Just Imagine seeks to take our Baptist churches on a three-year journey together to capture a fresh passion and understanding of what Home Mission is all about..

As your Home Mission Coordinator here in the NBA it is always a privilege to share the news from the Home Mission front. As I am unable to be at every NBA church on 4^th November I would like to offer a couple of Prayer Pointers and suggestions that could be used, during your Sunday service, as an encouragement to keep Home Mission in the forefront of our thinking.

I offer this as a preparation tool for Home Mission Sunday

FIRST

·       A BIG Thank You to all our churches for continuing to contribute at such a high level, in some cases sacrificially, to Your Home Mission

·       Thank you to all who consistently pray for Home Mission

SECOND

·       Pray for all the churches at least(20%) in the NBA that receive Ministry grants

·       Pray for our whole Baptist family as we all look to an uncertain financial future

·       Pray that we are sensitive to those who may not be employed in 2013 that they find suitable alternative employment

·       Pray that we use our resources wisely for God’s kingdom work

THIRD

          I attach links to video clips that you could use as an encouragement:-

·      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZyet4ZiSYs&lr=1&uid=rsEH8yVjLkIst8QtjSfdgg   

(For a quick introduction to Home Mission show this 2 minute film)

·      http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kcMcGnJu9WA  

(Paul Unsworth shares more about the Brick Lane project and how Home Mission has supported it in this short video)

You can also download these and other Home Mission videos here.

Home Mission Video Downloads

FOURTH

·      Encourage each other in whatever way you can to continue to give to Home Mission

·      Continue to Pray for the Baptist Family

·      Remember that Baptists started in the UK 400 years ago (1612)

·      Home Mission was started 100 years ago (1912)

Suggestions for fundraising:

1. Social events where tickets are sold or an entrance fee charged. Examples: line dancing, firework display, quiz night, treasure hunt, karaoke evening, board games night, concert, art exhibition, barn dance, pantomime.

2. Events involving food – money can be raised by charging for the food Examples: big brunch, barbecue, pancake evening, teddy bears picnic, cake sales, candlelight supper, cheese and wine evening, cream-tea, curry night.

3. Sponsored events Examples: marathon, bible reading, hymn singing, aerobics, bike-ride, losing weight, silence, abseiling, walk and toddle

4. Buying and selling Examples: auction (items and/or promises, bring and buy sale, ‘home-made’ sale, car boot sale, second-hand bookstall, nearly-new clothes

5. Competitions – entrants pay a fee and a small prize is awarded Examples: fancy-dress, cake-baking, races, flower-arranging or how about ‘worst-tie’?

6. Other ideas face-painting, Easter-egg/Christmas gift hunt, arts and crafts afternoon (have a go at something new), car-washing, fancy-dress football, open-gardens, mile of coins.

7. Many churches meet as house groups. If you don't already do it, why not have a coffee jar in the middle of the table, where people can drop in change when they take their tea and coffee. The money collected can be added to your church's contribution.

8. "Children are a gift from the Lord". Why not invite parents in your church to join a Birthday scheme. Each year you send their child a birthday card and invite the parents to make a small (say £5) gift to Home Mission as an expression of thanks. (Check people want to join the scheme before sending a card!)

9. Home Mission supports a whole raft of youth officers and other youth activities. Why not invite your young people to arrange sponsored events to help support these vital ministries.

10. Some people prefer to manage their money through a bank account. If twenty people set up a standing order for just £5 per month -this would raise £1,200 for Home Mission in a year even more if it was Gift Aided. The church then pays this EXTRA amount to Home Mission.

Further details can be found at http://www.baptist.org.uk/homemission/ideas.html

NBA Home Mission Co-ordinator

Ray Richardson, 18 Hemsley Road, South Shields, NE34 6HW

0191 4543432