The third step in our strategy to fulfill our mission to see every church healthy and multiplying is Partnership Missions. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) commands the church to make disciples of all nations (peoples), therefore our multiplication as churches must extend beyond our local area to the ends of the earth.
For this reason, the association encourages our churches to partner together in their missionary activity. The WMU was formed to ensure our Southern Baptist churches are informed about our cooperative missions work as a denomination, including various mission offerings that support this work. If your church does not have a WMU, please contact us about how you can begin this important ministry in your church.
The following represent currently known partnerships among our churches. We will add to this list as we receive additional opportunities for partnerships:
1) Alberta, Canada, which has two NAMB SEND Cities. Lynwood Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau is the Lead church for Calgary and Kevin Coffee is the contact. Fruitland Community Church of Jackson is the Lead church for Edmondton and Laura Norman is the contact.
2) Filipino People worldwide is a broader partnership among the nine associations of southeast Missouri with Charleston Baptist Association serving as the Lead association and Roger Graham is the contact person. Currently there are North American opportunities in Phoenix, Houston, Calgary, and Edmonton; and international opportunities on Camiguin Island in the Philippines. Additionally, there are teams for 16-18 year old high school students and college students to spend several weeks on the island during the summer. Utilizing a church planting catalyst role similar to the Church Planting Center, the work on the island has its first catalyst working to start churches that we are partnering through financial support.
Camiguin August 2023 Update Camiguin December 2023 Update
3) Eastern Montana. First Baptist Church of Millersville led out in this partnership. There are a variety of partnership opportunities among the churches in the eastern half of Montana. Contact the Director of Missions to learn how your church can be a part of reaching eastern Montana with the gospel!
4) Baptist Collegiate Ministry of SEMO is our local ministry on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Under the leadership of Reese Hammond, BCM Director, we have a growing opportunity and openness to share the gospel with people from around the world as the number of international students at the university continues to expand. You are welcome each Monday at 5:45pm to attend a dinner for the students hosted by one of our area churches. The purpose is to develop relationships with these students that extends beyond Monday evenings. Invite them to join you in other community activities, including your regular church services, and to have a meal in your home with your family. Invest in the people God has brought to our doorstep. Visit their website for updates and more info:
To "combine and direct the energies of our people" the Partnership Missions Team has put together the following document which explains funding opportunities through the association for a Cape Girardeau Baptist Association member church.
Praying for the lost across the globe can sometimes be overwhelming. Where do we start? "Impacting Lostness Through Prayer Calendar" –– an 18-month prayer calendar crafted to empower you to pray for the least reached across the globe.
This calendar isn't just a piece of paper; it's a remarkable tool that:
- Enables you to impact the lives of individuals and communities who are in need of hearing the life-changing gospel;
- Allows you to develop a greater sense of empathy and humility for those who are lost;
- Structures a disciplined habit of prayer that can extend throughout a lifetime!
Click on this link to secure your free, personal copy: https://welcome.imb.org/prayercalendar23.html
Also, you can click this link to download prayer resources for your church: https://www.imb.org/loving-the-lost/#resources
If your church would like to do a study to learn more about the International Mission Board and how they partner with Southern Baptist Churches, please consider their Foundations study: Foundations Book Foundations Companion Guide
WMU of Saline Baptist Church is collecting for: Lovepackages.org
Steve Schmidt, 220 Union St, Butler IL 62015; phone: 217-532-6701
Acceptable Guidelines: Something that will lead someone to faith in Christ and/or something that will disciple a believer.
- New or used Bible (any translation)
- Reference Material dictionaries, concordances, commentaries etc. Non-fiction Christian books, Magazines & Daily Devotionals,
- Sunday School Materials, CD's, DVD's, BluRay, Tracts, Puppets, Nativity sets, Bible games, Bible Puzzles
- (DO NOT send: VHS/tapes/records, Guideposts, Secular books, Mission magazines, busy papers from Sunday School)
We have a trailer behind the association office that you can drop-off acceptable materials into for this endeavor.
There is also an ongoing WMU group meeting at the association office on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 2:00pm. All who are able are invited to attend.
