By Staff, LBC Communications
ALEXANDRIA – If the 2 million Louisiana residents without a personal relationship with Christ were to meet Him today, most likely it’s the state’s 547,947 Southern Baptists who will make the introductions.
The Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering helps.
Georgia Barnette was the first Executive Director for Louisiana WMU. Through letters, messages, and example, she continually encouraged Louisiana Baptists to follow God’s command to “go and tell.” She led Louisiana Baptists to know the importance of giving and volunteering. Her work and passion for reaching Louisiana for Christ was honored in 1936 when the offering was given her name.
“While the largest percentage of the funds serve as the capitalization for new church starts, there are many other missions projects funded by the offering, including compassion ministries that were especially needed with the challenge of the winter,” said John Hebert, LBC missions and ministry director. “The state missions offering is a significant funding source for mission projects throughout the state of Louisiana.[img_assist|nid=7187|title=Top GBO Givers|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=418]
“Churches across our state need to understand that the Georgia Barnette State Missions offering is the life blood of our missions program,” Hebert continued. “Without this funding we would not be able to provide adequate start-up funds for churches, conduct mission ministries, teach literacy skills, and a host of other ministries designed to impact lost people in our state. The Church Site Corporation would not be funded, grants for missions building would be impossible, mission pastors’ salaries would not be able to be supplemented if churches did not give to GBO. I simply cannot imagine a missions program without this offering.”
A total of 921 churches contributed to the offering in 2010. Some used the special promotional materials that are mailed to each of the 1,541 congregations that are a part of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Others included the Georgia Barnette Offering in their annual World Missions emphasis. The total amount received by the LBC accounting office for GBO by Dec. 31, 2010, was $1,509,445.97, down $240,554.10 from the year’s goal of $1,750,000.
“Thank you, Louisiana Baptists for your Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering,” said Janie Wise, LBC women’s missions and ministry strategist. “Because you give, new churches are planted, evangelism and discipleship continues in mission churches, care and hope ministries meet physical needs while sharing the Gospel, children are saved at block parties and GA/RA camps – and more.
“Our hope is every Louisiana Baptist church will prayerfully consider participation in this important designated offering,” Wise continued. “Together, we make a difference with the lives of the lost and searching. We want to help every church to be successful with its Acts 1:8 mission. We can reach our state together and the state missions offering is a significant part of the process.”
The GBO goal for 2011 is $1.7 million. At the 2010 LBC Annual Meeting, messengers were challenged by LBC executive director David Hankins to embrace a $2 million in 2012 state missions offering goal.
For additional information contact the Women’s Missions and Ministry portion of www.LBC.org or e-mailJanie.Wise@LBC.org.
The 50 churches giving the largest amounts to the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering in 2010 were announced in mid-February. Calvary Alexandria led with $48,240.