[VIMEO=111611232]RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — It was a simple concept — write one thing that happened because Southern Baptists give to international missions.
Missionaries in various regions of Africa, Asia and Europe wrote on chalkboards, spoke via video or audio or posted to #becauseyougive on Twitter to record their “thank you” for support they receive from the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.
Their expressions of appreciation blossomed into a heartfelt celebration of God’s work as stories unfolded of miracles, baptisms, triumphs and “first-time evers.”
For thank-yous from Africa, click here for a video.
For thank-yous from Asia, click here for a multimedia webpage.
For thank-yous from Europe, click here for audio recordings.
And for thank-yous on Twitter, click here.
Among missionaries’ reflections on “Because you give….”:
— “An unreached people group has Scripture in their language because you supported the translation team.”
— “… ladies in several locations in South Asia learned to share the Gospel using colored bangles. A rickshaw puller even wanted a set of bangles he could use to tell others about Jesus! (We gave him colored beads on a cord to tie on his wrist.)”
— “The Gospel reached a remote island in the western Philippines. 27 people accepted Christ during a Nehemiah Team (student volunteers) and a church was started.”
— “In a remote area in Bangladesh, groups of believers are receiving discipleship for the first time.”
— “Over 600 people have heard the Gospel during the last 6 months in our areas of Southeast Asia.”
— “There are no Deaf churches in this Mexico state and less than 20 believers, and now they will have an opportunity to see and learn the stories of Jesus and His great love for them.”
This year’s prayer emphasis for international missions in the Southern Baptist Convention is themed “One Sacred Effort — Find your place in God’s story.” The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions in tandem with Cooperative Program gifts from Southern Baptist churches support approximately 4,800 international missionaries in seeking to fulfill the Great Commission.
Gifts to the Lottie Moon offering are received through local Southern Baptist churches or online at imb.org/offering, where there are resources to promote the offering. For resources in Spanish, click here. This year’s goal is $175 million.
