke 10:9 International Ministries P. O. Box 851 Valley Forge, PA ext W851 for the pre-recorded webinar entitled How your 2010 WMO gifts are working for God, on the enclosed DVD. Photo by Scott Smith

2 Thank You for Giving Yourself to Mission! Contents Thank You for Giving Yourself to Mission!... 1 Tips for a Successful Offering...2 Biblical Reflection The First Missionaries...3 Sample Letter to Your Congregation...4 Celebrate World Communion Sunday with the World Mission Offering October 2, 2011 WMO Worship Service Resources...5 *Highlights of 175 Years of American Baptist Mission in North East India, Dear Church Leader, WMO Clip Art : A Special Way of Saying Thanks How 2010 World Mission Offering Dollars Are Being Used...Back Cover * designed for posting on a bulletin board for these tools enclosed in your WMO packet XXReady-to-use worship tools Leader s Guide XXNew World Mission Offering poster XXNew Missionary World Map (reverse of the World Mission Offering poster) XXFour bulletin inserts ready for photocopying XXFull-color bulletin inserts enough for your entire congregation on one Sunday XXWMO offering envelopes and coin boxes XXDVD containing four short videos and one prerecorded webinar: A True Story of Evangelism, Campinas, Brazil From Headhunters to Evangelists, American Baptists Bring Christianity to N.E. India The Miqlat Ministry for Abused Women: a N.E. India Partner Story The Deaf Biblical Ministry: a N.E. India Partner Story How Your 2010 WMO Gifts Are Changing God s World: A Pre-recorded Webinar LOOK for many of these materials in a downloadable format on our website at Your gifts to World Mission Offering help women like Gorma Making ends meet is a daily struggle for mothers like Gorma living in poverty in the state of Nagaland in North East India. In this dusty place by the tracks, women sell their bodies to buy rice for the day or to pay tuition for a week. Often prostitution is forced on them by their husbands to feed their drug or alcohol addiction. Today, many women who were once without options are finding a new way to live, thanks to the ministry of the Miqlat Center. The Center is an important ministry of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) Women s Department, which is supported by your gifts to the World Mission Offering. Gorma, a former drug trafficker and prostitute, learned of God s love at the Miqlat Center. Today, she is a strong worker for the Lord. She is leading her sisters out of misery through the life-changing vocational opportunities and spiritual support offered by the Miqlat Center. I didn t know of any other way, until I met the Lord. LOOK for a 4:21 minute video of Gorma s story entitled The Miqlat Ministry for Abused Women: A N.E. India Partner Story, on the enclosed DVD. Photos by Scott Smith Thank you for using your energy, creativity and dedication so that your congregation can increase its understanding of global mission through the World Mission Offering (WMO). Christ has chosen to use his followers to reach all the world holistically. This year s holistic theme reminds us that when those followers Live the Word and Proclaim the Word, others can Be Transformed. As you plan, you may want to anticipate how October 2 could fit into your WMO calendar. Since 1940, congregations representing many denominations have observed the first Sunday of October as World Communion Sunday. It is a time for all Christians around the world to observe our oneness in Christ as we gather in celebrating the Lord s Supper. Congregants can be invited to imagine followers of Jesus worldwide joining them in remembering the life, death and resurrection of God s Son. This year on October 2, worshipers from those in cathedrals to those in small huts join in communion with Christ and with all on the globe who bear his name. World Communion Sunday is also an appropriate time to think of how the truths of Christianity are spread globally through the work of International Ministries. That effort to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) is supported through WMO. Like many churches, yours may want to devote the three Sundays preceding World Communion Sunday to incorporate easy-touse tools that will expand your congregation s understanding of critical global mission efforts. Or you may want to begin later in September or even use the month of October for your WMO four-sunday focus as outlined on page 7. Whatever your schedule, you will discover the following pages helpful. Your WMO packet also includes educational tools listed on the left. They can be used in worship services, Sunday school classes, women s and men s groups, youth groups and Bible studies. Be creative! In fact, you may want to tell us how you used the tools by returning the response form (page 13) so that we can share your ideas with others in the future. In celebration of our global mission together, The Missionaries and Staff of International Ministries American Baptist Foreign Mission Society (dba International Ministries) is a designated 501(c)(3) institution by the Internal Revenue Service. All contributions are deductible to the fullest extent of the IRS code. As required by IRS tax code, tax deductible contributions are received with the understanding that International Ministries has full discretion over the use of all donated funds. Every effort is made to comply with donors wishes. Photo by Scott Smith for downloadable resources and videos on the web: 1

3 Tips for a Successful Offering Biblical Reflection The First Missionaries 1. Review the enclosed materials using the list below. Two weeks in advance, make sure you have enough full-color bulletin inserts and pew envelopes for each person in the pews on the average Sunday. Additional materials can be obtained for THIS YEAR by downloading off our website at org or by calling Judson Press at Five Bulletin Inserts this year: You can use one at a time for five Sundays, if you like. Bulletin Inserts #1 & 2 (W858) and #3 & 4 (W859) are in black and white and designed to be photocopied. We limit orders with Judson Press to 20 for these bulletins. There is one bulletin in full-color and you should get enough of these for everyone. If not, call for more! What is NEW is the Spanish version of the Guide to Global Servants or Guía de Servidores Mundiales! If your church or an individual could use this useful guide in 2011 WMO Item Description Item Number Poster/Map English W847 Poster/Map Spanish W848 DVD English W849 DVD Study Guide W850 Leader s Guide English W851 Bulletin Insert 1 & 2 Bilingual (Martin & Pierre) W858 Bulletin Insert 3 & 4 Bilingual (Smith & Longkumer) W859 Bulletin Insert English (full color) W846 Bulletin Insert Spanish (full color) W857 Coin Box - Bilingual W852 Pew Envelope Bilingual W853 Quick Facts Flyer English I334 Quick Facts Flyer Spanish I337 Packing List/Trulson English W856 Packing List/Trulson Spanish W860 Reorder form/ad for Spanish Items W855 Guide to Global Servants Spanish I350 (limit 20 postage reimbursement requested) Spanish, please call Judson Press and ask for it. The English version of the Guide to Global Servants is the same copy you received last year. 2. Set a surprising goal What financial goal would honor God most as you express your passion for global mission? Pray for God to work through you, your group, and the World Mission Offering to accomplish His will for your church. Be ready to be surprised by what God can do through you! 3. Meet with your Pastor Start planning at least six weeks prior to the offering Sunday. Let your pastor know your goals and agree on how he/she will invite people to give to the offering. WMO Worship Service Resources are available on pages 3-9. Other materials are available on the website at 4. Find helpers Try to identify those people within your church who can help you organize and lead the offering. You may delegate a little or a lot, whatever works best for your church. Ask a Sunday school class to present the History of North East India (based on pages 10-11). Invite the youth to introduce a video from the WMO DVD. Let us help you thank your volunteers! At the end of your offering, complete the Special Thank You in this Guide (page 13). We ll send a thank you note to each person on your list. 5. Invite a mission speaker to visit your church What a powerful way to enhance giving to your World Mission Offering! Our inspirational mission speakers include missionaries, mission volunteers, board members and International Ministries staff who can tell the powerful story of what God is doing through IM partner organizations, projects and missionaries. You are welcome to contact missionaries directly about their availability. Call your region office or contact Ruthann Stevenson at , ext for a list of other mission speakers. 6. Be creative and have fun! Start with the poster, bulletin inserts and the clip art enclosed. But don t let that be it! Let God use your gifts and abilities to encourage and inspire your church in fun and creative ways with skits, event fundraisers or meals. Need more ideas? Contact us at , ext For the latest journals and prayer requests go to Luke 10:1-9, 17a 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace to this house! 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 heal the sick who are there and tell them, The kingdom of God is near you. 17 The seventy returned with joy... In today s world, an evangelist is seen as one who travels from place to place preaching the gospel. The New Testament Greek word for evangelism, εὐαγγέλιον (transliterated as euangelion ) supports this understanding. It means gospel or good news. According to the Good News record of Luke, during Jesus early ministry he sent out the Twelve Disciples as evangelists with more than one task. (Luke 9:1-6) One job understandably centered on their having a preaching ministry ( proclaim the kingdom of God ). But there was another duty; they were also to have a healing ministry ( cure diseases ). Later, Jesus commissioned 70 some manuscripts read 72 followers. (Luke 10:1-9) He provided them with clear instructions as well, similar to those given previously to the Twelve. They were to heal the sick and say, The kingdom of God is near you. Based on these two parallel examples, it is apparent that the first mission work given to Christ s followers involved two good news activities proclamation and healing. In Jesus directions to the Disciples, proclamation was mentioned first (Luke 9:2); in those to the 70 it was healing (Luke 10:9). No matter what the order, Jesus made it clear that for these first missionaries it was not one or the other. It was both. Their mission work included announcing the message of the kingdom of God and bringing healing as well. Since then, Christians at times have separated these two by referring to preaching and other church-related activities as spiritual, while such healing activities as providing medical care, encouraging community development, working in peacemaking and addressing injustice have been seen as social or physical. But for the first missionaries, be they the Twelve or the 70, there was no such separation. That same approach to mission work with its two parts is held by International Ministries. It is reflected in this year s theme for the World Mission Offering (WMO): Live the Word Proclaim the Word Be Transformed Your WMO gifts fund partner organizations, projects and missionaries that serve in this holistic manner, like the first missionaries. This leads to joy for all. (Luke 10:17a) Jesus words from Luke 10:2 echo down to our time, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Your WMO gifts provide for the needs of those twenty-first century laborers who are answering Christ s call. They are willing to be sent like lambs into the midst of wolves (Luke 10:3) while you, and other American Baptists like you, are providing for their needs through WMO. In that act of presenting your offering, you are responding even as those who welcomed the first missionaries. (Luke 10:8) Thank you for that response. To change the amount of materials you receive EVERY YEAR in the offering packet contact Joyce Lake at ext or Joyce.Lake@abc-usa.org or write to her at Joyce Lake B227, Mission Resource Development, PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA World Mission Offering Leader s Guide for downloadable resources and videos on the web: 3

4 Sample Letter to Your Congregation WMO Worship Service Resources You are invited to use the following in your church s newsletter, within an all-church , or by regular mail. It provides an easy way to introduce your church s World Mission Offering. Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As we think about our individual lives and even our church s life, we can easily forget we are part of a large community of faith, the Church of Jesus Christ around the world! On October 2, World Communion Sunday, we will be reminded of that fact. On that day Christians worldwide will be celebrating the Lord s Supper, even as we will. [The following provides you with three choices for wording, depending on your church calendar.] That special Sunday will also be the day we appropriately give our 2011 World Mission Offering (WMO), which supports the global work of American Baptist International Ministries (IM). Dear Pastor: The WMO materials on the following pages in this Leader s Guide may be used over a period of four weeks, culminating in World Communion Sunday, October 2. Some churches begin later in September or even use the whole month of October, weaving World Communion Sunday into that schedule. Whatever your congregation does, here is one way WMO materials can be incorporated during worship services, using four words that begin with the letter P. Date Worship Theme WMO Materials Sunday 1 Ponder the story of The 70 Luke 10 responsive reading, adult sermon Sunday 2 Pray for global & community ministries Directed prayer, children s sermon Sunday 3 Praise God for IM s biblical mission Reflections on Luke 10 responsive reading Sunday 4 Present WMO gifts Unison prayer of dedication In addition to the WMO materials listed above, you can incorporate other easy-to-use tools that are listed on the inside front cover. For instance, you can employ the full-color bulletin insert at the worship service before Sunday 1 as a way to introduce the congregation to the upcoming WMO theme. Then use the four photocopy-ready bulletin inserts on each of the four Sundays. [OR if you have a different schedule, you could write either:] That special Sunday will also be the day we appropriately begin focusing on our 2011 World Mission Offering (WMO), which supports the global work of American Baptist International Ministries (IM). [OR:] That special day will be one of the Sundays we give our 2011 World Mission Offering (WMO), which supports the global work of American Baptist International Ministries (IM). Our gifts make possible the ministries of nearly 100 long-term IM missionaries and more than 1,500 short-term missionaries and volunteers. They work in more than 70 countries along with 220 partner organizations that include evangelistic associations, hospitals, schools, publishing companies and others responding to Christ s call. Reflecting that call, the WMO theme is based on Luke 10:1-9, 17a. It tells how Jesus sent 70 missionaries to Live the Word and Proclaim the Word so that others might Be Transformed. In these coming weeks, we will have an opportunity to discover more fully what that means. I believe as a result of that discovery, God will lead us to provide more financial support to global missions this year than last. Our 2011 goal is $, an increase of % over Please join me in embracing this challenge as together we Live the Word and Proclaim the Word so that others might Be Transformed. Yours in response to Christ s call to follow him, WMO Sermon It is important that the members of your congregation hear how World Mission Offering (WMO) gifts transform lives around the globe through the work of International Ministries (IM). It is equally essential that they have time to think about their own lives and consider their Christian witness close to home. Preaching on the WMO theme scripture not only informs congregants about the importance of WMO giving, it can also improve their own personal spiritual journey. As you prepare a sermon (or sermons) to support this year s World Mission Offering, you will find some initial material on page 3, Biblical Reflection The First Missionaries. It offers information on both this year s WMO theme scripture (Luke 10:1-9, 17a) as well as another foundational one (Luke 9:1-6). In providing a setting for your sermon, you will find it helpful to present the immediate context for the sending out of The 70. When the scripture is read in worship, it begins, After this. People may ask themselves, After what? The answer is: after certain potential followers of Christ found reasons to hesitate in being his disciples (Luke 9:57-62), there were others who were eager to serve immediately. The opening verses of Luke 10 tell what those followers, 70 of them, were to do. A WMO sermon can illustrate how IM s partner organizations, projects and missionaries are like The 70. It can also provide a time to ask your congregation, In which group will you choose to be the hesitant followers or the committed ones? Sermon Outline Title: Live the Word! Proclaim the Word! Be Transformed! Introduction: When we minister to Live the Word and Proclaim the Word as Christ commanded, God works so that people can Be Transformed. Jesus commissioned The 70 to heal the sick and proclaim, The kingdom of God has come near to you. Those two steps are taken today by International Ministries partner organizations, projects and missionaries that are supported by the World Mission Offering. Those same steps are to be applied to our church s ministries in our community. I. Live the Word! A. Plentiful harvest (Luke 10:2a) 1. The world needs to see the Word of God in action a. therefore, Christ s followers must Live the Word b. Jesus commissioned the 70 missionaries to do that living through healing 2. The Great Physician is needed globally today for holistic healing body, mind, spirit 3. WMO gifts support physical healing through hospitals and clinics in locations like Kanchanaburi, Thailand, and Durban, South Africa 4. WMO gifts bring intellectual strengthening at sites like the Soshin Girls School in Yokohama, Japan, and an after-school program for orphans in Sofia, Bulgaria 5. WMO gifts fund spiritual healing through planting new churches in places like La Paz, Mexico, and throughout the Middle East continued on next page World Mission Offering Leader s Guide for downloadable resources and videos on the web: 5

5 continued from page 5 B. Few laborers 1. Nearly 100 long-term IM missionaries and more than 1,500 short-term missionaries and volunteers work worldwide with 220 partner organizations including evangelistic associations, hospitals, schools, publishing companies and others 2. IM responds to Christian leaders in more than 70 countries who request support for particular projects and for IM personnel with specific training/background to join them 3. Our prayers for more laborers (Luke 10:2b) can be matched by our WMO gifts that go to pay them (Luke 10:7b) C. Healing today through an IM partner organization 1. The harvest is being gleaned by laborers in countries like India 2. [Show/summarize Miqlat Ministry video, a work of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council, Women s Dept.] 3. WMO gifts you give support IM partners like the Nagaland Baptist Church Council to Live the Word! D. Have you in this congregation also sought to Live the Word as active laborers in God s harvest? 1. What act of healing have you asked God to accomplish through your labors? 2. Are you working for reconciliation in your family, being available to a friend, helping a stranger in need? II. Proclaim the Word! A. Have you heard the Aesop fable about a bored shepherd boy who cried, Wolf! Wolf!? 1. It was only a teasing proclamation until a real wolf came and no one believed his cry 2. Jesus talked about real wolves those who fill the world bringing fear and hatred B. The 70 being sent were like lambs in a wolf s world (Luke 10:3) 1. Facing the wolf of disease, wolf of hopelessness, wolf of bad news 2. The 70 were only lambs, BUT they had the power of the Lamb of God against all wolves! C. The 70 didn t have much money, clothes, food Church leaders from Arunachal Pradesh, where church growth is phenomenal, recently gathered to create further plans with a WMO-supported evangelist. 1. They did have a call, Proclaim the Word: The kingdom of God is near you. 2. The dejected found hope, depressed heard the good news of Jesus Christ, sinners found forgiveness D. Proclamation today through an IM project in India 1. Two partner organizations, in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, each have 8 IM-sponsored evangelists working with unreached tribes in North East India 2. WMO gifts you give help IM projects like this to Proclaim the Word! E. Have you in this congregation also been involved in proclamation? 1. When is the last time you invited a friend, neighbor, or relative to a worship service or church event? 2. What words of comfort have you shared with the ill? What expression of hope with the discouraged? What message of salvation with those who are lost? What good news from Jesus with those who ve received bad news in a phone call, letter, ? III. Be Transformed! (Luke 10:17a) A. The 70 returned with their report to Jesus 1. Filled with joy because God had used their ministries of Living the Word and Proclaiming the Word 2. People could Be Transformed through the powerful name of Jesus B. All IM long-term missionaries seek to be used in transformation ministries 1. Their goal: make disciples for Jesus 2. 40% of them serve where a majority of the people has never heard the good news C. Transformation today: God uses IM missionaries like Philip Smith and Corenne (Garrison) Smith in Brazil 1. [Refer to bulletin insert about the Smith s ministry or show A True Story of Evangelism from the WMO DVD] 2. WMO gifts you give help IM missionaries lead people around the world to Be Transformed! D. Have you in this congregation also been active in the work leading to transformation? 1. Who comes to mind when you think of someone who s been transformed by God because of your ministry to them? 2. For whom should you be praying? Whom should you yet seek to reach? Conclusion: Live the Word! Proclaim the Word! Be Transformed! Those three sentences illustrate the mission of The 70. They are also the motivation for International Ministries partner organizations, projects and missionaries supported by your WMO gifts. Let s give! Live the Word! Proclaim the Word! Be Transformed! Those same sentences also describe what we need to do in our community as followers of Christ. Let s do it! WMO Children s Sermon When children use the World Mission Offering (WMO) coin boxes, they have a meaningful opportunity to learn what missionaries do and how they can help them. Most churches distribute the boxes a few weeks before the Sunday when WMO gifts are presented. This means that children each day can see their boxes, process their meaning and respond by placing their coins (or dollars) in them. The design of the box includes a place for each child to write his or her name. It also has portions for children to color with crayons or marking pens. This can make each box unique (and easily identified compared to those of their siblings or friends). Using as many colors as possible can symbolize the many people from more than 70 countries who are helped by their offerings. Because it is important to build mission understanding in young lives, the sermon to the right is suggested for use in a children s time during your church s worship service or on other occasions when children gather. This or other approaches you develop can explain and celebrate what the World Mission Offering accomplishes. The Sound of One Hand Clapping Can you make the sound of your hands clapping together? You might do that when you re happy like at a birthday party, or when you ve heard some music at a concert, or maybe after someone gives a speech. Try clapping now. You re good at that! Now, can you try to clap with just one hand? Don t use anyone else s hand, just your own. When you try that, you realize you can t clap with one hand, can you? You have to use both of your hands, two hands, if you re going to clap. In the same way, there are two things Jesus taught the first missionaries to do. During his ministry Jesus once sent out his Twelve Disciples, and then later he sent out 70 other followers. Both times he gave them two jobs to do. The first job was to bring healing to people who were sick. And the second was to tell people about God s love they were to say that God s way of life, called the kingdom of God, had come near to them. When these first missionaries did that, it brought joy to the people and to the missionaries as well. All of them might even have clapped their hands because they were so happy! What do missionaries do today? Jesus uses missionaries now to do the same two things those first missionaries did. The money you place in your World Mission Offering box helps them. On the one hand (hold hand up), missionaries use the money to do all types of activities to help others. They help people who are sick or hungry or need education. And on the other hand (hold other hand up) they tell people about the good news of God s love. If they did only one of these things, it would be like the sound of one hand clapping. (Attempt clapping with one hand.) One hand isn t enough to clap, is it? In the same way, doing only one of those important things isn t enough. The work that missionaries do is like using two hands to clap. First, missionaries help others. So the money you place in your World Mission Offering box goes to missionary doctors who help children get well. It goes to agricultural missionaries who teach parents how to grow good food. And it helps missionary teachers who work with children and adults so they can learn. But remember, all of that is like just one hand. (Hold up one hand.) There s another hand. (Hold up second hand.) Missionaries also share with people the message of God s love. Remember, God loved the world so much that Jesus was sent to us. Jesus showed us how to live, and he died for our sins on the cross. And then he came to life again on Easter morning and promised to be with us always! Everyone needs to hear that good news message. When they do, they can then share it with others who don t know Jesus yet. So as you place your money in your World Mission Offering box, remember that those pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars help missionaries do those two important things, like using two hands. When you know that, you feel like clapping in celebration. Let s do that now and then we ll pray. [Clapping] Dear God, we re happy that we can help missionaries do what the first missionaries did so long ago help others and tell the good news about your love. Guide us, we pray, that we might enjoy giving our offerings in these next weeks so that our missionaries can work all around the world for Jesus. In his name we pray. Amen World Mission Offering Leader s Guide for downloadable resources and videos on the web: 7

6 Photo by Scott Smith Directed Prayer New Testament Responsive Reading Luke 10:1-9, 17a Leader: After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. All: He said to them, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Leader: Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. All: Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace to this house! Leader: And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. All: Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Leader: Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; All: heal the sick who are there, and tell them, The kingdom of God is near you. Leader: The seventy returned All: with joy... In the prayer given to the Twelve Disciples, Jesus taught us to say: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Today we pray in that way as we intercede for the work supported by the World Mission Offering ministries that reach out to others with the good news of Christ around the globe. We also pray for our mission here in our community. I invite you to join me in three separate times of silent prayer. World Mission Offering Responsive Reading Reflections on Luke 10 Leader: When Jesus appointed The 70, he gave them a mission. All: They were to travel in pairs to every town where he himself intended to go. Leader: Today we have sent American Baptist International Ministries (IM) missionaries All: to serve in more than 70 countries. Leader: Jesus commissioned those sent almost two thousand years ago to embody God s love, to Live the Word as they went to heal the sick. All: Today IM partners, projects and missionaries bring healing to body, mind and spirit of those who live in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Leader: The 70 were also told to Proclaim the Word. All: Today all IM long-term missionaries seek to make disciples for Jesus, and more than 40% of them serve those parts of the world where a majority of the people have never heard the good news of Christ. Leader: The deeds and words of The 70 were translated into the call for people to Be Transformed! All: Today IM efforts worldwide convey that same message as evangelistic services are held, new churches are planted, children and adults learn to read the Bible and those who never heard of Jesus choose to become his followers. Leader: The Scriptures come to life in the work supported by our World Mission Offering gifts. All: We accompany those gifts with our prayers for God s power to work through International Ministries so that the kingdom of God continues to expand around the globe! World Mission Offering Unison Prayer of Dedication Dear God, we have heard the words of Jesus who said to The 70 he commissioned as missionaries, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers few. In response, we present these World Mission Offering gifts that support International Ministries partners, projects and missionaries around the globe. Increase their number and multiply the effect of these dollars that provide necessary supplies, shelter and food the same items that were given to The 70 by those who hosted them in their homes. As The 70 returned from their mission in joy, so may our hearts become jubilant as we hear the results of ministries of holistic healing and evangelism that will take place in more than 70 countries because of this offering. We pray this in the name of the one who even now sends us and empowers us to Live the Word and Proclaim the Word that others might Be Transformed. Amen. First for: Our International Ministries missionaries, (names of those who have been featured in WMO videos or are otherwise known to the congregation*) who Live the Word, commissioned like The 70 as they serve in ministries of holistic healing body, mind and spirit. Those on our church prayer list who are ill, including: (by name), our students away from home,, and our outreach ministries like. Second for: Our International Ministries projects like the evangelism project in North East India and the work of missionaries like Ketly & Vital Pierre, who Proclaim the Word in Nicaragua, as we were reminded in a bulletin insert. Our church s ministries and our individual efforts, like (e.g., evangelistic services) that reach out to others with the good news of Christ. Third for: Our International Ministries missionaries like Larry & Jan Martin, whom we read about in the World Mission Offering bulletin insert, as they serve so that others might Be Transformed in Thailand. Our church s efforts and our individual efforts that bring transformation, like (e.g., Vacation Bible School, church retreats, etc.). Forgive us, God, when our worlds become so small that we think only of our daily routines and our common concerns. Grant us, we ask, the commitment of The 70 whom Jesus sent out so that others might know of your presence, love and power. Grant us also the dedication to give both through our offerings and by our whole lives. In Christ s name we pray, so let it be. Amen. * for additional information go to: and choose People Who Serve Photo by Scott Smith World Mission Offering Leader s Guide for downloadable resources and videos on the web: 9

7 Highlights of 175 Years of American Baptist Mission in North East India, Highlights of 175 Years of American Baptist Mission in North East India, The Assamese New Testament is completed and published at the Baptist press in Sibsagar The Garo Baptist Association meets for the first time. NEPAL INDIA NORTH EAST INDIA CHINA BHUTAN ASSAM BANGLA- DESH ARUNACHAL PRADESH NAGALAND MANIPUR MYANMAR (BURMA) 1866 The first Assamese-English dictionary is published, written by Dr. Miles Bronson The Baptist Association of Assam is created First American Baptist missionaries, Nathan and Eliza Brown, and Oliver and Harriet Cutter, establish mission center in Assam Dr. Miles Bronson begins working among the Nagas in the vicinity of Jaipur Nine Naga men are baptized through the influence of Godhula Brown, who was the first person to carry the gospel into the Naga Hills The Ao Baptist Association is founded. William Pettigrew begins work as a Baptist in Manipur Kandura Smith, pastor of the Guwahati Church, baptizes 40 Garos and establishes the Rajasimla Church The Baptist Church of Assam is organized in Guwahati by Nathan Brown and colleagues. This is a companion to the video entitled From Headhunters to Evangelists on the enclosed DVD The Industrial Training Institute and the Jorhat Christian Medical Center are opened Jorhat Christian Mission School is established The Impur Christian Hospital is expanded from the original dispensary that opened in The Satribari Christian Hospital for Women is built in Guwahati, and the Gale Memorial Bible School for Women and the Francis Memorial Primary School are opened. American Baptist International Ministries (IM) is a Christian mission that works with more than 200 partner organizations globally primarily churches, hospitals, schools/seminaries and other mission agencies. These efforts are accomplished by long-term missionaries and thousands of volunteers to help people come to Christ, grow in Christ and change their worlds with Christ. Support for IM s missionaries and the work of partner organizations comes from gifts to the World Mission Offering, designated contributions and income from some endowments. World Mission Offering gifts from churches and individuals are accepted by IM at any time. To give for the support of IM s global mission, go to: and choose World Mission Offering Celebration of 150 years of mission work in North East India, which now includes 6 hospitals, 2 nursing schools, 2 theological colleges, 3,944 churches and 432,939 baptized members The Council of Baptist Churches of North East India (CBCNEI) is formed CBCNEI consists of 6 member conventions, representing a Baptist family of 94 Baptist associations, 7,804 churches and 1,045,455 baptized members The first nursing school is opened in Jorhat American missionaries are forced to leave North East India by the Indian government. CBCNEI, fully indigenous, carries on mission work with financial support of American Baptist International Ministries.

8 WMO Clip Art 2011: A Special Way of Saying Thanks For Completion after Your Church s WMO Sundays! Live the Word Proclaim the Word Be Transformed Heal the sick who are there and tell them, The kingdom of God is near you. Luke 10:9 Please allow us to thank you and your helpers for all your work on the 2011 World Mission Offering! Simply provide your information below and we will send thank-you notes to everyone who helped. Send this completed form to: # International Ministries Attn: Development Office P. O. Box 851 Valley Forge, PA Photo by Scott Smith Heal the sick who are there and tell them, The kingdom of God is near you. Luke 10:9 INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES COME. GROW. CHANGE. for more clip art and photos on the website at Live the Word Proclaim the Word Be Transformed WORLD MISSION OFFERING Empowering your gifts Please say thanks to the following people. (Feel free to add additional-helper pages; we don t want to miss anyone!) Name Address Name Address Name Address Pastor s Name Church Name/Address Phone Please help us serve you better by answering the following questions: Which 2011 materials did you use? Please check all that apply. Printed material: Biblical Reflections Worship Service Resources Printed Clip Art Poster Bulletin Inserts Pew Envelopes Offering Box DVD Weekly Videos Website materials Worship Resources Clip Art Promo Materials What materials did you find most helpful? What would you suggest changing in 2012? What new or unique ideas did you try when promoting WMO? World Mission Offering Leader s Guide for downloadable resources and videos on the web: 13 Thank you!