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Partners In The Mission:
Opportunities Ahead
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| Release Date: 03/25/2008 |
| a message from Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director |
Opportunities are always before us but sometimes we have to deal with huge challenges in the process. Since I wrote my last column, I have had the challenge of spending several days and nights at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville.
I am grateful for the doctors and staff at the hospital and for the effective treatment they provided. I am also grateful for those who have prayed for me. Most of all I am grateful to God who is our great physician.
I am also so appreciative of Kentucky Baptists for the way they have responded to the support of missions through the Cooperative Program during recent months. As you will remember, Kentucky Baptists gave so graciously at the conclusion of the 2006-07 budget year that the budget was almost met on the final day.
Now, after initially falling behind in CP giving by more than 11 percent during the first part of the new fiscal year, Kentucky Baptists have again given so graciously that we have nearly caught up to where we need to be with the budget for this year. I look forward with faith that this trend will continue!
I want to remind Kentucky Baptists about the reason we give to support missions through the Cooperative Program. It’s not just to reach a dollar goal. Everything we do and all that we give is for the purpose of seeing people come to faith in Jesus Christ, follow in believer’s baptism, and be taught to follow Him.
With this in mind, one of the tasks we all need to work especially hard at right now is reaching older children and teenagers. Although research indicates that these age groups are the most receptive to the gospel, the rate of baptisms for older children and teens has declined nationally and statewide.
The Cooperative Program is making possible a great opportunity for KBC churches to focus on reaching boys and girls. Vacation Bible school training clinics are available for workers as are funds to assist churches that have not had a VBS. CP funds are also being made available to assist with mission vacation Bible schools.
If you need additional information, please contact Wendy Dever, the KBC Preschool/Children’s Ministry Department director, the church development strategist in your area or your director of missions. We are praying that every vacation Bible school will be an evangelistic outreach to boys and girls and their families, and that there will be effective follow-up with every person who confesses faith.
There is a wealth of other services being made available by the Cooperative Program to help your church effectively reach lost people as well. You can find out more about these through the KBC Services Directory (call 866-489-3578 or 502-489-3578 if you don’t have one) or online at www.kybaptist.org.
Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535. |
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