Vickie Anderson
TN WMU Executive Director-Treasurer
Vickie Anderson
Tennessee Missions Emphasis month is set to kick off on Sept. 1 For Tennessee Baptists, September brings the opportunity to observe and participate in the Week of Prayer for State Missions and the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. And while the offering is taken year-round, and the ministries happen throughout the year, September is the month we spotlight how together we support missions and ministries in Tennessee.
In 1902 W.C. and Mildred Golden challenged Tennessee Baptists to pray for and give to missions within the state and initiated the offering. The offering was named after them in 1943. Today, churches are still encouraged to learn about, pray for, give to and serve in missions and ministries in Tennessee.
The suggested date for churches to observe the Week of Prayer is Sept. 9-16. The 2018-19 Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions goal is $2,100,000 and will be collected from Sept. 1, 2018-Aug. 31, 2019.
Our theme this year is “Pursue the One” and the Scripture is “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:2). As we pursue Christ, it will have an effect on how we live out our lives and our faith as we pursue His ministry and mission. Tennessee’s population is almost seven million. Fifty-seven percent of Tennesseans are spiritually lost. Tennessee is our mission field. If Tennessee is going to be reached, it will require the efforts of all Tennessee Baptists working together, having Gospel conversations, and meeting needs through the love of Christ.
Tennessee Baptists contributing through The Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions provide invaluable financial support for Tennessee ministries. The annual offering sustains ministries not funded through the Cooperative Program. The eternal impact of this offering in the lives of others is immeasurable.
The 2018-19 Golden Offering will fund the following ministries:
- Associational Ministries – $210,000
Returning 10% of everything a church gives through GOTM to the association of which they are a member, to assist in reaching Tennessee for Christ.
- Evangelistic Events – $190,000
Reaching the spiritually lost through evangelistic camping events for youth and children, City Reach initiatives, and the Jesus Tent at Bonnaroo.
- Compassion Ministries – $493,000
Serving the needs of people throughout Tennessee through Christian Women’s and Men’s Job Corps, Disaster Relief, Tennessee Hunger Fund, association-based ministry centers, church-based compassion ministries, Mississippi River Ministry, Restorative Justice Ministry, Refugee Ministry, as well as reaching intellectually and physically disabled youth and adults through Special Friends Camp.
- Church Planting and Revitalization – $784,000
Maximizing the impact of new and revitalized churches through churches planting churches, new church catalysts, black church development and training, theological education assistance and church revitalization initiatives.
- Equipping the Nations in Tennessee – $45,000
Ministering to the nations in our state through ministry to Hispanic congregations and other ethnic groups, and literacy missions.
- Preparing a New Generation – $278,000
Preparing future generations of leaders for Tennessee ministries and missions by supporting the work of Baptist Collegiate Ministries, investing in BCM Campus Missionaries and Collegiate Disaster Relief ministry, providing college scholarships, nurturing Tennessee missionaries and their families, and training student summer missionaries.
- GOTM Promotion & Development – $100,000
Telling the story of GOTM ministries and how they impact the cause of Christ in Tennessee.
Visit www.goldenoffering.org for promotional materials, videos and more information about our state missions offering.
Thank you, Tennessee Baptists, for helping to make it happen through your prayers, gifts and involvement.
Because Tennessee is OUR mission field!
