State Missions: Now More Than Ever!

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

As I reflect upon my 44 years of vocational involvement in state missions in Kentucky, I am struck by the dramatic changes that have occurred in the population, especially from the immigration of the many and varied people groups who have come to Kentucky, the impact of the secular culture on all Kentuckians and the exponential power of technology that spreads instantaneously the negative impact of the secular culture. As a result, the challenge of the Acts 1:8 challenge has become more formidable than ever, and “state missions” now has an “international missions” element inherent in it.

Since 1913 Kentucky WMU has taken an annual offering through the churches for state missions. In 1976 the offering was named for Eliza Broadus, who was a contemporary of Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong, and who led Kentucky WMU in 1913 to begin a state missions offering. And now, more than 100 years later, this offering is more important than it has ever been because of the growing number of lost, unchurched and dechurched people of the Commonwealth as well as the impact of secularization. This offering undergirds, enhances and supplements on-going ministries as well as special projects focused on reaching the lost and making disciples in Kentucky. You may live in or near a community that is impacted directly by ministries that receive funding from this offering.

Because of the added importance of this offering in the future for reaching Kentucky for Christ, let me encourage you not only to continue to give generously to and through the annual offering, but also to consider making a legacy gift now and/or through your estate plan for the benefit of state missions through the Eliza Broadus Offering. In this way you could continue to contribute to this vital effort beyond your lifetime. What a legacy that would leave of your love for Christ and His mission in Kentucky!

You could begin now to contribute to an existing perpetual endowment administered by the KBF from which the earnings are added annually to the offering. Or, you may prefer to establish an endowment yourself. This is the season of prayer for state missions and the EBO offering. What a wonderful time to give Laurie Valentine or me a call to assist you.

For more information, please call us at (502) 489-3533 or toll free in KY at 1(866) 489-3533.

The information in this article is provided as general information and is not intended as legal or tax advice. For advice and assistance in specific cases, you should seek the advice of an attorney or other professional adviser.

Bold Hope

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

It’s that time of year when we Kentucky Baptists are called upon to focus our praying, giving and going on those in our home state who are without Christ in their lives. And what would we do without the able leadership of Kentucky WMU to guide and assist us in this focus?! Thank you, Joy Bolton, and your staff.

The theme of this year’s state missions emphasis and the Eliza Broadus Offering is “bold hope.” The focal scripture passage is 2 Corinthians 3:12 (NIV 1984): “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” As George Beasley-Murray observed in his commentary, this hope combines a confidence as to the glory that attaches to the gospel proclamation in the present with the expectation of a revelation of that glory in the future. At the heart of the gospel is the manifestation of a glory that has a future, namely, that of the incarnate, crucified and risen Christ returning in majesty for the victory of the kingdom. So, whatever is our lot in the present, our lot in the future is a glory that will be vindicated in the triumph of our Lord. Therefore, we can afford to be very bold in our praying, going and giving.

How fortunate we Kentucky Baptists are to have in place all across this state a variety of ministries to facilitate our giving and going. These include: food ministries, prison, pregnancy care, drug addiction recovery, disaster relief, collegiate ministries, ethnic, church planting, evangelism and missions camps.

I urge you to let the Eliza Broadus Offering provide you an easy, effective and efficient channel through which you can give to support all of these ministries all across our state. Begin now to pray with boldness (1) for your state missionaries and volunteers who deliver these ministries 24/7 in your behalf; (2) for how much and in what way you will give through the offering; and (3) for an openness for how God can use you this next year as a volunteer in one or more of these ministries.

For more information, please call us at (502) 489-3533 or toll free in KY at 1-(866) 489-3533

The information in this article is provided as general information and is not intended as legal or tax advice. For advice and assistance in specific cases, you should seek the advice of an attorney or other professional adviser.