1 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia
Dear Georgia Baptist: We are truly living in changing and challenging times. The encroachment of secularism is rampant, and in too many cases, the church seems to be in retreat when we must advance with the Gospel. I know I am preaching to the choir, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer that the world needs to experience. In Georgia, the Gospel of Christ is the answer for nearly 7 million people who are trying to live life without the Giver of Life. As Isaiah put it, they are walking in darkness and need to see a great light. In short, they are perishing without Jesus. The obvious question is, What are we going to do about it? We know that the Lord did not put us in Georgia as believers just because it s a nice place to live and to raise our families. He put us here because He wants us to be His missionaries here. How are we doing with that assignment? Well, considering the fact that at least 70% of Georgia s population is lost today, we could be more effective. These realities have encouraged us to focus upon the State Missions theme: Rescue the Perishing... For We are Well Able. Faced with the challenge of claiming the land promised to the children of Israel, the minority spy report given by Joshua and Caleb was, Let us go up at once, and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it (Numbers 13:30). Indeed, in the power of the Lord we are well able to reach Georgia for Christ, not in our power, but in His power! As Southern Baptists who love missions, we are devoted to reaching the world for Christ. Georgia is a very important part of that world. Some argue that our focus should be beyond Georgia to people who have never heard, and I agree, but not to the neglect of 7 million Georgia citizens who need Jesus. Georgia is a part of the Great Commission. We need your help. What can you do to help? You can do much, but first, I ask you to pray. Pray as an individual and as a congregation that God would lead you to reach your community with the Gospel, every household, every person. I would encourage all of our churches to develop an effective and intentional plan for reaching the lost and unchurched within a ten-mile radius of your church. Get engaged in supporting your association and executing a plan through a cooperative effort of the churches in the association to reach every unchurched household in the area. Make the State Missions Offering a priority in your church. The State Missions Offering needs a revival of commitment. Every penny will be used in Georgia to support the work of state missions ministries. May God bless our partnership to reach Georgia for Christ. A fellow-servant of Christ, J. Robert White Executive Director, Georgia Baptist Convention 2 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia
To My Fellow Georgia Baptists: I am excited about the opportunity that Georgia Baptists have to carry the Gospel across our state. With the lostness of Georgia growing each year, we must unite in a Great Commission movement that shines the light of Jesus Christ in every corner of our state. This year s State Missions Offering theme is Rescue the Perishing for We Are Well Able. Empowered by God s Spirit and enabled with God s power, we can shine the light of Jesus Christ across our state as we work together for His glory. The goal for this year s State Missions Offering is $1.75 million, and the gifts you provide will enable Georgia Baptists to continue pushing back the darkness with the light of Christ. Will you join me in supporting the work of our state missionaries and the ministries of the Georgia Baptist Convention? Will you give generously with urgency in your heart for the needs around us? As we join hearts and hands together, we can be a part of God s desire to Rescue the Perishing for We are Well Able. Thank you for supporting and giving generously to the State Missions Offering. Your gifts will send the Gospel forth, changing lives in both your town and mine. John Waters, President, Georgia Baptist Convention 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia 3
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers 13:30 With 70 percent of the population in Georgia unchurched and lost without Jesus Christ, we are in the midst of a rescue operation with eternal consequences. In Georgia, seven out of every 10 people are in desperate need of the lifeline of the Good News of Jesus. That is our task and it is daunting. Joshua and Caleb spied out the land of Canaan as part of the team of 12 spies assigned by Moses. They were instructed to see the land and its resources and the people and their dwellings. Unfortunately for Israel, 10 of the spies gave an evil report of the land (Numbers 13:32). They admitted the resources of the land were great, but discouraged people against taking the land because the people were strong and living in walled cities and giants lived among them. The odds were not in their favor, much like our task of reaching millions of people in Georgia. However, Caleb and Joshua believed the promises of God and encouraged the people, Let us go up at once for we are well able, they said. In reaching the lost in Georgia, may we have the attitude, passion and faith of Caleb and Joshua. Let our banner be, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Let us rescue the perishing with God s power working through the 3,600 churches across the state. Let us take back the land from the evils of pornography and the bondage of human trafficking with the message, If the Son therefore shall make you free, then are ye free indeed. (John 8:36).Where false religions have darkened hearts, let the Christians shine the light of the Gospel with that same message. For, through Jesus Christ, we are well able. 4 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia
Day 1 Connecting with cadets at North Georgia College and State University James Forrester runs his campus ministry with military organization. That only makes sense, since Forrester is not only a campus minister at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, but he s also chaplain of the school s military students. Forrester was once a student on the campus himself. The Bainbridge native chose the school, which at that time required all male students be enrolled in the Corps of Cadets because of its reputation for teaching leadership. Although he grew up in church, his freshman year found him floundering in his faith. Then he met Ken Jones, senior campus minister at NGCSU. Ken discipled me. That helped me understand the importance of being a Christian, he said. That experience now helps him connect with the cadets. My passion is for those cadets, he said. Forrester has designed a leadership program among the military students, developing student chaplains leading each company, each battalion and the entire brigade. The students have to come before a board and share their testimonies, their church involvement, and their vision for their leadership position. It s very formal. They wear their dress uniforms, Forrester said. The student chaplains are responsible for leading weekly Bible study with their groups and also leading students in a monthly prayer breakfast on campus. There are six senior military colleges in the nation and we re one of them. We re the only one that s actually producing chaplains for the military. We just had our fourth guy commissioned as a chaplain, he said. That s huge. James, Ken, and other campus ministers throughout Georgia as they lead students to a deeper relationship with Christ. Incoming freshman who begin classes at Georgia colleges this fall. Pray that they will find a college church home and become active in Baptist Collegiate Ministries. International students who are in college. Pray that someone will share Christ and model His love for them. 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia 5
Day 2 Disaster Relief An easy way to minister to people who are hurting Almost 30 years ago, Tim Beck felt God called him to be involved in missions. He wasn t sure how that was going to work, though. I m like Moses. I do not have the gift of speech, Beck admitted. He did, however, like to make and fix things. My mother always told me I was born with a hammer in my hand. She has pictures of me tearing up plumbing in the back yard, he said. Beck naturally found his career in construction. His love of construction and his calling to missions came together when he went to Brazil on a mission trip to build three churches. While doing that, the Holy Spirit told me to use my talents in construction to further the kingdom, said Beck, a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Toccoa. It took a few years, but he found his match in Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief 15 years ago. Several years ago he took over as unit director for a clean-up and recovery unit in Georgia. Last year, because of the economy, Beck was laid off his construction job. Most of my work with Disaster Relief has been organizing and getting the teams ready to go, but because I was laid off, I was able to go on several trips. I helped build a sanctuary in Virginia for a mission trip, then went to Burlington, Vermont, to do mud-out work, he said. Then twice, he led teams to Japan to work on areas hit by last year s tsunami. While I was in Japan the second time, we had three people that came to know the Lord, Beck said. The reason I got involved with disaster relief is because it s such an easy way to minister to people who are hurting and don t know Christ. State Missionary Stuart Lang, who coordinates Disaster Relief efforts in Georgia Disaster relief volunteers to be ready to respond as needed with the love of Jesus during times of crisis. That those who are affected by disasters will be open to the gospel as it is demonstrated and presented by disaster relief volunteers. Local churches and associations to be ready to follow up with continued ministry to those who are helped during disasters. 6 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia
Day 3 Tutoring Presenting biblical truth on a child s level There is nothing more powerful than the word of God. That statement is what inspires Juanita Johnson to lead several literacy ministries at her church, including a tutoring children and youth weekly program. If you are able to read the truth for yourself, God communicates to you. If you can t read the Bible yourself, you have to depend on someone else to tell you what He says, said Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church, Valdosta. This past year, Johnson developed a Wednesday night tutoring program for preschoolers and young school-age children called Sunshine Readers. We realized that many of the children coming for choir on Wednesdays had about an hour before practice started with nothing to do. That was an ideal opportunity for a tutoring ministry, she said. Volunteers most of them senior citizens lead group time for preschoolers and another for first through third grade students. During that time, they read or present a Bible story, then the children head to homework rooms for individualized help. The primary focus is finishing homework and working on reading, but tutors also help with other subjects such as math. If they finish their homework or don t have any, they go to another room for more Bible stories. We use this group time to highlight biblical truths leading to the plan of salvation, she said. Six children accepted Christ this past year. It really becomes a mentoring relationship between volunteers and the children. The children tell you what is bothering them. They can ask some really hard questions, Johnson said. This is just a great opportunity to present biblical truth on the children s level. More volunteers at First Baptist Church, Valdosta, so the tutoring program can expand to work with students up to sixth grade. Energy and stamina for volunteers to keep up with the children. Churches to develop more tutoring children and youth programs across Georgia. Georgia Baptists to understand the power of being able to read God s word. Literacy missions includes tutoring children and youth, English as a second language and adult reading and writing programs. 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia 7
Day 4 Trail bosses and pioneers lead cowboy church Drive on to the grounds of the new church in LaGrange and you ll most likely be greeted by a set of friendly church members on horseback. Open Range Cowboy Church looks a little different from the usual new church start. Along with the riders on horseback greeting people entering the church, there is a saddle perched where you would expect a pulpit and tin buckets are used to collect donations. Instead of a pastor, there s a trail boss, and charter members are pioneers who blaze a trail for others to follow. There is still Sunday morning music and preaching, but it s all done cowboy style. We saw a need to provide worship for people not going to traditional churches for one reason or another. We ve hit a niche, said Mike Reeves, pastor of the new church. We reach a group of people that would shy away from church or not even consider going to any church. That s true for Jennifer Sharman and her two children. Sharman, who hasn t been involved in a church for about five years, saw a Facebook announcement about the new cowboy church and decided to try it out. We ve always had horses and a friend of mine went to a cowboy church in Texas, so we wanted to try it, Sharman said. The atmosphere is great. You come here twice and you know everybody. It fit us. Cowboy churches are not unique to LaGrange. It s a concept that has been embraced across the country, although primarily in the southeast. The Southern Baptist Convention has a national network of cowboy churches that numbers more than 500 churches, with many that meet in barns or horse arenas. In Georgia, there are about a half dozen of the cowboy-style congregations. Georgia Baptist Church Planting Ministries often provides start-up costs and church pastoral assistance for new church starts such as Open Range Cowboy Church. It s critical help needed by many new congregations to get through the first months of building a church. In the past five years, 270 new churches have begun in Georgia, an average of 54 a year. Church Planting Ministries as they assist church planters across Georgia to rescue the perishing. The starting of new churches to reach new groups and new communities. Butch Butcher and the staff of Church Planting Ministries as they provide support, training, and counsel to those who are starting new churches. 8 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia
Day 5 Church reaches large Hispanic community in Savannah He found his calling early. Samuel Rodriguez was 16 years old when he preached his first sermon. At 22, he was an associate pastor. Even then, his future was clear to him: serving God in his homeland of Mexico. That all changed when he came to the United States in 1983 as a summer missionary, working with Hispanics in Chicago. He returned to Mexico, but the experience started him on a road to something different. God made some changes in my way of thinking, Rodriquez said. I wrote some chapters for books and articles for a publishing house in El Paso, Texas. The editor told me I was writing like a Mexican. I am a Mexican, I told him, but he said I was writing for all the people from South America, not just Mexico. In 1995, at the invitation of a director of missions, Rodriguez and his wife moved to Savannah to start a church in the basement at Bull Street Baptist Church. There were eight people at the first service. Today, Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Savannah reaches out to a large Hispanic community with people from 20 different nations. Ministry is the door that opens communication about a life-changing relationship with Christ. We have a good ministry with the children. It s an open door for the parents, because they will come for special programs, he said. The church has also developed a Hispanic center that includes English classes, computers, medical attention and a notary public. We help them with different things they need. The center is open every day, but not all day. Our dream is to open all day during business hours. We use volunteers though, so it s hard. Church planters across Georgia to impact every culture and community. Volunteers and leaders to become involved in the church s Hispanic Center. God to provide more opportunities to serve the people in the community and share the gospel with them. The church to acquire land adjacent to its current building to enlarge the facility. 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia 9
Day 6 Passion for prayer fuels ministry His grandparents were the only Christians in his extended family, but they made an eternal difference in his life. My grandfather loved four things: God, my grandmother, the word of God and tomatoes, said Marty Youngblood, a Georgia Baptist State Missionary who has responsibility in the areas of prayer and spiritual awakening. He lived a very simple life, but he was a man of prayer. People would call him just to ask him to pray for them. Youngblood was profoundly influenced by his grandfather and when he accepted the call to ministry as an adult, he learned how deep that influence really went. My grandfather had felt the call to ministry during the Depression era, but he never yielded to that. He later told me he had prayed that God would pass that calling on to one of his grandchildren. He and my grandmother thought that would be me, but they never said anything. Growing up with his grandfather as his spiritual model, Youngblood developed a passion for prayer. I saw him model prayer in his life and it was always a central part of my life and ministry. When nothing else could move things, I realized prayer could, he said. His current job of encouraging Georgia Baptists is a challenge to spread that passion for prayer. I don t want someone to see me as some spiritual guy who sits in the office and prays all day, he said. We do pray often at the office, but I want to make sure prayer is in the DNA of everything in the church. It s an essential component from the very beginning of everything. Youngblood helps churches and associations by leading prayer conferences and prayer retreats; working as a resource for associational missionaries; teaching on prayer and leading prayer revivals. A true deepening in the commitment of prayer in churches, associations and the Georgia Baptist Convention. More churches to develop active prayer ministries. More pastors to develop an active prayer life, learning that prayer is not only hearing from God, but also a willingness to follow Him. 10 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia
Day 7 Camp Kaleo provides spiritual foundation for career choices It will be a few years before Brandon Reddock takes his son to Camp Kaleo, but when he does, he ll be able to tell him all about it. Reddock, 29, first went to the camp when he was in first grade. He continued the summer tradition throughout high school as a camper and into college when he worked as a counselor. When you first go, you go with your dad or with leaders from your church. In fourth grade you start going on your own, Reddock said. When you re older and go for a week you spend more in-depth time with the counselors. I was always with a great group of guys who were mission focused. The staff really cares about the kids. That s what kept me coming back year after year. Camp Kaleo is a summer camp for Royal Ambassadors in Forsyth, provided by Men s Ministries of the Georgia Baptist Convention. The 318-acre wilderness camp has trails cutting through the hardwood forest, a 29-acre lake, a swimming pool, activity fields, rope course, gymnasium and log cabin buildings throughout the camp. College students serve as counselors for the boys camps. Not only did Reddock find it a place of ministry where he had several opportunities to lead young men to Christ, the camp also was the place that led him to his career. I m a nurse anesthetist. My second summer as a staffer, I was training as a wilderness first responder. Some weeks that summer we didn t have a camp nurse, so I doubled as a nurse, said Reddock, who was in college studying biomedical engineering. One of the nurses saw me working with the boys and said I should consider nursing. I felt God leading me that way. I m not the first person to say God used camp to guide me. Summer staff who lead campers and their families each summer at the Royal Ambassadors camps. Michael Flowers, State Missionary and camp director, who is responsible for the camp program. Campers to hear God s word and understand God s call to missions. 2012 State Missions Offering for Georgia 11
www.gabaptist.org Gifts of Georgia Baptists through the Cooperative Program enable us to partner together in fulfilling the Great Commission. Georgia Baptist Convention, 6405 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097