2 Ways to Support and Do Missions in August
It’s fun to learn about missions, but how about actually supporting and doing missions? Here are some opportunities that are coming in August. Start planning today!
Christmas in August
It’s summer, which means Christmas is right around the corner! Wait, did you think I meant the Christmas we celebrate in December? No … I mean Christmas in August!
Your church can partner with a missionary during Christmas in August and provide needed supplies to help them share the gospel.
Here’s how you can help:
Pick a Missionary Your Church Will Support
Go to wmu.com/christmasinaugust and choose one missionary from the list for your church’s Christmas in August project. Post the missionary’s supply list on bulletin boards and include it in the church bulletin, newsletter, and/or social media. Over several weeks or months, collect the items in a designated spot. Then host a churchwide packing event, or have a team of church members package and send off the gifts. Don’t forget to pray for the missionary and their ministry!
Assign a Missionary to Small Groups or Classes
You can include everyone in your church by assigning each Bible study class or missions discipleship group a missionary and his or her list. Have class members collect the items over several weeks. You will then need to package and mail the items. Encourage each group to have a packing party or dinner, or host a churchwide event for every group to come together to finish the missions project.
Pray for a Missionary
Plan in advance to hold a prayer service, either during regular worship time, on a Sunday or Wednesday night, or any other night that works for you and your church. Use this time to pray for a particular Christmas in August missionary, a particular place, or for missionaries in general. Conclude the service with a love offering for purchasing and shipping items to a missionary on the wmu.com/christmasinaugust list.
Start planning today! Learn more at wmu.com/christmasinaugust.
Global Hunger Sunday
Southern Baptist churches will recognize Global Hunger Sunday in August. What is Global Hunger Sunday?
Global Hunger Sunday is designed to shine a spotlight on food insecurity in the United States and around the world, and to recognize how Southern Baptists meet this challenge through Global Hunger Relief (GHR).
GHR funds are used in gospel-centered hunger projects that share God’s love in both word and deed.
In addition to meeting crisis hunger needs during famine and natural disasters, GHR-funded projects focus on long-term solutions to end chronic hunger through job skills training, livestock and seed distribution, clean water, home reconstruction, medical care and more.
Learn more about GHR efforts and how your church can raise awareness of and support GHR at globalhungerrelief.org.
Find resources for Global Hunger Sunday at globalhungerrelief.org/resources.
Ideas for Local Hunger Projects
As a part of your church’s focus on Global Hunger Relief, challenge your congregation and/or missions discipleship groups to take action in addition to supporting GHR.
Personal involvement in missions and ministry projects can be an eye-opening experience that leads people to explore their personal callings to missions and ministry and inspire them with ways they can be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.
Plus, many people learn better by doing. This especially applies to children and students. Involving children and students in hands-on projects in your community can enhance what they learn during your church’s focus on GHR.
Prayerfully consider the following ways to challenge your church to take action:
- Hosting a food drive as part of your church’s fall festival event. “Charge” admission of one nonperishable food item.
- Decorating paper grocery sacks to use for food distribution at a local food bank. Children can draw pictures and add Scripture verses. Students and adults can write notes that include Scripture verses.
- Preparing and serving a meal at a local women and children’s shelter.
- Collecting single-serve, easy-to-prepare food items for a backpack food ministry reaching school children every weekend.
- Praying that as hunger relief ministries share God’s love others will come to know the good news of Jesus.
Remember that any activity in which children in your group participate enables them to earn the Global Hunger Relief Badge/Patch.
Sarah Murray is the design editor of children’s resources at WMU.
