By Vickie Anderson
Executive Director of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union
According to www.nationaldaycalender.com, September has a variety of things to observe or celebrate during the month: classical music, fall hats, baby safety, self-improvement, better breakfast, whole grains, square dancing, blueberry popsicles, chicken, courtesy, honey, mushrooms, the piano, rice, and more. For Tennessee Baptists, September brings the opportunity to observe and participate in the season of prayer for state missions and the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. And while the offering is taken year round and the ministries happen through the year, we spotlight in September how together we support missions and ministries in Tennessee.
Our theme this year is “Serve as You’ve Been Served” based on Matthew 20:28, NLT. The suggested date for churches to observe the week of prayer is Sept. 13-20. The 2015-16 Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions goal is $1,750,000.
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 to reach over 3.65 million people who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Together let’s:
• Pray for the churches, ministries, staff, and volunteers who are reaching out and serving the spiritually lost and meeting needs in Tennessee.
• Give through the Golden Offering to provide invaluable financial support for ministries only in Tennessee. The eternal impact of this offering in the lives of others is immeasurable. The annual offering sustains ministries not funded through the Cooperative Program.
• Be personally involved in sharing the message of Christ in Tennessee. We must be intentional about serving as the hands and feet of Jesus to reach the spiritually lost and those in need across the state.
The Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions is Muslim students coming to Christ through Baptist Collegiate Ministries. It’s churches planted among the homeless and dozens of ethnic and language groups. It’s some of the poorest people in America receiving physical help and the gospel. It’s developmentally disabled adults worshiping at Special Friends Camp. It’s children and youth experiencing Christ at summer camp … and so much more!
Thank you, Tennessee Baptists, for supporting missions and ministries that are changing lives through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.
— Anderson is executive director of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union. For more information go to www.goldenoffering.com. To request promotion materials contact Tennessee WMU at 1-800-558-2090, ext. 7923 or 615-371-7923.
