Giving thanks by sharing

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on blessings. We have had many blessings our lives and particularly in this past year. One of the things I am thankful for is our relationship to American Baptist International Ministries. The past five or six weeks Pat and I have been speaking in ABC churches about missions. Almost everywhere we have gone people have responded warmly (and sometimes with surprise) as I have shared about the scope of International Ministries missionary work.

So, I think it bears repeating. We love being a part of International Ministries because American Baptists understand the scope of missions.

Many organizations want to focus on only one primary task -- for example evangelism or church planting or caring ministries. I confess that it is easier to do missions that way. Single focus is easier than multi-tasking. However International Ministries and American Baptists have refused to follow this siren call.

We believe that in order to mediate the full presence of Jesus Christ, we need to participate in the entire scope of Christ's will. So, International Ministries promotes evangelism -- sharing the Good News of Jesus with those who have never heard. We promote church planting -- starting communities of faith in places where there are none. We emphasize caring ministries, such as working with AIDs victims, caring for women bound up in prostitution, finding solutions people living in poverty, and others. Jesus cared for the physical and emotional needs of the people around him and as we follow him, so do we. International Ministries also supports theological education. In talking about making disciples, Jesus instructed us to teach them all he had taught us. And we can do it as he did: in word and in deed.

The traditional time for the World Mission Offering has past, but the opportunity to support International Ministries with your offerings has not. If you believe as I do that International Ministries is doing a vital and faithful work, I encourage you to show your thanksgiving by giving a "Christmas" gift, so this work might continue and even increase.

You can give in support of ministry of LaMon and Pat Brown. Or you can give more generally. The important thing is that you give.

May God bless you all during this wonderful holiday season.

LaMon and Pat