Robert Anderson, BCM/D President and Pastor of Colonial Baptist Church, Randallstown, Md.
Fall has now settled in and we are well into our busy schedules. However, there are several things that I wish to share with Maryland/Delaware Baptists this month, so bear with me as I share some things that are on my heart.
First, I am concerned about the Cooperative Program (CP). We as Southern Baptists have the great privilege to partner together in giving to missions through CP giving. However, my heart is really disturbed when I see so many churches with zeroes or close to nothing in CP giving. This is shameful! Please allow me to provoke you to love and good works in the area of mission giving. It is not right for some to give sacrificially, while others do nothing. We are a part of a family and each member must do their part. The Philippians were not a large church and they were not a rich church, yet they gave to Paul out of their poverty, to which Paul declared “that my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
A couple of years ago in our national convention we were challenged as Southern Baptists to increase our CP giving by one percent. Hence, the challenge is still applicable today, and I believe that BCM/D churches can do this and more. In fact, all of us can do better! The harvest is great, but the laborers are few, so let’s pray to The Lord of the harvest to not only send forth laborers, but help us to trust Him to raise the bar in our CP giving for the sake of the Gospel in supporting these laborers.
Secondly, our State Convention Annual Meeting is just around the corner. Our theme this year is “Gather 2 Scatter.” What a great theme! We come together to be strengthened and edified in order that we depart to spread the glorious good news of the Gospel of Christ. Wonderful speakers are lined up like Dr. James Merritt, Dr. A.B. Vines, and others to open the unsearchable riches of God’s Word. Furthermore, a variety of challenging workshops are scheduled…folks, you will be blessed. So please make plans NOW to come and be a part of what looks to be an outstanding convention.
Thirdly, there needs to be a new push to give to the Hunger Fund both at home [through a BCM/D Hunger Initiatives Fund] and abroad. It is our goal to raise $10,000 for the Hunger Fund in the coming year starting with our state convention. Fifty-one percent of the funds will go to International Missions, and 49 percent will go to local church hunger ministries in MARYLAND /DELAWARE. Please pray that the Lord will help us to reach our goal to feed the hungry around the world with the chance to share the love of Christ and His Gospel. The verse that the Lord has impressed upon my heart is Luke 6:21, “Blessed are you that are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.” Admittedly, this is an unusual verse and is quite different from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, which focuses on spiritual hunger for God and His righteousness, while Dr. Luke focuses on bodily hunger needs. However, why would God describe them as “blessed?”
Quite frankly, I am not altogether sure, but this I do know, that the God of the Bible cares about the poor, the needy, and the hungry! So much so that He promises to satisfy their appetites. Is it any wonder that our Lord would teach us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3)? By giving to the Hunger Fund, you become a helping hand in being an answer to someone’s prayers for “daily bread.” Please consider taking advantage of the Oct. 13, 2013 Feed the Hungry Sunday on the SBC calendar and take up a special offering for this noble and compassionate cause. For more information, please go to www.bcmd.org/worldhunger.
By the way, we thank the Lord for all the churches that have some kind of hunger relief outreach, and we encourage them to keep up the good work. We look forward to the opportunity to strengthen your hands to even do more. God bless you as you give.
Lastly, we are looking for volunteers to help us as hosts and ushers for the 2014 SBC convention next year in ‘Charm City’, a.k.a. Baltimore. We may also be looking for singers to participate in a mass choir, so please let us know of your willingness to help assist in either of these areas by calling the state office or signing up online.
It is a joy to be a part of such a super state convention. Keep us all in your prayers as we likewise pray for you, that we all may hear His voice and follow.
God bless and keep you in all your endeavors to exalt the King of kings.