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February 2016 Women On Mission

A FOCUS ON NORTH AMERICAN MISSIONS
BY LAURA HARPER

WHO WAS ANNIE ARMSTRONG?
OUR OFFERING FOR NORTH AMERICAN MISSIONS IS NAMED FOR ANNIE ARMSTRONG, A LAY LEADER IN SOUTHERN BAPTIST LIFE IN THE 1800S.  BY THE AGE OF 31, THIS SINGLE YOUNG WOMAN WAS HELPING TO START A MISSIONS ORGANIZATION IN HER HOME CITY OF BALTIMORE.  SHE WAS SOON USING HER GIFTS AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.  AT THE AGE OF 37, SHE HELPED TO START WMU AND LED IT STRATEGICALLY TO BECOME THE GLOBAL INFLUENCE IT IS TODAY.  AT THE AGE OF 55, “MISS ANNIE” LEFT THE ORGANIZATION INCAPABLE HANDS AND FOCUSED THE REST OF HER LIFE ON GRASSROOTS WORKS IN HER CITY.

HOW DID SHE FIND GOD’S PLAN FOR HER LIFE?  SHE STUDIED HER BIBLE TO LEARN HOW TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE WITH OTHERS; PRAYED FOR MISSIONARIES AND THOSE THEY WERE HELPING TO DISCOVER CHRIST; RALLIED CHURCHES TO GIVE MORE TO MISSIONS; AND DID MISSIONS, DISTRIBUTING FOOD, CLOTHING, AND BIBLES TO THOSE IN NEED.  FLOWING FROM HER DEEP PRAYER LIFE AND INVOLVEMENT IN HER CHURCH, SHE GAVE OF HERSELF— ALL THAT GOD HAD PUT INTO HER.  SHE COMBINED HER PASSION FOR GOD, HER LOVE FOR PEOPLE, HER GIFTS FOR STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATION, AND, PERHAPS MOST OF ALL, HER DETERMINATION TO SERVE WITH EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY SHE HAD.  SHE LET GOD SHOW HER ONE STEP AT A TIME AS SHE CONTINUED TO TRUST IN HIM.

WOMEN ON MISSION WILL MEET MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH AT 6:00 PM AT THE HOME OF BARBARA BURNS, 2657 SARATOGA DRIVE.  ALL OUR LADIES ARE INVITED TO JOIN US.

OAKHILL MISSION RECEIPTS FOR 2015

COMBINED MISSION GIVING $36,880.23

IN ADDITION $56,280.47 WAS GIVEN THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM TO THE
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, 73% OF WHICH GOES TO THE SUPPORT OF MISSIONS, AS WELL AS OUR SEMINARIES AND OTHER ENTITIES.

January 2016 Women on Mission

UNDERGIRDING ALL THINGS SOUTHERN BAPTIST

As Southern Baptists, we work together to help people around the world hear and accept the good news that salvation through Jesus Christ is available to them.  We work together in a variety of ways: mission trips, associational ministries, etc.  One of the most effective ways we work together is through the Cooperative Program.

According to the Southern Baptist Convention’s website, Southern Baptists are a fellowship of almost 16 million members in about 45,000 churches in all 50 states and Canada.  These churches work together through about 1,100 associations, 42 state conventions, and the SBC to accomplish through voluntary cooperation far more than they could ever do alone.

During the year, we collect specific offerings, such as the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, and the Global Hunger Relief Offering (formerly the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund).  These offerings are designated for specific needs.  Undergirding all these is the Cooperative Program.

For example, all the money given to the Global Hunger Relief Offering is used specifically for hunger-related ministry.  None of the offering is used for administrative costs.  Because those costs are covered through the Cooperative Program, every dollar given to this offering is used exclusively to feed the hungry.

Women On Mission will meet Monday, January 11th at 6:00 p.m. at the home of Sandy Dierlam.  All our ladies are invited to join us.