Our Ministries
Our Worldwide Ministry
From our buildings in the Northwest Valley, our church conducts a
worldwide ministry.
Hands on mission activity, mission education, prayer, and giving form
the centerpieces of the church's worldwide ministry. Two maps, the church budget, and a newsletter help
to visualize the church's heart for the world.
One map is titled "Our Mission Fields." On it, one sees the nations beyond the United States where we support missionaries through the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The map also contains photographs of missionaries with special ties to the church and to whom the church provides some direct support.
Our second map is that of the Baptist World Alliance. The church is a partner in ministry with 122 Baptist fellowships around the globe through the BWA. In January 2009, Dr. Denton Lotz, Executive Director Emeritus of the world-wide organization, led a Bible Conference in our church. Each November women of the church observe the Baptist Women's World Day of Prayer.
The church budget tells another part of the story. Ten percent of our undesignated budget receipts go to the worldwide ministry of Southern Baptists through the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention. An additional one percent is invested in the regional work of Arizona Southern Baptists through the Central Baptist Association.
But the church's investment of money in missions, evangelism, and ministry tells only part of the story. Many of our men and women are involved personally. Members of the church family have participated in mission trips to Australia, New Zealand, Prague in the Czech Republic, and London. Others have shared in building ministries to North Dakota and Louisiana. Ministries closer to home have brought about involvement in a women's crisis center, West Side Food Bank, Del Webb Hospital nursery, and a local public school.
The church gives generously to special mission offerings - for international missions through the Lottie Moon; for "home" missions through the Annie Armstrong Offering; for Gideons International; and for special mission activities in Arizona through the Arizona Mission Offering.
During recent years, the church has taken part in other ministries: the start of Springwater Community Church in
Surprise, AZ.; the launch of a new church in the Village of Oak Creek, Arizona; a scholarship for a Romanian ministerial student; and special offerings for the Living Hope Baptist Church, West Fargo, North Dakota; and for Linden Hills Family Fellowship in Linden, Arizona.
Partners on Mission fills a significant role in the worldwide ministry of the church.
Like Baptists in England supported its pioneer missionary, William Carey, this vital organization "holds the ropes" of support for missionaries and their work around the world. Partners On Mission helps keep Christian missions in the minds and on the hearts of the church.
Month-by-month, missionary guests speak or members focus attention on specific mission needs. The group maintains ties with missionaries who have special ties to the church and leads the entire church in prayer support for those persons. Regularly, Partners On Mission makes available printed materials related to missions. Annually, the group encourages members of the church to participate in special mission offerings.
Membership is composed of men and women committed to the cause of Christian missions. The group meets monthly during the months of October through April.
International Mission Board - www.IMB.org
Baptist World Alliance -www.bwanet.org/
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