What happens when you combine a passion for missions, ministry, and prayer? You get an exciting week known as the Week of Prayer for the State Missions Offering! From September 11-15, Indiana Churches were able to gather on Facebook live for a time of focused prayer for each of the five beats of our Hoosier Heartbeat. We prayed for Disaster Relief, Indiana Children Services, Missionary Pipeline and Equipping, Church Planting, and our Strategic International Short Term Mission Experiences.
As we prayed together, there was also an increased awareness of what is going on through the ministries of the State Missions Offering. In fact, Chelsea Kellum who is actively involved in foster care and adoption ministry and prayed for Indiana Children Services on Tuesday said,
“I am amazed at the way in which those gathered to pray for Children’s Services shared the time of prayer on social media and multiplied the number of participants. This area of ministry is just getting started for Indiana Baptists. Contributions will be able to kick start foster advocacy ministry in many churches for the first time. The more awareness we bring to the needs of children in foster care and those awaiting adoption, the more lives we can impact for the Kingdom.”
On Friday, Chris Martin from the International Mission Board, along with Dr. Strother, led us in our time of prayer for the new Strategic International Short Term Mission Experiences. This time of prayer included praying for our newly forming mission partnership in Japan, other possible partnerships and our missionaries who are serving on the field. Chris later told us this:
“From the national, state, and associational levels, we often claim, “We’re Better Together,” but I’m excited to see it in action. Your week of prayer covers the spectrum of engagement for Indiana Baptists and your Kingdom partners in God’s work. As you continue, the IMB is excited to partner closely with Indiana Baptists in reaching the nations with the gospel and join you in our collaborative endeavors in the harvest fields. We pray for a sacrificial response from SCBI churches in praying, giving, and going from your neighborhoods to the nations.”
When you give to the State Missions Offering, you are helping our churches be on mission together around the Hoosier State and to the nations. To learn more about the focus of the State Missions Offering, and how to give, please go to www.scbi.org/smo. You can also still request State Missions Offering envelopes, posters and prayer guides. To do that please visit www.scbi.org/resources-2/