by Norma Gunter
The American Baptist Women’s Ministry Focus circle program for October is See…My Neighbor. The scripture is Luke 10:29-37. “With the observances of the International Day of the Girl Child, Children’s Sabbath, and Bullying Prevention Month in October, there is ample inspiration to help women and girls consider how they might also be at work for peace and justice in the world neighborhood.” We, AB women, can encourage children who are often forgotten by taking a few minutes to pray for them.
October is the month we receive the American Baptist World Mission Offering (WMO) and we have the opportunity to give to spread the gospel around the world. The theme this year is “Celebrate New Life in Christ,” Matthew 6:10. “That is what IM is doing – through the support of the WMO -by praying, equipping, serving, producing, teaching, inviting, healing and encouraging in the name of Jesus.” (WMO literature)
“The good news is that our church’s support of the World Mission Offering (WMO) is helping to fuel the growth of the Eastern Cuba Baptist Convention through financial and global worker support and through International Ministries (IM)-sponsored pastor conferences. A great and surprising spiritual awakening is happening in Baptist churches in Cuba right now! Since 1990, the number of churches in Cuba has grown by 450%. The number of baptisms has risen by over 500%. And the number of prayer groups and total church memberships have climbed in equally high numbers. After decades of harsh restrictions, “the church of God has risen from the ashes,” says a retired Cuban church leader who witnessed the remarkable change firsthand. “In God’s time, the hearts of so many people have been opened up to the goodness of the gospel.” (WMO literature) Your gifts to the WMO also supports missionaries who haven’t met their support goals, help support global partners and recruit and train new workers. It also opens up new global mission fields and respond to global disasters.
October is a very busy mission month for the ABW here at Beckley FBC. We start off the month with the American Baptist Raleigh Women’s Association Fall Rally at the Beaver Baptist Church October 8th at 9:30 am. Mr. John Jones, Public Relations Officer for Hospice, will be the speaker. We are requested to bring wrapped snack type items for Hospice House. The meeting ends with lunch.
Ladies don’t forget Women’s Day October 20th at the West Virginia Baptist Convention at the Gassaway Baptist Church. The theme this year is “Lord Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace.”