Coming, as we do to the end of the year I would like to encourage every church to budget specifically for Next Year 2020 in the matter of Home Mission Giving. It would be great if we all sought to Budget at least 5% of our giving to HM OR to seek to give at least £52 per Member of our churches, in so doing we will never struggle to reach any targets set, which is a very modest £105,000 for this year. If you give through the Bank please would you consider uprating your donation, at least in line with inflation [say 3% per year]

Please pray much more for Home Mission, not just the financial side, but for the churches who are struggling and need our help around the country. We also need to Tell people in our churches the Stories from churches that have received Grants and gifts from Home Mission and the transformation that we can see it making. 

We have at least 10 of our churches receiving support totalling £50,000 to help with Mission and I recently visited Coulby Newham, in Middlesbrough to make a Home Mission Video that might inspire us. It was brilliant to see and hear about the transformation there largely because of their Home Mission Grant, you will also be able to view the video on the NBA website, please watch it, and I would like some feedback from as many people as possible, so contact me.(details below)

Baptist Together also had a big feature on Home Mission recently. I hope you will get to read this, their  website has Home Mission pages as well, where you will find many very interesting stories from those who have been helped by receiving a Home Mission Grant.

Ray Richardson

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.

You can also find more information about Home Mission here

NBA Home Mission Co-ordinator

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

0191 4543432