Thank You! (What Happens When We Bind Together and Give)

Thank you!!

In 2017, you gave to the Lord through our church. I wanted to take a small amount of time to express to you how much impact your giving has actually made. First, we believe giving to be a matter of stewardship before God and obedience to Him. Your act of giving has been in obedience to God and has, therefore, impacted your walk with Him. I am a firm believer that it is impossible to draw near to God AND live in disobedience to Him. I am also a believer that when you and I draw near to God, we are able to impact the lives of others in our church. Giving is not just about what “goes in the plate”, but about the spiritual impact of living in obedience.

A second area where you made an impact is through our designated missions offerings. Perhaps this was the first time you have given to one of these offering. Maybe one of these offerings was the only way you gave through First Baptist. I want to thank you for giving in these areas. 100% of what you gave went directly to another missions agency. We partner with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to support church planters and missionaries serving in the US, Canada, and Mexico. In 2017 our church sent $8,914 directly to NAMB through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. We are praying that God will provide for us to send more than that in 2018. We are also a partner with the International Mission Board of the SBC. This agency sends over 3,800 missionaries to the furthest end of the world to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We were able to send $10,468.07 the IMB by our participation in the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. While this was short of our goal, we did send, and someone will be able to Go. We also gave $2,395 directly to the Georgia Baptist Missions Board in our Mission Georgia Offering in September.

Another great impact you have made by giving is affects the mission of the Church to reach the world with the Gospel. Yes, 90% of what our church receives does stay in house to pay staff, cover utilities, provide Sunday School material, pay for our various ministries and programs, assist with our church members who go on mission trips, and more. But, as a church, we send 1% to assist in local missions through the Fairburn Baptist Association and 8% to reach the world through Cooperative Program giving. This year, $5,908 went to the Fairburn Baptist Association.

If you are not familiar with the Cooperative Program, let me explain how your giving has made a worldwide impact. Our church sends $47,264.34 to the Cooperative Program (CP), which means this money went to the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. 60% ($28,358.60) of that amount stayed in the state of Georgia to fund missions and outreach efforts in our state. From disaster relief to men’s and women’s programs, the GBMB has a target of assisting churches like ours be better equipped to reach our communities with the Gospel. The other 40% is passed to the Southern Baptist Convention, where it is divided between the IMB (50.41%), NAMB (22.79%), 6 Southern Baptist Seminaries (22.16%), the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (1.65%), and the Executive Committee (2.99%). Another way to look at it is this: Because YOU gave, our church was able to send $9,530.38 to the IMB, $4,308.62 to NAMB, and $4,189.51 to our seminaries. When combined with Lottie Moon, that is almost exactly $20,000 we were able to give to the IMB!

Maybe you were reading this and didn't give in 2017. Could I ask you to prayerfully consider giving in 2018? It was a great year last year and we finished only 7% short of our estimated budget needs. Your gift in 2018 could help make up that difference. If you have any questions about the direct ways our money is used, please feel free to contact me. We do everything that we can to operate in full confidence that God is using your gifts and his resources to grow His kingdom. Maybe you're on the fence about whether or not giving is the right step for you. Let me encourage you to try it. Make a 3-month commitment to tithe faithfully and see how God uses your gift and grows your faith in him in the process. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. You can give online at www.fbcfairburn.com .

You have made a huge impact because you gave this year. Since August, our giving averages have been over projected needs. While we did not meet the full year budget, we finished VERY strong in 2017. This can carry over into 2018 to make it our strongest year ever! Please let me encourage you to continue giving through First Baptist Church of Fairburn. God has placed us in a tremendous position to reach far and wide. I am grateful for your gifts through our church. Let us press ahead to a wonderful 2018 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In Christ Alone

Pastor Evan