He became poor, that you…might become rich!
September 9, 2003
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There is great scriptural truth taught to us in 2 Cor. 8:9: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."
Jesus left the riches of heaven and put on the destitute clothes of the flesh to walk among us and ultimately give His life on the cross for us. In that poverty, He paid the price for us so that we might become spiritually rich. Would you be willing to become just a little physically poorer so that others might become spiritually rich? You have that opportunity through the Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering.
This is the one mission offering taken in our Missouri Baptist Churches each year that is aimed solely at reaching our homeland with the Gospel. Last year we experienced some incredible blessings that came from this offering. The Salt River Baptist Association, lead by Frank Welch, director of missions, used their portion of the offering to conduct an evangelistic campaign that saw 361 souls come to Christ!
Some of your gifts that funded this state missions offering gave financial support to 83 collegiate summer missionaries who criss-crossed our state in camps, Vacation Bible Schools, youth revivals and more. This effort alone brought 555 souls to Christ, 249 rededications and 46 church-related vocation decisions! These now are history. We must now look ahead.
Based on the records our churches submitted last year, we had only 279,280 people enrolled in Sunday School in a state of 5.5 million. If EVERY one of our 2,007 MBC churches had an additional 1,000 worshippers NEXT SUNDAY, we still would not have reached one-half of Missouri’s population. We are in desperate need of evangelizing our homeland.
Depending on God’s provision through your gifts, our state mission’s targets include the starting of 100 new churches in Missouri during 2004. A good number of these will be dependant upon your support of this offering.
Another Missouri mission target includes funding evangelistic events to reach our 300,000-plus college students found in Missouri. Among them are approximately 11,000 international students. These students are the best and brightest of nations from around the world. We can reach the world and its upcoming new leaders right here on our doorstep. Every dollar of your gift gets you involved in a part of this ministry!
We are committed to complete financial responsibility as well, which means we will only do as much ministry as the Lord provides the finances for.
Your gifts to the Rheubin L. South State Missions Offering will provide our churches with some significant new direct evangelism tools as well. Lord willing, we desire to equip two new block party trailers and an additional huge tent for outdoor events and meetings. These tools will make church-wide evangelism fun as well as effective.
Please read 2 Cor. 8:9 again. Now, ask yourself, "Am I willing to become just a little physically poorer so that others may become spiritually rich?" This missions offering goes to the direct evangelization of our homeland — Missouri.