Georgia Baptists increase missions efforts

(Reprinted from Christian Index Georgia Baptists increase missions efforts - The Christian Index)

Posted Wednesday, August 3, 2022 10:52 am

Emerging from the shutdowns and quarantines of the pandemic, Georgia Baptists are continuing to get back into the swing of international missions with vision trips and mission trips. Each of the six regions is focused on local, national, and international partnerships. This has allowed churches to exponentially increase their impact and multiply their efforts. Acts 1:8 teaches a holistic approach to missional engagement with every church adopting a local mission field (Jerusalem), a regional field (Judea), a national one (Samaria), and an international focus (uttermost parts). 

Here are a few updates on the missions efforts taking place across the state and nation:

ZIP Codes with the Most Unsaved Residents

In the northern regions of Georgia, Cumming and Lawrenceville are the two ZIP codes with the most unsaved residents. Multiple evangelistic events in both cities are happening this year, with associational and local church leadership as well as virtual strategy coordinators offering their expertise.

Central cities, Augusta and Stockbridge, have been receiving mission teams from regional churches and other parts of the state. In the South region, Columbus and Savannah have “Crossover” events on the calendar for one-day, high-impact missional, and evangelistic activities. 

State Convention Partnerships

Georgia has partnerships with other state conventions for mission trips. Vision trips have already been taken to Utah/Idaho, Pennsylvania/South New Jersey, New England states, Puerto Rico and New York. In some cases, pastors and virtual strategy coordinators have returned from their trips to see an increase in the number of people who want to go with them on the next trips. Some of those state conventions have also provided local mission team support for housing and transportation, and at least one vision trip has resulted in a Georgia Baptist pastor relocating to that state as a missionary. A vision trip to Michigan for the East Central region is being planned for May to connect with both church planters and existing churches.

As a new pastor seeking to build a comprehensive missions strategy, Keith Ivey and the GBMB was the exact resource we needed to help mobilize our church in an Acts 1:8 way! With their guidance we connected with immediate opportunities. Our people are so excited to see what God’s going to do!

– Kyle Walker, Pastor 
First Baptist Church, Cartersville

International Missions

Georgia Baptists are also making an impact in Central and South America, in conjunction with IMB and other Great Commission Christians in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Argentina. Several vision trips were undertaken at the end of 2021, and there are several more being planned this spring and summer. Construction projects and meeting human needs are high priorities, and a partnership with Renew World Outreach has also supplied technology for evangelism advancement in remote locations. 

A partnership with Pastor-to-Pastor training is also delivering practical theological training to indigenous pastors who otherwise receive none, and in some cases with national Baptist seminary certification. A new partnership with a missions volunteer agency can provide low-cost logistical support for Georgia Baptist churches in those countries.

Juneteenth - the mission (Reprint from The Christian Index)

This weekend is both Father’s Day and a special celebration called “Juneteenth.” Stores are selling associated celebratory products and, in some locations, fireworks. Radio and TV ads are becoming more prominent with a call to remember, and some government institutions are taking Monday off in observance of the holiday. The profitability of commercialization has prompted many businesses to market their wares, sometimes with cultural backlash for their tone-deafness to the reality of the event. Celebration of freedom requires more than color-coded ice cream and t-shirts.

On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to free all slaves within Confederate states. It took two and a half years, though, for that news to reach slaves in Texas as US soldiers arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865. Immediately, a celebration began with praise to God, singing, and dancing. For anyone living with modern communication and media, the fact that it took over two years for the news to reach Texas is astonishing, but the simultaneous fact that slaves had been freed and were still living in subjection for that whole time is heartbreaking. The estimated 250,000 slaves had heard of the war, but they had not heard of the victory.  

Reminiscent of what it means to hear good news late is the story of Paul traveling on a mission trip through Ephesus in Acts 19. Paul met twelve Jewish guys who had turned from their sins and received baptism for repentance (Acts 19:4). But when he questioned them about their faith in Jesus and the concurrent reception of the Holy Spirit, they answered that they had never heard this news (Acts 19:2). Here were a group of guys who had entered into a spiritual war by recognizing their sins, but they had not heard how the gospel of Jesus had paid for their spiritual freedom and given them God the Spirit to indwell them with victory. Paul informed them and baptized them with a separate baptism to symbolize their faith in Jesus.

Recent statistics show that over two-thirds of the world’s population has nothing to do with Christianity, and almost a third have never even heard the name of Jesus. Many have turned to various religions to follow empty rituals and offer useless self-atonement. Many face spiritual battles with demonic forces who work to keep them in spiritual darkness. According to data from 2017, around 150,000 people die every day around the world (65 million each year). Statistically, that means over 100,000 people a day enter into hell, and almost 50,000 of them never even hear the good news that Jesus saves. As Southern Baptists, we have employed thousands of full-time missionaries to go into all the world, and hundreds of thousands of Southern Baptists go on short-term mission trips every year.  As we celebrate the earthly victories in our cultures and churches, let us also remember that many more still wait in darkness, oblivious to their potential freedom. Let us not be content with our missions t-shirts of past trips. May we not be tone-deaf to the billions of people for whom a gospel witness could break their spiritual chains, and may we be more on mission now than we ever have been.

Reprinted from 

COMMENTARY: Juneteenth - the mission - The Christian Index

         

Minister Writers

Did you know that Georgia is home to some prolific writers? Did you know that some of them are also pastors, teachers, and church members of Georgia Baptist churches?

Here is a list I intend to expand as more are made known to me:

Inspirational/Theological Books

            Books by Keith Joseph, pastor of First Baptist Jackson: 

The Awakening---A 24 week study on the path to Spiritual Awakening.

The Search Continues---A 20 week study continuing through Romans. If GOD were to grant you one prayer request, what would you ask Him to do? In the second half of Paul's letter to the Romans, we are exposed to the glorious truth and application of the Gospel that can save anyone.

The Search---A 24 week study through Romans.  In times of crisis, people are forced out of the normal and into the uncomfortable.  It has been said that in times of comfort, people are sometimes nudged into doing things "out of the box."  However, in times of crisis the box gets blown up.  Begin the search to find true answers for the mess we are in.

Urgency---A 26 week study of the book of Revelation.  Learn the church's path for these last days and see how Christians can make a difference now.

Reality---A 30 week trek through Numbers journeying with the Israelites from bondage to blessing.

What's Next---Spend 22 weeks in the books of First, Second and Third John and discover with delight who GOD is and how He wants you to grow in your life of faith.

Apprentice---A year long study in the book of Mark sitting at the feet of Jesus with the apostles. From their ministry call to witnessing the cross, learn how they were transformed from average men to Disciples of Christ.

            For more info on ordering: go to Jackson First Baptist | Bookstore (jacksonfbc.com)

            Books by David Chancey, Pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville

The Day I Nearly Met Dolly: Tales of Faith, Family and A Few Home Runs--As you press on toward the mark of Christ-likeness and strive to live for Jesus, let The Day I Nearly Met Dolly: Tales of Faith, Family and a Few Home Runs brighten your day with humor, encouragement and inspiration to run a stronger race and . . . relish the journey along the way. David Chancey shares some of his journey with wit, transparency and pointed insights that will make you think.

The Most Wonderful News You Will Hear!: Proclaiming Glad Tidings at Christmas --In this, his second book, David Chancey shares his thoughts about Christmas, from the spiritual to the humorous, from memories of Christmases pasts to insights about what Christmas really means. "The Most Wonderful News You Will Hear! Proclaiming Glad Tidings at Christmas" will entertain, inspire, and challenge to to take stock of your faith during the glad season celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christian Fiction for Kids

            Books by Wayne Jenkins, Associational Missions Strategist for Western Baptist Association

Ana Stilwell's Greatest Adventure --Ana Stilwell, a seemingly normal 11-year old girl, finds an old stone wall near the creek behind her house. Driven by a very determined curiosity she uncovers and deciphers a trail of clues that lead her on an adventure of life-changing discovery and reward.

Ana Stilwell Mysteries of the Mansion-- After making the discovery of a lifetime in "Ana Stilwell's Greatest Adventure," twelve-year-old Ana is now more determined than ever to learn if the huge Griffin mansion holds other hidden secrets. But even Ana is not prepared for what she finds.

Ana Stilwell - The Light in the Tower--After her startling discoveries in Ana Stilwell's Greatest Adventure and Ana Stilwell Mysteries of the Mansion, twelve-year-old Ana knows that she can't stop until she finds the answer to her biggest question of all. And this time, she's not alone.

Bible Studies

            Books by Leslie Burch, former IMB missionary to Russia

Cross Over Me Collection - Vol. 1 & 2 - Narrative journey from leaving America in 1998 to become career church planters in Russia. The first book describes life in Bryansk, Russia, along the border between Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus for the first 4 years of missions service. The second book describes the next five years as the Burch family moves to St. Petersburg, Russia, to begin putting together a missions team and working with local Russian Baptists to plant more churches in the Venice of the North. Vol 3 release TBD will describe the last 4 years of missions service in Moscow and the return back to the states.

John’s Letters: Assured to the End

John’s Letters: Assured to the End

The purpose of this small devotional book is to provide some commentary and anecdote to John’s three letters. 1, 2 and 3 John are little books about the tests of true faith and the assurance we can have to the end. I hope this will serve as a 43-day devotional guide or as Bible study starters for each part of these wonderful books of the Bible.

Download it by clicking HERE.

 

Philemon: Changed Relations

What’s it like to have friends at church? The short letter from Paul to Philemon gives us a glimpse into the answer for that question. Philemon’s relationship to Paul is reflective of Christian intimacy. Onesimus’s relationship to Paul is indicative of the change that is wrought in becoming a part of the family of faith. It is my hope that these eleven devotionals will serve as a blessing for personal bible study as well as potential sermon starters or discussion points for small groups.

Download it by clicking HERE.

Jude: Juxtaposition

The letter from Jude is short. Twenty-five verses. Only seventeen sentences. But Jude’s letter to Christians is about the juxtaposition of a Christian’s life against those who still oppose God. It can feel overwhelming to live within these contrasts, so Jude’s encouragement was to strive for strong faith. His letter is a reminder of Who God is, who believers are, and who the opposition is. Even against such stark backgrounds, the calling for the Christian is to be a good witness and to glorify God. May these twelve devotions serve to remind us of exactly that.

Download it by clicking HERE.

2 Peter: To the End

The purpose of this small devotional book is to provide some

commentary and anecdote to the paragraphs of instruction found

in Peter’s second letter. 2 Peter is a book about reassurance and

perspective: reassurance that what the Lord promised, He will do;

and perspective on why it seems like He might be stalled. I hope

this will serve as a 14-day devotional guide or as Bible study

starters for each part of this wonderful book of the Bible. 

Download it by clicking HERE.