The Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. What’s the point? Allow me to answer these questions with another question: What would Tennessee be like without the Golden Offering?
1. Compassion ministries would go away. We would not have the resources to feed people who are at the poverty line. The Golden Offering supports ministries all over Tennessee that reach out in love to feed those in need. But we do this differently than many other organizations. We offer more than just groceries. We offer the Bread of Life. Compassion ministries give us opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ while also meeting so many physical needs. But that’s just one part of compassion. Our Compassion ministries help people with literacy, job training, language ministries, ministry to immigrants and so much more!
2. Churches all over the state would not experience revitalization. The Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions allows us to reach churches that are on the verge of closing their doors. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our coaches have revitalized churches all over the state. But there’s so much more to be done. If the Golden Offering didn’t exist, many churches would never experience the joy of resurgence and growth because they would have no direction or assistance.
3. Our disaster relief efforts would be in vain. We wouldn’t have the equipment, resources, food and leadership that brings hope and help to those people who are experiencing their worst days in the midst of disaster. Disaster relief is a key tool that Tennessee Baptists have used for years to share the good news of Christ, not only in Tennessee, but in our country and around the world. Our disaster relief teams would be crippled without the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.
4. Associations across the state would have to limit their mission objectives. Fifteen percent of Golden Offering funds go to fund missions in your neighborhood. Do you care about the people in your town and county? If so, you’d be disturbed at the demise of the Golden Offering.
5. Tennessee without the Golden Offering would experience a real problem in collegiate ministry. The Golden Offering helps with upkeep and utilities of our Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) facilities and also provides funds for missions and ministries on campuses. The BCM near you provides a wealth of opportunities for events, conversations, and Bible study. What a shame it would be if we saw all that go away because there was no Golden Offering.
6. What happened to all the plans for new churches in underserved areas? That would be the question we would have to answer if we didn’t have Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. We need new churches if we want to win Tennessee. The Golden Offering is funding churches that plant new churches. Without the Golden Offering, the dream of new churches would simply be that: a dream. Tennessee is growing. Our culture is changing. We need new churches to broaden the influence of our existing churches as we work together to win Tennessee.
7. Fewer Tennessee Baptists would understand and feel confident in sharing their faith because there would be no training for personal evangelism. The Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions provides numerous events that equip leaders and church members to share their faith boldly and confidently within their sphere of influence.
These are just a few of the things that wouldn’t happen if the Golden Offering did not exist. Our prayer is that this year we will radically and generously go for it. We will give, not only to reach a goal, but to see lives transformed. It all begins with you.
The revolutionary message of the gospel depends on our willingness to give with extraordinary generosity. Every dime that is collected for the Golden Offering goes directly to Tennessee missions. Just imagine if every church gave something. We know for a fact that we would far exceed the modest goal we have set of $2.4 million.
Let’s do a new thing this year. Would you pray for God to do a new thing in Tennessee? Let’s all pray that God does a new thing in our hearts. Let’s ask God to do new things in our churches which ultimately will become the catalysts for a great spiritual awakening in our state. Let’s give sacrificially.
If we do that, we will see God do far more what we could ever ask or think. B&R