And They're Off

We gathered at the church this morning to see off the 4th group going to Africa. This group represents the Student Ministry. They will primarily be working with the orphan feeding station.

As I write this post the team is flying over the Atlantic. Their next stop is in Senegal before heading to South Africa and finally on to Botswana. They are scheduled to arrive on Sunday.

Please pray for the safety of the group as they travel over the next 41 hours.

Keep checking back here for further updates on their progress.

Religion in America

A recent study shows the number of Americans claiming to be religious has decreased in recent years. This is a further indication that we are living on a mission field. There is much work to be done. Read the article and see how you react. What is our role as a church? What is your role as an individual?

"The harvest is plentiful...the workers are few"

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,506849,00.html

Open Door Offering

Each year, we honor the life and work of Annie Walker Armstrong when we give to the annual Annie Armstrong Offering for North American missions through the Open Door Offering. As a tireless servant of God and a contagious advocate and supporter of mission efforts throughout the world, Annie rallied churches to give more, pray more, and do more for reaching people for Christ.

Through the Open Door Offering we will give $20,000 to the Annie Armstrong Offering and continue the efforts of thousands of missionaries throughout North America. Please join me in giving an offering over and above your regular giving to help people all across North America take their next step toward Jesus Christ.

Open Door 2008

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

We are called to be witnesses at home, around the state, around the nation and around the world. How can we do this? By giving to the Open Door Offering. The Open Door Offering is our collective missions' offering to support local, state, national and international missions. During the months of November and December we will have the opportunity to give to this special offering. If you have never given before, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to share an offering from the blessings God has given you.

Our goal this year is $105,000. Through this offering we will contribute $30,000 to the Lottie Moon Offering to support the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, $20,000 to the Southern Baptist Convention's Annie Armstrong Offering to support the North American Mission Board, $10,000 to support the Southern Baptist Convention's statewide missions effort, $30,000 to our continuing efforts to support the Open Baptist Church in Botswana Africa, $5,000 to support Churches Together's efforts to join churches in the US with partners in Africa, $5,000 to support United Ministries here in Sumter and $5,000 to support the Light of Hope Crisis Pregnancy Center also here in Sumter.

Please prayerfully consider how you can be a part of this effort and together we can spread the Good News from Sumter "...to the ends of the earth."

HELPS Ministry

The HELPS Ministry held its organizational meeting on October 5. We had an excellent turnout with over 40 people indicating they wanted to Go Share the talents, gifts and resources God has given them with our community through service projects.

The ministry has gotten off to a great start having completed two projects already. One of the projects was for an individual within the church and the other one was a project referred to us by an organization within our community. Great job team!

Botswana Mission Team

Our third team left on Thursday morning for a 10 day trip to Botswana. Currently they are stalled in Senegal with plane troubles. Everyone is safe and OK. They are waiting for another plane to take them on to South Africa and then Botswana. Please pray for them as they anxiously await. If you would like to follow their travels, a blog has been set up at www.adbcinafrica2008.blogspot.com. Follow the link for updates and to leave them an encouraging comment or prayer.