Missions at Sunrise Mountain

• for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and your gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me...as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. -- Matthew 25:35-36,40 (NKJV)

• In its simplest form, missions is helping people, whether they are at our doorstep or on the other side of the earth.
• Many times “missionaries” offer help while they also look to present the best help of all, eternal help, by presenting the gospel, but missions in its purest form is simply helping people.
• So, whether close by or across the planet, we're committed to missions.

• By being a part of the Southern Baptist Convention, we have the joy and unique opportunity to cooperate with over 43,000 other Southern Baptist congregations around the world to financially provide assistance in salaries and supplies for over 10,000 Southern Baptist missionaries in 153 countries overseas as well as on the North American continent.
• Our assistance, united with other SBC churches helps start more than 1,700 new churches every year in America, help train more than 14,000 SBC seminary students, and assist in the work of hundreds of hospitals, schools, shelters, counselors, and other mission endeavors worldwide.
  • Specific Monthly Support
    • Approximately 13% of all undesignated monies received, and a grand sum (including special designated offerings) of over 20% of monies received at Sunrise Mountain is sent out to help support missions.
    • A large portion of this is given to fund missionaries worldwide, another large portion is given to support the work of our local (Maricopa County) Association’s missions endeavors which includes helping assist with new church starts across the valley, assisting in a homeless shelter and food closet, and providing funding for local missionaries assisting various congregations and Baptist agencies in Maricopa county.
    • In addition we provide monthly support to Set Free Baptist Fellowship / Set Free Ministries, a local ministry to men facing homelessness and drug-related issues, and to Awana Clubs International, an international, nondenominational, Bible-centered youth organization providing weekday clubs and programs for 3-year olds through high schoolers.

  • Special Missions Offerings
    • We participate in four special over-and-above offerings throughout the year also…
      • Easter -- North American missions (Annie Armstrong offering for North American missions)
      • May -- Arizona Baptist Children’s Services Mother’s Day offering
      • September -- Arizona Baptist state missions (to assist specific mission endeavors in Arizona)
      • December -- International missions (Lottie Moon Christmas offering for international missions)

  • Benevolence
    • Sunrise Mountain’s deacon ministers coordinate and help meet needs through Sunrise Mountain’s benevolence ministry, assisting persons who request emergency financial or other types of assistance. This is pretty much a weekly occurrence as the needs are great, and we’re delighted to be able to help as our budget allows.

• Sending money to others doing missionary work is important, but doing the work ourselves, in the form of various service projects and hands-on helping of people is vitally important also.
• Consequently, whether sponsored by one of the various ministry groups or as a church-wide project we look to participate throughout the year in hands-on opportunities to help persons in need.
• These projects might include going on mission trips to various parts of the country and the world, or it might be providing local help at the Westside Food Bank, one of the homeless shelters, one of the crisis pregnancy centers, helping with Special Olympics, or simply bringing cold water to folks stuck outside during the Arizona summer heat.

• Be watching for exciting opportunities to be involved in "doing missions" in 2012 as our Missions Team prays, seeks God's guidance, and then leads us in some hands-on mission opportunities, impacting our community in 2012.

• In the foyer of Sunrise Mountain's auditorium, we have several magazines and handouts on missions available at no cost to you. Please feel free to stop and pick some up.
  • "OM" (On Mission) magazine or "Kids On Mission" are publications of the North American Mission Board.

  • "The Commission" is also available, a magazine published by the International Mission Board.

  • You can also go to the Southern Baptist Convention website: www.sbc.net and click on mission work. From there you can go to several available web sites with more information.
    • For example, the North American Mission Board website is www.namb.net, and other related websites from the North American Mission Board include www.onmission.com.

    • Likewise the International Mission Board website is www.imb.org and a related website from the IMB is www.commissionstories.com.

    • And you can also check to learn what the Women's Missionary Union (WMU) is doing around the world.

• We encourage you to pick up your copy or visit the web sites regularly for more information as to how missions is being done around the world, and how YOU can be involved.

http://smbcaz.org/story/14

http://smbcaz.org/