MMO provides nutritional, spiritual nourishment
September 6, 2005
Thanks, Missouri Baptists, for giving to the Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering (MMO) and – through this offering – ministering to the hungry in our state. The MMO provides $15,000 to help meet the hunger needs in Missouri. However, it is our primary interest and goal to share Jesus Christ with Missourians. Physically providing food for hungry bodies is the means by which the door is often opened to share Jesus Christ.
During the first two quarters of 2005 Missouri Baptists have had 1,631 evangelistic encounters through various hunger ministries. As a result, there have been 137 professions of faith in Jesus Christ and 55 baptisms. Eight new Bible studies and four new ministries have begun because of Missouri Baptist hunger ministries.
Here are some personal examples of how the MMO helped others:
• Anthony’s family was caught in the off-season layoffs when they came to a church for help. Their rent was paid for a couple of weeks and the church invited Anthony to attend Wednesday Kids’ Klub, where children are taught the Bible along with music and crafts. The kids were fed after the Kids’ Klub – thanks to MMO dollars.
On about his third Wednesday to attend, Anthony received Jesus Christ as his Savior. He was baptized and now he, his mom and sister attend church.
• A pastor once said: “You can’t share Jesus with someone whose stomach is growling because they are truly hungry!” Some of us from church recently took food to a family of five. The next week I returned to that home with one of our deacons. The deacon shared the Gospel with the family and three prayed to receive Christ as their Savior!
• Kids’ Cafe happens during the summer at the F.L.I.G.H.T. Baptist Mission, a mobile home church plant near Moberly. Children come for lunch and experience love, Bible stories, and laughter. A 14-year-old girl received Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior because of Kids’ Cafe this summer. Missouri Baptists helped feed her body and her soul.
The testimonies continue to come as Missouri Baptists offer a cup of cold water, a box of groceries, a hot meal, or a child’s summer lunch. More than 650 volunteers have ministered in Jesus’ name through the various food pantries, hot meal programs, and ministry outreach programs. Hunger ministry reports for the first two quarters of 2005 show that more than 54,000 individuals have been fed – and in the process were presented with “The Good News” that Jesus Christ is the “Bread of Life” as well.
Thanks, Missouri Baptists, for giving to the MMO! (Vivian McCaughan is a multihousing catalytic missionary for the Missouri Baptist Convention.)