Monthly Focus
Welcome to our “digital extra goodies” page!
Each month in our missions discipleship curriculum, we focus on Southern Baptist missions efforts in various locations in the US and around the world.
And, well, some things like videos and downloadables don’t quite fit in our print publications.
So here is where you can find your extra supplemental digital goodies every month.
Below you’ll see the extras listed by month. We’ll keep a few month’s worth up on the page at a time.
But to keep the page light and speedy for you, we’ll delete the oldest month as we add the newest month. So if you think you might want to refer back to something in the distant future, go ahead and download or copy the info now.
Ukraine and Romania are neighboring countries. Due to war, many Ukrainians moved their families to Romania to be safe. Jack and Brennan Gibbs speak Russian and are learning Romanian so they can work with Romanians to help refugees from Ukraine.
While living in Ukraine, the Gibbs family made close friendships with people who lived near them. Bible studies, holiday celebrations, and living life together created community for the Gibbs family.
When the Gibbs family moved to Romania, they felt very welcomed and have been thrilled to see how welcoming the Romanian people have been to Ukrainian refugees. They are eager to watch as God unveils His plan for their family as they help the refugees around them.
5 Fun Facts about the Special Workers
- The Gibbs family can speak English and Russian. Now they are learning to speak Romanian!
- Jackson and Emma Gibbs are very involved with the ministry to refugees. They spend time talking with and helping Ukrainian refugees.
- The Gibbs family and their helpers help pastors start bee farms so they can harvest and sell honey.
- Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs grew up going to Mission Friends, Royal Ambassadors (RA), and Girls in Action (GA).
- The Gibbs family lived and served in Ukraine for 11 years before moving to Romania.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for the Gibbs family as they adjust to life in Romania and continue to help Ukrainian refugees.
- Pray for their ministry in Romania, that God will provide many opportunities to help others and tell them about Jesus.
- Pray that the needs of Ukrainian refugees will be met.
- Pray for the safety of Ukrainians remaining in Ukraine.
- Pray for an end to the war in Ukraine.
Play and Learn: Pray and Learn
Click here for more Free Downloads.
Additional information and activities and “Mission Friends at Home” are in SON 2023 Mission Friends Leader, pages 24–41. Missions Leader: WMU Planning Guide 2023–24 has planning helps.
Children’s Scripture Video: vimeo.com/863728937
Children’s Missions Video: vimeo.com/868842209
Family Missions Focus (PDF): Download and use this resource to reinforce what your children’s missions discipleship groups are learning every month in Missions Journey: Kids. Family Missions Focus includes a feature for you to type notes to parents on the right-hand side of the page! Print the page for parents or email them as a monthly way to encourage their support.
Spotlight Update: Jack and Brennan Gibbs Serving Ukrainians
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For Women on Mission
October 2023 Missions Mosaic Discussion Guide (PDF)
Invite women to next month’s meeting with this downloadable color invitation: November 2023 Women on Mission Save the Date Flyer (PDF)
Kerry and Twyla Jackson are North American Mission Board Mission Service Corps (MSC) missionaries serving in Atlanta, Georgia. As an artist and missionary, Kerry has developed strategies for planting churches among creative subcultures. Kerry and Twyla disciple and mentor cultural creatives, people involved in the creative arts as a profession, a hobby, or even a patron.
As MSC missionaries, Kerry and Twyla are mobilized and commissioned by Southern Baptist churches and rely on partnership development to raise financial support for their ministries. Kerry said, “We raise our own financial support for both our living and ministry expenses. Relying on mission partners to support our ministry can be very humbling and trying. However, God has always been faithful in meeting our needs.”
5 Fun Facts about the Missionaries
- As people watch, Kerry Jackson paints pictures and shares about Jesus.
- Twyla Jackson teaches people from other countries how to speak English.
- Mr. Jackson enjoys listening to music and watching old shows on TV.
- Mrs. Jackson is involved in WMU. She enjoys reading, sewing, and hiking.
- Being involved in Royal Ambassadors (RA) as a child helped Mr. Jackson know that God could use him.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for Kerry Jackson to have many opportunities to share about Jesus through his art ministry.
- Pray for Mr. and Mrs. Jackson as they tell other people about Jesus.
- Pray for ministry partners to join with Mr. and Mrs. Jackson and help them as they use art to teach others about Jesus.
- Pray for Twyla Jackson as she teaches English as second language and Bible studies to people who have moved to Atlanta from other countries.
- Pray for Mr. and Mrs. Jackson to be strong and healthy.
Play and Learn: Using Art to Share Jesus
Click here for more Free Downloads.
Additional information and activities and “Mission Friends at Home” are in SON 2023 Mission Friends Leader, pages 6–23. Missions Leader: WMU Planning Guide 2023–24 has planning helps.
Children’s Scripture Video: vimeo.com/854372872
Children’s Missions Video: vimeo.com/859028216
Family Missions Focus (PDF): Download and use this resource to reinforce what your children’s missions discipleship groups are learning every month in Missions Journey: Kids. Family Missions Focus includes a feature for you to type notes to parents on the right-hand side of the page! Print the page for parents or email them as a monthly way to encourage their support.
Spotlight Update: Kerry and Twyla Jackson in Atlanta, Georgia
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For Women on Mission
September 2023 Missions Mosaic Discussion Guide (PDF)
Invite women to next month’s meeting with this downloadable color invitation: October 2023 Women on Mission Save the Date Flyer (PDF)
Jae and Carole McKee serve Aleutian Island communities in Alaska. Jae is the director of missions and church planting for the Alaska Baptist Resource Network in Anchorage. As state missionaries, he and Carole travel from Anchorage and other hub locations to villages and communities only accessible by plane or boat.
One community the McKees work in is Cold Bay, the last community on the Alaska Peninsula before the Aleutian Islands begin. The McKees are excited about what God is doing in Cold Bay. The community is growing to accept the church and baptisms are taking place. Local leadership is being developed for long-term sustainability. Jae and Carole are working to strengthen the church and lead members to plant other churches in neighboring communities.
5 Fun Facts about the Missionaries
- Mr. McKee’s favorite hobby is hunting black bears.
- Mr. McKee was voted most likely to start a conversation with a stranger.
- Once a month, Mr. McKee makes the two-and-one-half hour flight from Anchorage, Alaska, to Cold Bay, Alaska. The only way to get to Cold Bay is by boat or airplane.
- Mr. McKee’s church services have been interrupted by volcanoes, earthquakes, and bears.
- Mr. McKee enjoys being outdoors in Alaska.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for safety as the McKees travel to Cold Bay and other places in Alaska.
- Pray that the people who live in Cold Bay and surrounding towns will go to church to hear about Jesus’ love for them.
- Pray that God would provide funding to build a church building for the Cold Bay Chapel so members can meet together and reach out to others.
- Thank God for helping church members of Cold Bay Chapel be prepared to reach people in Cold Bay and surrounding towns.
- Thank God for the generosity of churches giving offerings that pay for some of Mr. McKee’s travel expenses.
Play and Learn: Inviting Families to Church in Alaska
Click here for more Free Downloads.
Additional information and activities and “Mission Friends at Home” are in JJA 2023 Mission Friends Leader, pages 42–62. Missions Leader: WMU Planning Guide 2022–23 has planning helps.
Children’s Scripture Video: vimeo.com/844748881
Children’s Missions Video: vimeo.com/848493392
Family Missions Focus (PDF): Download and use this resource to reinforce what your children’s missions discipleship groups are learning every month in Missions Journey: Kids. Family Missions Focus includes a feature for you to type notes to parents on the right-hand side of the page! Print the page for parents or email them as a monthly way to encourage their support.
Spotlight Update: Jae and Carole McKee in Cold Bay, Alaska
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For Women on Mission
Invite women to next month’s meeting with this downloadable color invitation:
New to missions discipleship?
Ready to get started? Check out sample curriculum units and learn how to get started with missions discipleship by downloading a starter pack.
Just want a little general info first? Scroll on down to the footer on this page and click on the link to the Missions Discipleship Age-Level you want to explore!